Nimbus Data FlashRack for Cloud, AI, Enterprise, and Edge Infrastructure

Nimbus Data, Inc. unveiled the new FlashRack line of next-gen all-flash storage systems.

Scalable to petabytes of encrypted enterprise-grade flash, FlashRack offers performance, security, versatility, efficiency, and value unrivaled in the market. Powered by Nimbus Data’s HALO software, it delivers more than scalable storage – it offers an accelerated data platform to support critical cloud, AI, enterprise, and edge applications.

“Today, organizations are rethinking their data infrastructure as they take on new growth initiatives,” stated Thomas Isakovich, CEO and founder. “FlashRack offers a most compelling solution – an open and high-performance architecture with exceptional scale and efficiency, as well as a truly universal platform that can be optimized for virtually any data type and workload.”

Powerful HALO Software Enables the Universal Flash Storage Platform
At the heart of FlashRack is HALO, software for holistic and open data management. With Flexspaces, FlashRack offers versatility, supporting any data type (block, file, object) and any workload type (mission-critical enterprise, extreme performance, maximum efficiency, data mobility) on one platform. This approach optimizes FlashRack for virtually any use case. With Federation, hundreds of FlashRacks can be centrally managed, simplifying administration at scale.

Patented Architecture and Controllers for Unmatched Speed and Efficiency
FlashRack features Nimbus Data’s patented Parallel Memory Architecture (PMA), a stateless design that writes data to enterprise-grade flash memory in a single operation. Competing architectures require 3 operations: one write to a DRAM or SLC cache on one controller, another write to mirror this cache to a second controller, and a 3rd write to commit this data to lower-grade flash later.

FlashRack’s approach delivers higher performance while using less energy. Just one cabinet of FlashRack systems offers up to 100PB of effective capacity, 3TB/s of throughput, and 200 million IO/s, all while drawing just 18kW of power. These record-breaking statistics make FlashRack the densest, fastest, and most energy efficient modular storage platform.

It is powered by Nimbus Data’s new Iridium network storage controllers. These active-active controllers support all major networks at today’s fastest data rates, including 10GbE to 400GbE, 16Gb to 64Gb FC, and FDR to NDR IB. Built-in hardware acceleration provides AES-256 encryption with zero impact on performance. Iridium controllers also feature dedicated WAN connectivity for replicating data securely to the public cloud. With its compact size, FlashRack can be deployed virtually anywhere, including tactical and edge environments.

Open Architecture and Lower TCO with Industry Standard SSDs
While enterprise storage vendors require customers to purchase capacity from them at premium prices, FlashRack puts the power back in the customer’s hands. It uses industry-standard SSDs, not proprietary flash modules or firmware-locked SSDs. Existing vendors may tout their “walled garden” approach, but the reality is that such proprietary systems offer no advantages in performance, density, or efficiency. For example, FlashRack delivers up to 1.5PB raw capacity in 2U and 900W, compared to 11U and 2,400W for one competitor’s top-end “proprietary module-based” system. That gives FlashRack a 5:1 density advantage and 3:1 energy efficiency advantage.

Solid State Packs Set Capacity Record and Ease Data Transport at the Edge
FlashRack supports 16TB, 32TB, and 64TB NVMe SSDs, as well as a new option – SSPs, or Solid State Packs. SSPs combine multiple SSDs into one hot-pluggable and encrypted storage module. Using Flexspaces, SSPs can be mirrored, then split and unmounted. Up to 512TB each, SSPs simplify capacity expansion and facilitate rapid data transport between FlashRack systems, a growing need for organizations grappling with massive data at the edge. Customers can also purchase FlashRack without any capacity and then add qualified SSDs from major vendors. This “unlocked” approach ensures that FlashRack customers always benefit from fair capacity pricing.

“At WWE, our storage requirements are massive, and events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Monday Night RAW each generate hundreds of terabytes of data,” stated Caleb House, director of remote broadcast systems and integration at WWE. “The performance and reliability of Nimbus Data flash arrays and Solid State Packs enable us to quickly capture and migrate footage from field locations to our headquarters for post-production, improving our workflow and productivity.”

Revolutionary Tectonic Program Reigns in Runaway Storage Costs
Unpredictable maintenance fees and capacity-based licensing have long been unwelcome costs in enterprise storage. Nimbus Data’s Tectonic program eliminates the “capacity tax” approach once and for all. With Tectonic, software and maintenance are charged at a flat rate, regardless of system capacity or age. Instead of tiered support options at different price points, Tectonic provides all customers with 24x7x365 support, rapid parts replacement, free web-based training, and annual check-ups. FlashRack also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.

With AlwaysGreen, FlashRack is a 100% green, zero emissions storage platform. To accomplish this, the vendor offsets the expected power consumption of all FlashRacks sold with renewable energy credits, a benefit that helps our customers achieve their sustainability objectives. With AlwaysBlue, customers can choose either a free controller upgrade or flash capacity credit after 5 years, providing a seamless hardware refresh that extends the system life to up to 10 years.