High-performance hybrid array
Encyclopedia
An hybrid array uses a data storage architecture approach that is designed to provide IT data center
s and cloud computing data centers with high storage performance at a lower cost per I/O, by combining hard disk drives (HDDs) with solid-state drive
s (SSDs) using intelligent SSD caching software.
(SATA) drives, or higher-performance serial attached SCSI
(SAS) drives, with high I/O performance, energy efficient SSDs, used as cache pools, to create hybrid storage arrays.
This approach combines the scalability and relative affordability of low-cost HDD technologies, with the low latency, high I/O performance and energy-efficiency of SSDs, enabling data centers to maximize performance while minimizing capital and operating costs. HPHA systems are managed by an SSD cache-pool-aware storage controller, which uses intelligent data conditioning capabilities to determine how to most efficiently provision the data between the HDD and the SSD devices.
Depending on data center performance and capacity needs, an HPHA can consist of any combination of HDDs, SSDs and SSD caching technology.
, file serving
, and database
s (e.g. MySQL
), which require scalable IT resources, compliance with key regulatory measures, and simplified management, while meeting new, lower IT total cost of ownership
(TCO) requirements.
The HPHA approach is designed to achieve the best price/performance when compared with other alternatives – replacing all HDDs with SSDs (highest cost per I/O) – using all SAS HDDs (highest I/O per watt).
With the HPHA approach, write data blocks are directed to the primary rotating media (HDD). Intelligent SSD caching software analyzes the application I/O patterns and builds I/O access tables. The software uses I/O access tables to progressively move frequently read (hot) data blocks from the HDD to the SSD for faster retrieval during future requests for the same data blocks. All data is protected and stored on the hard disk drives or arrays. The benefits of the HPHA approach include: reduced capital expenditures, streamlined operations resulting in reduced operating costs, improved data protection, improved SSD write reliability, and application optimization.
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
s and cloud computing data centers with high storage performance at a lower cost per I/O, by combining hard disk drives (HDDs) with solid-state drive
Solid-state drive
A solid-state drive , sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block i/o hard disk drive...
s (SSDs) using intelligent SSD caching software.
Summary
High-performance Hybrid Arrays (HPHAs) combine intelligent SSD caching software, low-cost serial ATASerial ATA
Serial ATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives...
(SATA) drives, or higher-performance serial attached SCSI
Serial Attached SCSI
Serial Attached SCSI is a computer bus used to move data to and from computer storage devices such as hard drives and tape drives. SAS depends on a point-to-point serial protocol that replaces the parallel SCSI bus technology that first appeared in the mid 1980s in data centers and workstations,...
(SAS) drives, with high I/O performance, energy efficient SSDs, used as cache pools, to create hybrid storage arrays.
This approach combines the scalability and relative affordability of low-cost HDD technologies, with the low latency, high I/O performance and energy-efficiency of SSDs, enabling data centers to maximize performance while minimizing capital and operating costs. HPHA systems are managed by an SSD cache-pool-aware storage controller, which uses intelligent data conditioning capabilities to determine how to most efficiently provision the data between the HDD and the SSD devices.
Depending on data center performance and capacity needs, an HPHA can consist of any combination of HDDs, SSDs and SSD caching technology.
Background and purpose
HPHAs are designed to accelerate performance and hardware efficiency in large-scale data centers and cloud computing environments running advanced I/O-intensive IT data center applications, such as web servingWeb server
Web server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....
, file serving
File server
In computing, a file server is a computer attached to a network that has the primary purpose of providing a location for shared disk access, i.e. shared storage of computer files that can be accessed by the workstations that are attached to the computer network...
, and database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
s (e.g. MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
), which require scalable IT resources, compliance with key regulatory measures, and simplified management, while meeting new, lower IT total cost of ownership
Total cost of ownership
Total cost of ownership is a financial estimate whose purpose is to help consumers and enterprise managers determine direct and indirect costs of a product or system...
(TCO) requirements.
The HPHA approach is designed to achieve the best price/performance when compared with other alternatives – replacing all HDDs with SSDs (highest cost per I/O) – using all SAS HDDs (highest I/O per watt).
With the HPHA approach, write data blocks are directed to the primary rotating media (HDD). Intelligent SSD caching software analyzes the application I/O patterns and builds I/O access tables. The software uses I/O access tables to progressively move frequently read (hot) data blocks from the HDD to the SSD for faster retrieval during future requests for the same data blocks. All data is protected and stored on the hard disk drives or arrays. The benefits of the HPHA approach include: reduced capital expenditures, streamlined operations resulting in reduced operating costs, improved data protection, improved SSD write reliability, and application optimization.