Nvelo Dataplex Manages Hybrid SSD-HDD

NVELO, Inc., in computer storage software, launched its Dataplex product, a host-based software product that uses adaptive caching algorithms to manage the use of a Solid-State Drive (SSD) together with a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Intelligent algorithms continuously analyze and adapt to user behavior and data access patterns to ensure optimal use of the hybrid SSD-HDD storage system.

By using Dataplex to manage a small-capacity SSD with a large capacity HDD, users get the best of both worlds: the high-performance of an SSD, with the capacity and affordability of an HDD.

"Consumers love the idea of SSD performance, but there is still a huge gap between HDD’s at $0.20/GB and SSD’s at $2.00/GB; as an HDD replacement, the economics simply don’t work for all but a very small percentage of the market," said David Lin, vice president of product management at NVELO. "With Dataplex, we are making SSD performance economically feasible for a much larger market by using the strengths of SSD and HDD technology together. And we’re not talking about simply installing the OS and whatever applications can fit onto a small SSD. Dataplex learns user behavior, and intelligently caches all important data and applications in an SSD device while maintaining the full capacity of the HDD for storage."

Dataplex will begin shipping from select Tier 1 PC OEMs in 2011. NVELO is currently in discussions with leading HDD and SSD vendors to enable aftermarket sales and bundling options for Dataplex, and has begun development of an enterprise version of Dataplex for server systems.

"Leveraging the low cost/GB of a traditional HDD with the faster transfer speeds of SSD can provide a compelling value proposition if done successfully," said Joseph Unsworth, research director, NAND Flash Semiconductors, at Gartner. "Balancing cost and performance through savvy software and supported by convincing marketing will be critical to foster greater adoption."

Flexibility
Since Dataplex works with off-the-shelf storage devices, PC OEMs and Consumers have complete freedom to choose any SSD and any HDD, from any vendor. For the typical business notebook user, a 16GB mSATA or PCIe mini-card module in conjunction with a 2.5" 250GB 5400 HDD is ideal for 'productivity' type applications like Microsoft Office. On the other hand, the ideal configuration for a desktop computer designed for high-end gaming, analytics, or video editing might be closer to a 32GB SSD paired with 3.5" 1.5TB 7200 RPM HDD. In either case, Dataplex adapts to user behavior and data traffic to make optimal use of the SSD’s performance, while maintaining the full capacity of the HDD for storage - without any user intervention.

"Dataplex combines the high capacity and low cost of a traditional off-the-shelf HDD with the faster transfer speeds of a lower capacity SSD, as a means to increase overall system performance," said Gregory Wong, principal analyst with market research firm Forward Insights. "Innovative technologies such as NVELO’s Dataplex provide a compelling value proposition that is necessary to drive the adoption of SSD’s in the mainstream consumer market."

Performance
Real-world user experience is best measured by system-level benchmarking tools like SYSmark, which installs full software applications like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and many others, and then runs real-world usage scenarios to generate performance scores. Using as little as a 16GB NAND cache device in conjunction with a standard 2.5" 7200RPM HDD, Dataplex consistently scores within 5% of leading SSD products, and 35% greater than an HDD in the SYSmark Productivity suite, which is designed to mimic typical business PC usage with manipulation of email, spreadsheets, documents, presentations, etc. Another popular benchmarking tool for comparing storage device performance is PCMark. Running the PCMark HDD suite on the same computing hardware, Dataplex consistently scores within 25% of the leading SSD products, and scores 450% greater than a standard HDD.