SanDisk DAS Cache Software for New Dell PowerEdge Servers

SanDisk Corporation announced that its DAS Cache software will be offered by Dell for use in its next generation Dell, Inc.‘s PowerEdge servers with DAS.

This software solution will allow customers to benefit from the performance of SSDs, while maintaining data on direct-attached, disk-based storage.

DAS Cache software works with SSDs from any manufacturer, empowering customers to select the SSD capacity and performance that is appropriate to their data center needs.

“We have been working very closely with Dell to provide a complete solution for their customers that provides the performance and cost benefits of solid-state storage technology,” said John Scaramuzzo, SVP and GM, enterprise storage solutions, SanDisk. “Combining innovations in both hardware and software enables customers to realize the potential of enterprise storage solutions. We are excited that Dell is able to offer the benefits of our SanDisk DAS Cache software to customers with its new PowerEdge servers.”

Reducing I/O Latency with Solid-State Caching
The DAS Cache software uses server-attached SSDs as an intermediate cache for an application’s most frequently accessed data, or hot data, which reduces I/O latency and enables data to be read and written more efficiently. The software assigns the hot data to the solid-state cache, with minimal overhead on server CPU and memory resources.

The DAS Cache software works with the range of SSDs attached via SATA, SAS and PCIe interfaces, and is available with next generation PowerEdge servers. Additionally, it helps to make the most actively used data accessible in faster responding media for applications, and reduces the TCO.

“SanDisk’s support for solid state technology in our new PowerEdge servers will further differentiate our offerings in the marketplace, as well as address our customers’ needs for high-performing, efficient, low-maintenance storage solutions,” said Ravi Pendekanti, VP of product marketing and management, Dell PowerEdge Servers. “Dell and SanDisk worked closely together to make SanDisk DAS Cache work seamlessly with Dell PowerEdge servers for an incredible combination of price, performance and enterprise features.”

Capabilities and benefits of DAS Cache software include:

• Ensuring data integrity with write-back caching technology, it accelerates writes as well as reads;
• Allows a choice of either write-back and/or write-through caching modes for optimal performance and flexibility – even within the same server;
• Scalable up to 16TB of cache capacity per server;
• Flexibility allows up to four separate cache ‘pools’ on a single server to enable different levels of QoS;
• Data protection through hardware or software RAID for SSDs;
• Cache persistence on server restart for ease of administration;
• Support for a range of OSs and hypervisors including Windows Hyper-v and Linux.

“As servers have grown ever more powerful, the difference between compute power and data access performance has become a critical challenge for vendors seeking to improve application performance,” said Eric Burgener, research director for IDC’s Storage practice. “Solid-state caching directly in the server delivers a lower latency option than network-based storage can provide, providing additional options for customers to meet extremely high performance requirements.”

DAS Cache software is supported by Dell Services and available with the purchase of a next-generation PowerEdge server.