Higher Storage I/O Performance Needs Driving Global PCIe SSD Market

A key evolutionary development in the storage industry is the convergence of PCIe, a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard, and SSDs, according to Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

A key reason cited for the convergence of PCIe and enterprise SSD is the growing native availability of PCIe interconnects on all CPU devices and the growing trend towards integrating SAS, SATA, and FC with PCIe host interface. PCIe SSD is a technology where PCIe is engineered as the primary interface for SSD sub-systems and modules. The PCIe packet-based loss-less protocol enhances the performance and capacity of SSDs, while simultaneously reducing system complexity and costs.

PCIe offers a unified backplane with a single IO interface that supports IPC, LAN and SAN connectivity. It provides a powerful fabric for high-speed throughput and low latency performance, which translates into reduced instances of dropped packages, transmission errors, and automatic re-transmission of packet data in the remote event of transmission error. This advantage provides the technology a competitive edge in the storage space where data corruption and loss can have a debilitating impact on enterprise processes.

Conventional storage interfaces like SATA SSDs typically have limited bus capacity for data transfer from the SSD to the processor.

High-speed PCIe bus interface is capable of delivering high throughput making it particularly attractive for storage networks that carry heavy content load. Also, the unified PCIe backplane is designed to transfer multiple data types to the processor. Therefore, increasing adoption of video based enterprise customer application is expected to bring in lucrative opportunities for the adoption of PCIe SSD.

The growing number of IO/s led by improvements in physical CPU structure like increase in number of cores and the multiplier effect of virtualization, is benefiting the market for PCIe SSD. Server virtualization, VDIs and high performance databases create the need for higher storage I/O performance. PCIe SSD, in this regard, flaunts the ability to squeeze in additional performance in terms of IO/s. Ability to support the maximum number of IO/s without performance degradation is a key advantage of the PCIe SSD technology. Limited ability to support increasing IO/s is a major bottleneck in conventional storage technologies and therefore is now a critical factor in the deployment of storage solutions. The scenario is expected to benefit PCIe SSD which in addition to offering increased capability to handle higher IO/s at faster speeds also offers the lowest cost per IO/s as compared to other conventional technologies.

Rise in cloud computing infrastructures is creating significant opportunities for PCIe SSD led by the numerous advantages offered by the interface. Increased adoption of cloud computing infrastructures translates into increased deployment of virtualized environments where the growing density of VMs creates large and complicated bottlenecks in storage I/O. I/O blender effect is a growing concern in both public and private cloud infrastructures where cost optimization issues are resulting in increased consolidation of more number of VMs on lesser hardware. PCIe SSD is expected to gain adoption among cloud computing architects largely because of the perfect antidote it offers to the I/O issues confronted.

The evolution of Bridged PCIe SSD solutions like PCIe based SAS, SCSI Over PCIe (SOP), PCIe based SATA and FPGA-based PCIe SSDs are creating a unique mixture of opportunities and challenges for native PCIe SSD solutions. Bridged PCIe SSD solutions currently have inherent architectural limitations that make these solutions less cost effective in the longer run. In addition, these solutions have the ability to handle only medium density IO/s. Higher power consumption is another major drawback associated with these solutions. In comparison, native PCIe SSD represents a new generation enterprise architecture solution that provides scalable I/O performance unrivalled by bridged PCIe SSD solutions. These solutions provide a direct interface required to leverage maximum advantage and performance from NAND flash. Although bridged PCIe SSD represents an adroit, disruptive technology makeover targeted at cost conscious storage customers, its potential to dilute market penetration of native PCIe SSD is seen as fairly temporary.

As stated by the new market research report on PCIe SSD, the US represents the largest market worldwide. Europe represents the second largest market. Subdued growth in IT spending in Europe, especially the decline in spending in Western Europe, is weakening the outlook in the PCIe SSD market in the region. Government spending cuts represents a key reason for the decline in IT spending in the region, given the fact that public sector IT spends accounts for over 26% of the total IT spends in Western Europe. China is forecast to emerge as the fastest growing market with a projected CAGR of 92.3% over the analysis period.

Major players in the market include BiTMICRO Networks Inc., Dell Inc., EMC Corporation, Fusion-io Inc., Fujitsu Technology Solutions, Intel Corporation, IBM Corporation, Micron Technology Inc., OCZ Technology Group Inc., RUNCORE Innovation Technology CO, LTD., SMART Modular Technologies, Violin Memory Inc., and Virident Systems Inc.

The research report titled PCIe SSD: A Global Strategic Business Report (150 pages) provides a review of market trends, company profiles, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. The report provides market estimates and projections in thousand units for major geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, China and rest of world.