Shulou(Shulou.com)06/01 Report--

In this issue, Xiaobian will bring you about how to analyze NETAPP's flash memory strategy that will never be layered. The article is rich in content and analyzes and narrates from a professional perspective. After reading this article, I hope you can gain something.

As we all know, NETAPP is a strange company. Its WAFL file system is unique. In terms of flash memory strategy, it is also obviously different from mainstream manufacturers.

SSD in storage, in addition to all-flash storage, generally only two purposes, one is to do Cache, the other is to do Tier. Almost all vendors support Tier, except NETAPP. NETAPP only holds SSD Cache, no layering.

SSD Cache currently supported by NETAPP has the following conditions:

Flash Cache: PCIe SSD cards on FAS and V-Series controllers do read-only Cache

Flash Pool: FAS and V-series SSD disks do read and write Cache

Flash Accel: SSD Read Cache on Server

SSD on E-Series Storage Do Read Cache

SSD as primary storage, NETAPP has EF540 and EF550 all-flash arrays.

NETAPP means no layering technology.

Why NETAPP is not optimistic about layered technology, because NETAPP believes that if layered technology is adopted, it is too troublesome, such as:

1. Administrators need to decide which data to move to the flash layer;

2 When to move?

3. After moving, you need to adjust the settings of application and backup.

Only applications on SSD are accelerated, although performance acceleration is immediately reflected;

With SSD as Cache, management is very simple, applications do not need to make any changes, Cache algorithms are all done, performance can be accelerated after hot data migration to SSD, and all applications can benefit from it.

In fact, personal feeling NETAPP explanation is far-fetched, and now the automatic layering technology can be completely without administrator participation. The limitations of NETAPP's WAFL architecture make it cumbersome to support automatic layering. To know that the current storage does not support automatic tiering, you are embarrassed to say that you are a tasteful storage. Otherwise, why do so many mainstream manufacturers support it?

Therefore, if everyone doesn't want to play with NETAPP in the future, several coalitions fool customers to explain the benefits of automatic layering, NETAPP will be isolated.

In fact, automatic layering has many benefits. The most obvious benefit is to solve the storage problem while solving the performance problem (just like the movie "Let the Bullets Fly", when standing, you also earn money). Unlike only CACHE, SSD can not store data, too wasteful.

I don't know if NETAPP will launch automatic layering products in the future. If it is to be launched, Watermelon Brother estimates that it will also be launched on the E series first. But there are no signs yet.

Although NETAPP currently has E-series all-flash arrays, they are optimized from E-series and not redesigned from the bottom. NETAPP is redeveloping FlashRay, an all-flash array expected to launch this year, with support for Scale out, support for online redeletion and compression, and support for SAN and NAS. Guargo conjectures that it should evolve from FAS clusters, not from E series. If this product is launched, it will compete with XtremIO and have more NAS support, which should occupy a part of the high-end storage market.

The above is how to analyze NETAPP's flash memory strategy that is never layered. If you happen to have similar doubts, you may wish to refer to the above analysis for understanding. If you want to know more about it, please pay attention to the industry information channel.

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