Fusion-io Debuts Management Platform for SSD

Fusion-io announced the Fusion ioSphere Platform, a software management platform for server-attached storage-class memory. ioSphere provides live monitoring and reporting features, centralized management of distributed environments, and new flash-optimized software modules, such as automated caching software that enables ioMemory to act as a cache to existing storage systems.

Deploying storage-class memory such as flash-based ioMemory in the server where applications reside is the optimal architecture to maximize application performance. However, flash devices distributed across servers throughout the enterprise present an administrative challenge for IT architects. ioSphere solves this challenge by centralizing the management and administration of ioMemory across distributed server platforms.

"ioSphere’s management capabilities demonstrate how well our software layer complements our hardware, giving our customers visibility into expanding deployments of flash memory in today’s data centers," said Neil Carson, CTO of Fusion-io. "This announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering innovations that solve the challenges of ever-growing data and increasingly demanding applications."

Transforming Data Centers
with Complete Device Management
The ioSphere Platform is a centralized interface for deploying and managing VSL (Virtual Storage Layer) enabled software solutions. The ioManager software module comes standard with every ioMemory hardware device. Additional modules, such as ioDirector, directCache, and future software products, will be available via software upgrades.

ioManager
ioManager is built in to the ioSphere Platform, allowing administrators to easily inventory, configure and manage ioMemory devices installed in any single server.

ioDirector
Fusion’s ioDirector software module for the ioSphere platform centralizes flash device administration, creating a holistic view of ioMemory devices that can be viewed from a single web-based user interface for data center management and monitoring anywhere, anytime. Its real-time tracking capabilities optimize the allocation of ioMemory resources, improve security authentication and offer live metrics and historical trending for informed real-time decision making.

directCache
directCache is caching software that enables ioMemory to act as cache to any storage medium whether it is a disk array, SAN, direct attached storage or iSCSI target. directCache places the caching software in the server to deliver lower cache latency. With directCache, Fusion-io customers can have Terabytes of cache acceleration at their fingertips to speed performance of any backing store.

Third-Party Developers
ioSphere becomes a single interface for third-party developers and partners currently developing solutions based on Fusion’s Virtual Storage Layer (VSL). Third-party developers can now take advantage of the new architectural benefits inherent in storage-class memory deployed as a new memory tier in servers.

ioSphere will be available in Q1, 2011.