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IBM STEPS INTO NVME IN A BIG WAY WITH
THE NEW FLASHSYSTEM 9100
E
xecutive Snapshot: IBM FlashSystem 9100 Announcement
Source: IDC, 2018 IDC ANALYZE THE FUTURE. In July 2018,
IBM made a bold set of upgrades with the IBM Flash5ystem
9100, its flagship dual controller enterprise array design targeted for
consolidation of block-based workloads. The changes are significant
as they represent a move toward more standardized designs in terms
of both NVMe and storage array packaging. While other software-
based products were also announced, changes in the FlashSystem
9100 stand out as a harbinger of the future direction of IBM all-flash
array (AFA) evolution.
Key Takeaways
• IBM has announced its first true enterprise-class end-to-end
NVMe-based general-purpose storage platform with the IBM
FlashSystem 9100, delivering three times the performance, six
times the storage density, 60% less energy consumption, and
a 66% smaller rack space footprint than the IBM AFA that it
will ultimately replace (the FlashSystem V9000).
• Additional enhancements to IBM's hybrid cloud integration
capabilities drive additional value for customers.
• IBM also introduced the IBM FlashWatch program, which is focused
around delivering a better customer experience by offering a
number of up-front guarantees around the 9100 platform.
Recommended Actions
• Customers looking to share high-performance NVMe-based storage
with very efficient utilization and comprehensive and proven
enterprise-class data ser-vices should consider this system (which
includes an NVMe over Fabric connection based on infiniBand).
• Existing IBM customers can either continue to expand I3M
Flash5ystem V9000 configurations with that SCSI-based
platform or, if NVMe performance is required, move to the new
FlashSystem 9100 without having to learn new software (it runs
the same Spectrum Viqualize software that the V9000 does).
• Customers should be thinking about how they will be
integrating NVMe technology into their storage infrastructures
over the next several years without having to disrupt
application services. n
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