HighPoint Technologies: SSD7120 NVMe U.2 RAID Controller

HighPoint Technologies, Inc. has announced the availability of its NVMe U.2 RAID controller, the SSD7120, which is designed for workstation and server applications that require transfer speeds exceeding 20xSATA SSDs, with the compact footprint of four 2.5″ drives.

Unlike conventional NVMe drives or controllers, the SSD7120 is an independent NVMe RAID solution; any system that has a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot with direct access to the CPU can experience the capabilities of NVMe storage performance. The SSD7120’s hardware architecture provides dedicated PCIe 3.0 x4 (32Gb/s) bus bandwidth for each SSD. The U.2 ports are compatible a range of 2.5″ rackmount chassis and simplifies upgrade and maintenance procedures. Any host platform with a dedicated PCIe 3.0 x16 slot can now unlock the performance potential of NVMe storage!

Dedicated PCIe 3.0 x16 maximizes transfer performance
Unlike onboard DMI 3.0 based NVMe solutions, which are forced to share a single PCIe 3.0 x4 lane with the motherboard’s SATA and USB ports, the SSD7120 features dedicated PCIe 3.0 x16 bus bandwidth, which allows each U.2 SSD to interface directly with the platform’s CPU and deliver transfer performance.

NVMe RAID manager for Linux and Windows systems
The SSD7120 RAID controller includes the company’s NVMe RAID Manager, an web-based interface designed to streamline the management and maintenance of NVMe-based storage solutions for Windows and Linux systems, with built-in integrated TRIM support, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, and total terabyte written (TBW) tracking. NVMe Manager provides a toolset for any NVMe storage application; whether fine-tuning RAID arrays, determining the level of PCIe resources available to the NVMe controller, or monitoring the health status and expected lifespan of each NVMe SSD.

Flexible 2.5″ U.2 form factor
The U.2 ports provide customers with flexibility when selecting an appropriate hardware platform. The connectors are compatible with a selection of 2.5″ form-factor rackmount chassis available. In addition, the industry standard SFF-8639 connectors accept cables of varying length, which allow the SSD7120 RAID controller to be integrated into custom chassis designs. This design simplifies field upgrades and maintenance sessions, and is for chassis that require removable drive trays for quick access to storage devices.

Optional 8643-8639-50 cable

Streamline Integration and Deployment with Certified Device Cables firm’s optional 8643-8639-50 cable was designed for the SSD7120 RAID controller, and features an SFF-8643 to U.2 SFF-8639 connector and 15-pin SATA power connector. The cable has been tested to ensure maximum transfer performance, secure connectivity and ease of integration between the SSD7120, and major U.2 SSDs from Intel Corp., Micron Technology, Inc., and HGST, Inc.‘s Ultra series.

Shipping and availability:

• The SSD7120 is available from the company’s North American E-retail and distribution partners.

• SSD7120 – 4 x dedicated 32Gb/s U.2 Ports to PCIe 3.0 x16 RAID controller – North American MSRP: $399

• 8643-8639-50 – SFF-8643 to U.2 SFF-8639 cable with 15-pin SATA power connector – North American MSRP: $34.99

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