Single-Chip Enterprise SSD Controller With Native PCIe

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. has delivered a single-chip enterprise-class flash controller with native PCIe.

The controller was co-developed with Micron Technology, Inc. for exclusive use in Micron’s recently announced P320h PCIe solid-state storage system. Micron’s new PCIe SSD is targeted at enterprise applications that require a controller to meet the requirements of today’s demanding enterprise environments. This announcement comes as a result of a product development and licensing agreement that IDT and Micron formed in 2009 to co-develop PCIe-based controllers for delivering unmatched SSD performance and enterprise-class reliability.

Adoption of enterprise-class SSDs is gaining momentum by offering higher performance and lower power than HDDs. However, new NAND Flash architectures and multi-die Flash packaging are causing the available Flash bandwidth to exceed the throughput of traditional SATA and SAS storage interconnects. PCI Express Flash controllers overcome this bottleneck and deliver unparalleled performance, while at the same time reducing system power and latency by eliminating the traditional storage infrastructure and directly attaching the SSD to the processor’s PCIe host bus. IDT’s PCIe enterprise Flash controllers enable OEMs and SSD partners to benefit from this technology with high-performance, enterprise-class PCIe Flash controllers.

"Micron’s P320h PCIe SSD leads the industry in performance for enterprise-class applications," said Gary Gentry, general manager, enterprise division, Micron’s NAND solutions group. "The performance we’re able to achieve with the P320h wouldn’t be possible without the tight integration of the controller coupled with our industry-leading NAND Flash. The PCIe and DDR interface designs that IDT provided for the controller played an integral role in enabling Micron to deliver a best-in-class PCIe SSD solution."

"IDT’s partnership with Micron resulted in enterprise-class PCIe SSD solutions offering a significant boost to performance compared to legacy storage interfaces and leading cost-per-IOPS," said Kam Eshghi, senior director of marketing at the Enterprise Computing Division of IDT. "We worked closely with Micron to develop this solution, addressing end customers’ performance requirements with enterprise-class reliability."