Hybrid array
A hybrid array is a form of hierarchical storage management that combines hard disk drives (HDDs) with solid-state drives (SSDs), by using software for providing SSD caching.
Hybrid storage arrays aim to mitigate the ever increasing price-performance gap between HDDs and DRAM by adding a non-volatile flash level to the memory hierarchy.[1] Hybrid arrays thus aim to lower the cost per I/O. Hybrid architectures can be as simple as involving a single SSD cache for desktop or laptop computers, or can be more complex as configurations for enterprise storage and cloud computing.
More expensive per byte stored are all-flash arrays.
Products
Numerous manufacturers offer hardware and software solutions for building hybrid arrays, including:
- Adaptec's High-performance Hybrid Arrays (HPHA) for enterprise storage, e.g. the MaxIQ series[2]
- Apple's Fusion Drive
- bcache, dm-cache, and Flashcache/EnhanceIO on Linux
- Condusive's ExpressCache mostly used on laptops
- EMC VFcache[3]
- Various Fusion-io products, e.g. ioTurbine[4]
- IBM Flash Cache Storage Accelerator (FCSA) server software[5]
- Intel's Smart Response Technology for desktop
- Intel's Cache Acceleration Software for servers and workstations
- Marvell's HyperDuo controllers[6]
- Microsoft's Automated Tiering (since Windows 2012 R2)
- NetApp's Flash Cache, Flash Pool, Flash Accel[7]
- Oracle/Exadata Smart Cache Flash
- Microsoft' ReadyBoost, useful for low-end personal computers using USB flash drives as cache
- Nvelo DataPlex SSD caching software[8] (acquired by Samsung[9])
- SanDisk FlashSoft for Windows, Linux, and vSphere[4]
- Products of start-ups like Nimble Storage, Tegile, and Tintri[10]
See also
- Hybrid drive — built-in flash cache, handled by firmware
- Automated tiered storage — another name for hierarchical storage management
- The "five-minute rule" for caching
References
- ^ Rino Micheloni; Alessia Marelli; Kam Eshghi (2012). Inside Solid State Drives (SSDs). Springer. p. 62. ISBN 978-94-007-5145-3.
- ^ Charlie Demerjian (2009-09-09). "Adaptec's MaxIQ caches RAIDs with SSDs". SemiAccurate. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ Dignan, Larry (2012-02-05). "EMC unveils VFCache, targets Fusion-io". ZDNet. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ a b Fusion-io spins up ioTurbine, enhances server flash caching Meanwhile, SanDisk's doing the same thing
- ^ The SSD Guy (2013-08-20). "IBM Adds Server-Side Caching". The SSD Guy. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ CES: Hands-on with the Marvell HyperDuo hybrid storage controller
- ^ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/21/netapp_server_flash/
- ^ "NVELO Dataplex SSD Caching Software Review - Seven mSATA SSDs Prove An Amazing Concept". The SSD Review. 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ "Samsung Acquires SSD Caching Company NVELO". AnandTech. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ Mutant array upstarts feast on EMC, NetApp's leavings