AFA IBM FlashSystem 9100 With PCIe NVMe SSDs and Software

This article was written on a blog of IBM. Corp. on July 9, 2018 by Eric Herzog, VP product marketing and management, IBM Storage Systems.

IBM FlashSystem 9100
The core of the data-driven multi-cloud enterprise

IBM believes that today there is only one kind of successful enterprise – the data-driven multi-cloud organization.[1]

We can see the needs of data-driven businesses reflected in some of the most powerful trends currently driving enterprise storage: NVMe, AI, multi-cloud, containers and more.[2]

The question becomes: “Is there a storage solution available today, built on a mature, proven technology platform, that addresses today’s storage, data center, and cloud trends within a single platform; with an extensive AI and cloud-centric software portfolio, that supports both traditional and modern data centers?“

The answer is IBM FlashSystem 9100.

The newly-announced FlashSystem 9100 all-flash arrays are flexible, modern, agile, and NVMe-optimized storage systems built with Spectrum Virtualize and FlashCore technologies. They are coupled with several members of IBM’s Spectrum family of modern data protection, software-defined storage and multi-cloud enabled storage software.

“The new IBM FlashSystem 9100 storage systems from IBM are what the marketplace has been waiting for,” states Ed Walsh, GM, IBM storage and software-defined infrastructure. “They have NVMe-inside, dedupe and hardware-accelerated compression, 3D-TLC density, all of the advantages that IBM FlashCore technology brings, plus a long list of software[3] – defined and modern data protection Spectrum Storage solutions for today’s data driven multi-cloud enterprise. What an enterprise storage system should be has just been redefined.“

FlashSystem 9100 offers the combined advantages of FlashCore technology, integrated with the multi-cloud-centric software-defined capabilities of Spectrum solutions. The NVMe-optimized AFAs arrays provide up to 2PB of effective storage in 2RU and up to 32PB of all flash in a single industry standard 42RU rack.

FlashCore technology deliver consistent microsecond latency, reliability, availability, and a range of operational and cost efficiencies. A key innovation involves the introduction of FlashCore modules with NVMe interfaces that can be deployed with any combination of industry-standard NVMe flash drives to provide tailored, flexible, mid-range all-flash performance storage.

Spectrum Virtualize provides the enterprise data services foundation for FlashSystem 9100 solutions. Its capabilities enable NVMe-optimized arrays to function as IT infrastructure and multi-cloud modernization and transformation engines, thanks to the range of data services that can be extended to over 440 IBM and non-IBM heterogeneous storage systems, helping to reduce both capital and operational expenses while increasing ROI in legacy infrastructure.

“We are a long-time client of IBM’s FlashSystem solutions and have found them to be outstanding for delivering real value in our data driven enterprise,” said Nader El-Ramly, chief product officer, ZE PowerGroup Inc. “We are very excited about the new FlashSystem 9100 not only because of its blazing application performance, but also its panoply of included multi-cloud enabled storage software, which will provide even more business benefits.”

FlashSystem 9100 capabilities can be extended by adding Spectrum Storage components in three pre-validated, cloud-focused solution blue prints:

The Data Reuse, Protection and Efficiency solution leverages the capabilities of Spectrum Protect Plus and Spectrum Copy Data Management (CDM) to provide enhanced data protection features for virtual applications with powerful data copy management and reuse functionality both on premises and in the cloud.
The BC and Data Reuse solution leverages Spectrum Virtualize for Public Cloud to extend data protection and DR capabilities into the IBM Cloud, as well as all the copy management and data reuse features of CDM.
The Private Cloud Flexibility and Data Protection solution enables simplified deployment of private clouds, provides the technology needed to implement container environments, and includes all of the capabilities of CDM to manage copy sprawl and provide data protection for containerized applications.
All three extended solutions for FlashSystem 9100 come with detailed blueprints designed to help lower risks, speed deployment and increase ROI.

All IBM storage solutions, including the new FlashSystem 9100 arrays, now come with Storage Insights, IBM’s enterprise, AI-based predictive analytics, SRM, and support platform delivered over the cloud. It monitors the health, capacity and performance for all block storage and external storage under management on a single screen, helping to understand and plan storage capacity and performance. The solution provides proactive best practices and uses AI-based analytics to help identify potential issues before they become problems. Storage Insights helps to get faster resolution of issues, an enhanced user experience, higher systems availability and the confidence of services delivered from one of the world’s leading cloud environments.

Thanks to the capabilities of the entire IBM Storage portfolio – now including FlashSystem 9100 – the company is positioned to support its clients’ journeys to becoming data-driven, multi-cloud organizations.

“Every IT group must provide BC and data copy provisioning and management solutions to the larger enterprise. These two related challenges can divert substantial resources and focus from other business-critical pursuits,” said Eric Burgener, research VP of storage, IDC. “Highly flash-optimized storage arrays that offer a full complement of enterprise data services and support for the latest NVMe technologies, like the IBM FlashSystem 9100, provide the performance, scalability and functionality to address these challenges for the data-driven, multi-cloud enterprise.”

In addition to this blog post, see other articles about the new FlashSystem 9100, covering topics such as:

The power of a storage platform: IBM FlashSystem 9100 – a more in-depth look at what makes FlashSystem 9100 unique.
Multi-Cloud enabled FlashSystem 9100 for Enterprise IT and LOB – learning more about how FlashSystem 9100 addresses the needs of the modern enterprise.
FlashSystem for fast and smart private cloud – introducing the new FlashSystem 9100 solution for Private Cloud Flexibility and Data Protection.
Data driven storage: multiply the value of your data – an introduction to the Data Reuse, Protection, and Efficiency solution for IBM FlashSystem 9100.
Data driven market leaders – an exploration of how Spectrum Copy Data Management provides added value in all the IBM FlashSystem 9100 solutions.
Peace of mind with FlashWatch Program – a reminder of the numerous warranties and guarantees collectively driving client ‘Peace of Mind.’
Powerful access to the multi-cloud – a more detailed description of Spectrum Access and its many multi-cloud capabilities.
Taking BC to new levels in multi-cloud environments – introducing the new FlashSystem 9100 solution for BC and Data Reuse.
Make your Storage Work: Proactive Best Practices and AI-based Analytics for Storage Efficiency – a closer look at the AI-enhanced system insights program recently introduced by IBM.