OCZ Introduces New 20Gb Interface for SSDs

OCZ Technology Group, Inc. has unveiled a proprietary interface called High-Speed Data Link (HSDL) to accelerate the progression of solid-state storage. Unsatisfied with existing interface options, OCZ developed HSDL to eliminate I/O bottlenecks and enable SSD technology to operate at its full potential. With this initiative, OCZ aims to enhance high performance computing (HPC) and I/O-intensive infrastructures for its clients.

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"Solid State Drive throughput speeds are increasing at a rate in excess of what current storage buses can support, and as a result, storage protocols are quickly becoming the bottleneck to storage subsystem performance," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. "Designed for both high-performance computing and enterprise storage applications, our new High Speed Data Link interface addresses this issue and revolutionizes data storage by significantly outperforming other current interfaces delivering performance at levels that saturate most CPU busses."

Capable of running up to 20Gbps of data bandwidth per channel, HSDL significantly outperforms existing storage interfaces such as Serial ATA (SATA) and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) which only offer 3Gbps/6Gbps data rates. Furthermore, multiple HSDL channels can be combined for maximum bandwidth to increase productivity levels in both consumer and enterprise applications.

OCZ’s new HSDL interface is the driving force behind the OCZ IBIS, an upcoming 3.5-inch SSD to be launched under the new HSDL initiative. As the first solution to make use of the HSDL interface, the OCZ IBIS Series has the potential to redefine storage and surpass the limitations currently placed on hard drives as well as other SSDs.

HSDL is an open standard and allows other devices to leverage this high-speed internal interconnect technology. OCZ is diligently working with platform partners for mass HSDL adoption, and in the meantime, single port adapter cards will ship with every HSDL solid-state drive such as the IBIS Series, while quad port cards for multiple drive configurations will also be available to clients seeking even greater storage and bandwidth.

Comments

It has to arrive. SSDs have much faster transfer rate and access time than HDDs, for them directly in relation with the rotational speed of disk platters at a maximum of 15,000rpm since many years.

FC, SAS or SATA interfaces cannot surpass 8Gb/s - but 16Gb FC seems to coming next year. HSDL can boost SSDs as it is three times faster than current interfaces. Until now, SSD vendors were obliged to integrate interfaces designed for HDDs and not optimized for the performance of flash drives.

That's why OCZ has developed HSDL. But it's a proprietary interface for its own SSDs and it's not sure that all SSD and server makers (for the host) will adopt it if there are royalties to be paid. Up to now, all the HDD internal interfaces were free of use and defined by standardization organizations, for example INCITS T11 for FC with Fibre Channel Industry Association, T10 with SCSI Trade Association for SAS, T13 with Serial ATA International Organization for SATA.

Today, HSDL needs a PCIe card for the host and cannot be directly connected to servers. Quad-port cards for multiple drive configurations will also be available to increased bandwidth further.

Upcoming 3.5-inch OCZ IBIS SSD with the new interface and SandForce processor are expected to be priced between $529 for 100GB to $2,799 for 960GB. Fast speed has big price.