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WDC FlashSoft 4 Software for vSphere 6 and Flash Virtualization System for Non-Disruptive Acceleration of Virtual Environments

Starting at $3,600 to $5,900 for FlashSoft 4 and at $75,000 for Flash Virtualization System

Western Digital Corporation announced two virtualization solutions designed to improve VM performance and density in vSphere environments.

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These include the availability of the FlashSoft 4 software for vSphere 6, and the introduction of the Flash Virtualization System, a flash-based hardware and software solution. FlashSoft 4 leverages a Western Digital and VMware VAIO co-design partnership for vSphere 6.

The two-year co-design between Western Digital and VMware has helped to advance storage solutions for VMware customers,” said Ravi Swaminathan, VP and GM, data center solutions business unit, Western Digital. “These new product innovations resulted from the deep ongoing engagement between our companies and are expected to greatly enhance VM performance. We look forward to expanding possibilities of the new architecture to continue delivering high-value solutions for our customers.

FlashSoft 4 software is based on an architecture that uses the vSphere APIs for IO Filtering (VAIO), providing high level of usability and performance (1) with vSphere 6. FlashSoft 4 is ta host-based caching software to achieve VMware Ready certification for guaranteed compatibility, reliability and support. It also introduces support for VMware-supported datastores, virtual disk acceleration, improved performance and stability, and integrated management through the vSphere web client GUI.

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The Flash Virtualization System builds on the benefits of the latest FlashSoft software by pairing it with SanDisk ION Accelerator software and Fusion ioMemory PCIe solid-state accelerators in a flash-provisioned server capable of delivering over a million IO/s (2) to accelerate storage I/O across the VMware environment. Without disrupting current server and storage infrastructure, the easy-to-deploy solution offers cluster-wide flash acceleration in existing VMware environments. The cost-effective solution also enables customers to get more performance and efficiency from existing storage and compute infrastructure, resulting in significant hardware and software savings.

Web client screen
Click to enlarge
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The VAIO framework represents the next generation of integration for third party data services integration in vSphere environments, enabling leading software solutions providers to align with VMware’s vision for the software defined data center,” said Yanbing Li, SVP and GM, storage and availability business unit, VMware, Inc.Western Digital’s support as a design partner for VAIO and the introduction of their new FlashSoft software illustrates the important role that our partners play in delivering on the promise of the software-defined data center.

The FlashSoft 4 software for vSphere 6 using the VAIO API is in-line with Dell’s vision for the software-defined data center. Using server-tier flash technology with FlashSoft host-based caching software is an innovative and cost-effective way to increase application performance in virtual environments,” said Ravi Pendekanti, VP, server platform development, Dell Inc.We are excited to see VMware’s support for host-based caching through the VAIO program, and VMware Ready certification will give customers the confidence to broadly adopt and deploy this innovative solution.

FlashSoft 4 is available as a solution bundle consisting of FlashSoft software and SanDisk SAS, SATA, or Fusion ioMemory PCIe solid-state devices, with MSRP starting at $,3600 to $5,900 depending on the device. The software is offered through the company, OEMs and reseller partners, including Dell, HPE, Lenovo and HDS, as well as select channel partners.

The Flash Virtualization System is available with MSRP starting at $75,000 (12.8TB 8-node cluster configuration).

(1)  VMware blog: vSphere APIs for IO Filtering
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2)  SanDisk ION Accelerator DS

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