Enterprise SSD Test Specs Released by SNIA

The Solid State Storage Initiative (SSSI) of the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) announced that the Enterprise Solid State Storage (SSS) Performance Test Specification (PTS) has been released to the public.

The Enterprise PTS Specification defines a suite of tests and test methodologies necessary to enable comparative testing of individual SSS enterprise device performance.

Over 50 individuals from 25 companies have been working on the SSS PTS since early 2009. These companies represent solid state storage manufacturers, controller makers, test labs, and computer system OEMs.

"Until now, Solid State Storage buyers have not had a single methodology to fairly compare the performance specifications of SSS products from different manufacturers," said Paul Wassenberg, chair of the SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative. "Using the Enterprise Performance Test Specification, the result is a common, easy to use methodology that gives system integrators and enterprise IT professionals the tools to objectively evaluate the performance of SSD products on the market today."

"The SSD industry will benefit from the PTS release. Consistent testing and specification of solid state storage devices will do much to resolve the confusion in the market and help speed adoption of solid state storage as a key element in the digital storage hierarchy," stated Thomas M. Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates.

Testing SSS Devices
When executed in a specific hardware/software environment, the SSS PTS provides performance metrics that can be compared to other SSS products measured in the same way in the same environment. A typical SSS device taken ‘fresh out of the box’ and exposed to a workload demonstrates a brief period of elevated performance, followed by a period of transition to a performance level called ‘Steady State’ which should be representative of the device’s performance during its working life. The SSS PTS prescribes preparation methodologies and defines Steady State so that performance measurements can be taken in the Steady State performance region.

The SSS PTS itself is test hardware and software agnostic, and individual testers can run the SSS PTS on their particular platform to compare the relative performance of SSS devices they are evaluating. However, in order for SSS PTS results to be compared on a true ‘apples-to-apples’ basis across multiple testers, a consistent test platform must be used. The SSS PTS includes a Reference Test Platform (RTP) that describes the test hardware, software, and tools used by the SNIA SSS Technical Work Group to do the research and validation of the specification. The RTP is not required to run the SSS PTS tests; it is merely an example of a platform that has been confirmed to meet the SSS PTS platform requirements.

How to Get Involved
A corresponding Client (single user) Solid State Storage Performance Test Specification is in development, with the first public review anticipated to occur later in 2011.