LSI, NetApp Collaborate on Server-based Flash

LSI has announced its Nytro WarpDrive family of application acceleration PCIe flash cards, which are designed to address application performance by converting server-based flash into hot data cache for critical applications. The cards are among the first PCIe flash devices to be fully tested and qualified with NetApp's intelligent server caching software.

"Flash memory adoption in the enterprise is a powerful complement to hard-disk-based network storage," said Tim Russell, vice president, Data Lifecycle Ecosystem Group, NetApp. "Deploying flash as a high-speed cache in the server is a simple and cost-effective way to significantly reduce latency and I/O bottlenecks, while providing enterprise-level data protection and manageability for the entire infrastructure. Working with our server cache partners, we’re able to offer customers a complete end-to-end, high-speed solution."

LSI Nytro WarpDrive cards deployed in conjunction with Flash Accel software deliver automated and intelligent caching of hot data to PCIe flash storage, and an optimized cost per IOPS and cost per gigabyte across flash and hard drives. Combined, it is an easy to use, fully tested, end-to-end solution. Test results have shown a reduction in application and server latency by up to 90 percent while increasing throughput by up to 80 percent. Storage efficiency is also improved by minimizing the number of input/output operations between servers and back-end storage systems, which frees up shared storage resources to handle additional workloads. In addition, the Nytro WarpDrive card’s advanced “off-loaded” multiprocessor architecture uses up to four times less CPU and memory resources than competing solutions.

"LSI Nytro WarpDrive cards help datacenter managers contend with massive data growth by increasing the speed and responsiveness of critical applications," said Gary Smerdon, senior vice president and general manager, Accelerated Solutions Division, LSI. "The combination of Nytro WarpDrive cards and Flash Accel software allows for an optimized use of flash while extending its significant performance and TCO benefits to any server connected to NetApp storage."

Nytro WarpDrive cards range in capacity from 200GB to 1.6TB of MLC or SLC flash memory and are designed for simple, plug-and-play integration into today’s low-profile, high-performance system chassis.