All-Flash VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node Solutions From AIC

AIC, Inc. demonstrated its all-flash Vmware, Inc.‘ Virtual SAN Ready Node solution at VMworld 2016 in Las Vegas, NV.

The line of all-flash array hardware is built with memory and SSDs from Micron Technology, Inc. along with SAS HBAs from ATTO Technology, Inc.

Businesses are generating, collecting and storing ever-increasing amounts of data and IT professionals are being tasked with simplifying how they manage this information. Fast access to data is challenging, especially when you rely on spinning disks. To that end, the company’s solution takes advantage of SSDs. The Micron SSDs are optimized for VMware Virtual SAN.

Organizations looking to maximize their workload performance will want to either integrate the solution into their existing VMware cluster or to build a new cluster using a minimum of three nodes.

The solution from AIC comes in two versions (registration required for datasheet), both supporting twelve processor cores. The SDS-V110 is available with 64 and 128GB RAM options, while the SDS-V224 comes in 64, 128 and 256GB RAM options. End users get ten hot-swap drive bays in the SDS-V110 and 24 bays in the SDS-V224. Raw storage ranges from 720GB to 5.76TB in the SDS-V100 and climbs to 2.64 to 21.12TB in the SDS-V224.

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The company is using Micron’s SSDs because there is no waste capacity. The Micron M510DC 600GB user capacity cache SSD is sized so it matches the 600GB recommendation from VMware. This is more cost-effective than paying for and deploying an 800GB SSD cache and wasting 200GB.

The company also chose to partner with ATTO for its HBA. The result is lowered latency and data transfers as much as 22% faster than with standard drivers.

The firm developed its VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node solution for SMBs that require optimized storage in a virtualized environment. The solution is also suitable for current vSphere users who must refresh servers or are challenged to lower the cost of their storage.

“We ensured that our customers will achieve a quicker path to revenue by branding these white-box, ready-to-go solutions,” said CT Sun, chief architect, AIC. “Adoption is hassle-free because we have tested the configurations for interoperability.“