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Enterprise flash array storage software, also known as a solid-state storage disk system, uses only flash media for persistent storage. Flash memory is an alternative to the traditional spinning hard disk drives that were the core technology of older networked storage systems. Flash storage is much faster than traditional disk storage, and it uses less power. It also takes up less physical space, is less prone to mechanical failure and is significantly quieter.
Data compression and deduplication
Disaster recovery
Management console
AI-driven management
REST APIs for cloud orchestration
Support for security standards
Elastic concurrency
High capacity
High performance
Flash array products include native software services that allow users to manage and protect data directly on the array hardware. There are a variety of available algorithms for data management such as:
compression and deduplication
snapshotting
replication
thin provisioning
Flash array storage pricing has been falling in recent years. It is now nearing parity with hard disk drives. The traditional way to compare storage pricing is $/KB, or the cost of storing a single GB of data. However, real cost for the enterprise is much higher due to variability in platform hardware and software costs. This is still a useful place to begin as it provides a basic comparison metric. However, keep in mind that this is just a starting point, and that there is a range of available features that can greatly affect the overall price.
Pure Storage in Mountain View, California offers all-flash array data storage promising affordability, high availability, and consistent performance.
Nimble Storage was acquired by HPE in 2017. The enterprise flash array product line now goes by the name HPE Nimble Storage.
IBM Storwize is a family of recognized all-flash and hybrid storage solutions designed to support the virtualization needs and application workloads of mid-sized enterprises.
IBM's FlashSystem is a flash array storage option.
HPE 3PAR StoreServ is a flash storage option, from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise.
Unity from Dell EMC is a family of all-flash and hybrid flash storage platforms emphasizing value and cost efficiency.
Since it's acquisition in 2011 Compellent became a Dell product line of storage solutions (e.g. Dell Compellent Storage Center). Compellent products have been folded into the Dell EMC SC Series of enterprise flash and SAN storage devices.
XtremIO is flash storage from EMC.
The former EMC VNX series is EOL. The vendor invites users to instead try Dell EMC's Unity series family of midrange storage appliances.
NetApp SolidFire is all-flash storage.
Tintri in Mountain View, California offers flash array storage.
Reduxio in San Bruno, California offers flash array storage.
NetApp AFF A-Series All Flash Arrays are the company's flagship flash storage solutions.
K2 is flash array storage from Kaminario in Newton, Massachusetts.
Dell EMC VMAX All Flash is the latest iteration in the former Symmetrix series of enterprise flash array storage, available in the Dell EMC VMAX 250F edition, or the Dell EMC VMAX 950F edition.
Western Digital offers the IntelliFlash flash array storage option based on technology acquired with Tegile, now owned and supported by Western Digital since August 2017.
DDN Storage Fusion Architecture (SFA) appliances, available in the SFA200NV and SFA400NV editions, provide a scalable flash storage solution.
DataDirect Networks (DDN) offers their Infinite Memory Engine (IME) offered in the IME140 and IME240 appliances or via an IME software only edition, DDN IME Flash-Native Cache.
Hitachi offers flash array storage, Unified Storage VM.
Nimbus Data in San Francisco offers Gemini All Flash Arrays storage.
Oracle's FS1 Flash Storage is an enterprise SAN storage.
The Hitachi Vantara Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) G Series is the company's hybrid-flash offering.
NetApp FlashRay is no longer available.
SanDisk's InfiniFlash is a flash array storage option now owned and supported by Western Digital since the 2016 acquisition.
Violin Memory in Santa Clara, CA offers a flash storage platform emphasizing cost-efficient storage that yet still supports applications at high performance.