Flash Memory Summit: Mellanox BlueField Storage Solutions Accelerating NVMe Over Fabrics

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. announced the availability of storage reference platforms based on its BlueField System-on-Chip (SoC), combining a programmable multicore CPU, networking, storage, security, and virtualization acceleration engines into a single, integrated device.

BlueField integrates all the technologies needed to connect NVMe over Fabrics flash arrays, with the fastest performance available in the market. It provides 200Gb/s of throughput and more than ten million IO/s in a single SoC device. In addition, the on-board multicore ARM processor subsystem enables flexible programmability that allows vendors to differentiate their software-defined storage appliances with advanced capabilities. This makes BlueField the chip to control and connect all-flash arrays and just-a-bunch-of-flash (JBOF) systems to IB and Ethernet ctorage fabrics.

BlueField (logical design illustration) includes networking,
CPU cores, cache, DRAM controllers, and a PCIe switch all on one chip.
Click to enlarge

“BlueField is the most highly integrated NVMe over Fabrics solution,” said Michael Kagan, CTO, Mellanox. “By tightly integrating high-speed networking, programmable ARM cores, PCIe switching, cache, memory management, and smart offload technology all in one chip; the result is improved performance, power consumption, and affordability for flash storage arrays. BlueField is a key part of our Ethernet storage fabric solution, which is the most efficient way to network and share high-performance storage.”

“As data takes over the world, networked storage takes over computing,” said Peter Burris, GM and chief research officer, Wikibon, Inc. “The BlueField SoC controller is a leading example of the right technology at the right time.“

BlueField (logical design illustration) includes networking,
CPU cores, cache, DRAM controllers,
and a PCIe switch all on one chip.
Click to enlarge

BlueField and the flash array reference platform was showned at Flash Memory Summit.

BlueField flash array reference platform

Click to enlarge

BlueField samples and storage reference design systems will be available in 4Q17.

“We use Mellanox NICs and RDMA today, and are excited that BlueField integrates all the technologies needed to connect NVMe over Fabrics flash arrays,” said Yaniv Romem, CTO, Excelero, Inc. “We are looking forward to seeing the fastest performing SoC come to market in the form of Mellanox BlueField technology.”

“Continuous innovation around NIC and RDMA solutions is why E8 Storage is proud to collaborate with Mellanox to deliver an end-to-end shared NVMe solution for high-performance enterprise storage applications,” said Ziv Serlin, VP, system architecture, E8 Storage, Inc. “With 200Gb/s of throughput and up to 10 million IO/s in a single SoC device, BlueField will bring increased performance and flexible programmability to the industry.“

“BlueField will power a new class of flash storage designs based on Mellanox’s robust SoC,” said Evan Chien, director, Inventec Corporation. “We are pleased to see this advancement as BlueField enables a new level of flexible programmability that will enable us to differentiate our products with additional advanced capabilities.”

“The Mellanox BlueField technology and ConnectX-5 adapters can pass storage traffic directly to our flash controllers and NVRAM devices, thereby greatly enhancing NVMe over Fabrics performance,” said Derek Dicker, VP and business unit manager, performance storage, Microsemi Corporation. “Our SwitchTek PCIe switches and FlashTek SSD controllers are the ideal fit for flash storage systems using the BlueField SoC and we look forward to leveraging this technology.”

“BlueField holds the promise of greatly enhancing our product offerings,” said Eugene McCabe, EVP, Sanmina Corporation. “As we continue to improve our offerings, BlueField will enable us to offer our customers increased performance and efficiency, thereby delivering a more robust system solution.”

“BlueField is a brand new, highly integrated device,” said Peter Tung, COO, enterprise business group, Wistron Corporation. “The advanced performance and capabilities makes it an elegant solution for controlling and connecting our all -flash arrays to Mellanox IB and Ethernet storage fabrics.“

Resources:
BlueField: Product information
BlueField: Software overview
BlueField Video
BlueField product web page and product brief
BlueField Reference Platform
Video: The evolution of NVMe over Fabrics overview
Blog: NVMe over Fabrics Standard is Released
Mellanox Ethernet Switches