Netlist NVvault NVDIMM SSD Performance Tested by Calypso Systems

Netlist, Inc. announced that Calypso Systems, Inc., an independent test lab, has confirmed its NVvault NVDIMM SSD module for DDR3 has exceeded 1.6 million IO/s, making it the highest performing NVDIMM in the industry.

“This represents a significant increase in performance over other classes of SSD storage as measured to the SSS PTS specification,” said Eden Kim, CEO, Calypso.

“Netlist’s NVvault modules combine the attributes of a traditional SSD with the increased speed and lower latencies of the DDR3 memory channel. By combining flash and DRAM in the memory channel, SSD endurance and performance are improved, making Netlist’s NVvault NVDIMM the clear choice for mission critical server applications,” said Mario Martinez, senior director product marketing, Netlist.

Applications NVvault NVDIMM SSD modules include:

• Storing metadata in memory for application acceleration

• Host caching: As cache for direct attached PCIe SSDs

• Fast RAID computation as block device for distributed storage

• Check-pointing state for fast sync and restore

• SSD mapping Table

• Persistent RAMDisk

• As fast 4K block store

• Store boot image for fast restore

The NVvault NVDIMM incorporates DDR3 DRAM, MLC flash, control logic and an energy source to retain critical in-memory data through unexpected power loss events, system crashes or planned shutdowns. In the event of an unexpected power loss or system crash, the critical data residing in the DRAM is saved to flash where it is safely stored during the power outage. An on-board super capacitor provides the power necessary to operate the DIMM while the data is being transferred. When power is returned, the critical data stored in the flash is restored to the DRAM.

Non-Volatile DIMM (NVDIMM) is a dual in-line memory module that appears to the host system as a standard JEDEC Registered DIMM during normal operation while having the persistence of flash. The NVDIMM provides the performance, latency, and integrity of DRAM during DDR3 operation. These benefits are for OLTP, virtualization, big data analytics, high speed transaction processing, high performance database, and in-memory database applications.

The tests were performed by Calypso, an independent lab certified by the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) pursuant to SNIA- PTS test methodologies. The test lab measured symmetric random 4K reads and writes of 1.6 million IO/s, throughput of greater than 77Gb/s for SEQ 1,024K reads and 20Gb/s for SEQ 1024 writes, and 0.0037 mS average response time for random 4K write latency.

The NVDIMM SSD technology is being evangelized by a committee within SNIA comprised of more than a dozen companies dedicated to advancing the use of flash in the memory channel for both block I/O storage and as a persistent write cache.