Swissbit N4200 2.5-Inch U.3 Up to 8TB/16TB Data Center SSD with 3D eTLC NAND

Swissbit AG introduces its first SSD designed specifically for the application profiles and requirements of data centers.

Compared to standard data center SSDs, the N4200 offers x2 to x5 faster constant write speed while maintaining low latency and 2x greater endurance over its lifetime.

Major advances have been developed thanks to an adapted firmware, optimized for real-world data center workloads. Customers may select from predefined workload cluster configurations, including options for big data, video streaming, or ML. In addition, the SSD has the ability to measure its workload on the fly, providing data for firmware adaptability. Utilizing this information, the company can offer an optional in-depth workload analysis and tailored firmware configuration. This SSD enables data center providers to present their customers with a reliable, constant, and cost-optimized service level. The N4200 is available with a storage capacity of 8TB at launch, with a 16TB version to follow.

Most cloud applications in data centers are still reliant on mainstream SSD solutions, despite a 50 to 75% deterioration of performance within the first few months. Data centers suffer increased latency, as well as servicing and cost overheads as SSDs often require replacement earlier than planned.

“Most off-the-shelf SSDs lose performance and endurance as well as response time due to non-optimized flash management. With the N4200, we are taking a different approach, optimizing to specific application profiles rather than outdated standard benchmarks. For the implementation, we have established the Swissbit optimization process, which starts with an evaluation of the actual workload. On this basis, we individually optimize the firmware so that the relationship between performance and endurance is adapted to the real workload of the customer’s application,” explains Roger Griesemer, GM, memory division.

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Keeping an eye on workload
If the customer already knows the workload of his application, he can immediately apply the standard configuration of the N4200, already optimized for use in data centers. Additionally, this SSD can be configured in advance for the most common workload clusters, such as big data, video streaming, ML, AI, or IoT.

For maximized performance, however, the company offers optional optimization based on a detailed workload analysis of the specific customer’s application. For this, the user receives a test copy of the N4200, which measures and records the workload on site during operation. The workload profile is then analyzed by the Swissbit Datacenter team and the firmware is precisely configured to fit.

“This approach delivers a solution that is specifically designed to handle complex cloud applications and provides the industry’s most stable throughput and lowest latency under real-world workloads, all without host modifications,” added Griesemer.

N4200 technical specs
The 2.5-inch U.3 SSD is based on enterprise-grade 3D TLC NAND (eTLC), is backward compatible with U.2, and features a 4-lane PCIe interface to PCIe 4.0 spec for up to 8,000MB/s bandwidth in both directions. Storage capacities are 7.68TB and 15.4TB, respectively.

The Datacenter SSD N4200 is available.

Video: Swissbit Data Center Solutions | A radical new SSD approach to solving real life workload challenges