It’s hard to think of a modern application that doesn’t rely on data. Whether AI, Machine Learning, High-Frequency Trading (HFT), or Electronic Design Automation (EDA), today’s computing challenges rely on the right emerging data storage technology at the right time.
The Challenge of Data Gravity
As applications rely on higher volumes of low-latency data, data storehouses are consolidating and growing. The larger a storehouse of data, the more applications and services are attracted to it, much like in the physical world, where the more significant an object's mass is, the stronger its gravity. This trend toward storing more data in fewer places accentuates the need for better-performing storage.
Disparate Data Generation
At the same time, thanks to mobile and Edge Computing, data is being collected and processed in more places than ever. To facilitate the flow of data from centralized sources, more customers need storage solutions of varying sizes that can address the needs of multiple locations - from the cloud to the data center to the Edge.
What is driving data storage technology innovation?
Thanks to the increasing demands of AI, high-frequency trading, electronic design innovation, and other next-gen workloads, storage manufacturers like Dell Technologies are building solutions with:
- Faster streaming reads and write performance
- Increased throughput and accelerated access times
- Greater power efficiency
- The latest processors like [4th generation Intel Xeon](https://www.unicomengineering.com/blog/ai-without-the-wait-using-4th-gen-xeon-scalable-processors-and-ai-acceleration-1/) Sapphire Rapids CPUs
- PCIe Gen 5 compatibility
Answering the Call: Emerging Data Storage by Dell Technologies
In December, Dell Technologies’ team unveiled plans for significant advancements in storage technology to support AI-optimized infrastructure. With the introduction of its latest NVME all-flash storage nodes, the Dell PowerScale F210 and F710, the company intends to advance AI-optimized infrastructure as part of its overarching vision for AI.
This release marks the debut of their latest generation of high-performance file storage systems, harnessing the capabilities of best-in-class PowerEdge servers to cater to the most demanding computational workloads. Integrated with the cutting-edge OneFS software, PowerScale represents a comprehensive AI-ready data platform, distinguished by its unparalleled performance, scalability, operational efficiency, federal-grade security measures, and flexibility across multiple cloud environments.
The Right Blend of Vision and Execution:
Dell Technologies has consistently earned the title of Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for eight consecutive years. This prestigious recognition applauds companies that provide innovative and effective distributed file systems and object storage solutions. While the F210 delivers optimal performance for minor capacity requirements, the F710 balances high performance and substantial capacity within a compact 1RU form factor.
Enhanced Performance:
Compared to the previous generation, combined with software optimizations over the past year, users can expect up to double the improvement in streaming read performance. This advancement significantly expedites feeding GPUs for model training and fine-tuning. With double the streaming write performance, users can also expect optimization in the model checkpointing phase of the AI pipeline. Moreover, PowerScale facilitates faster turnaround times and mitigates the risk of tape-out delays, boasting up to a 2.6x improvement in high-concurrency and latency-sensitive workloads such as high-frequency trading (HFT) and electronic design automation (EDA).
Improved Efficiency:
Substantial progress has been made in optimizing customers’ total cost of ownership. Dell Technologies’ latest platform uses a Smart Flow chassis, which optimizes airflow to enhance energy efficiency. Continuous innovation like this enabled Dell Technologies to deliver up to a 90% increase in performance per watt within just one year.
Capacity and Density:
Building upon the capacity and density of the previous generation nodes, the F710 accommodates up to ten drives in a 1U configuration, translating to a 25% increase in node density compared to the F600. Similarly, the F210 improves storage utilization by introducing the 15TB QLC drive, doubling the capacity compared to the F200.
Dell PowerScale F710 and F210 in-depth:
Dell PowerScale F710 Offers:
- Up to 10 all-flash NVME SSD drives per node
- TLC or QLC support that permits scaling from 38.4 TB/node to 307.2 TB/node
- 77 PB of raw capacity per cluster
- In-line compression and deduplication
- Scaling from 3 nodes per cluster up to 252 nodes
Dell PowerScale F210 Offers:
- TLC storage that scales from 8 TB to 61 TB per node
- 15 PB of raw capacity per cluster
- In-line compression and deduplication
- Scaling from 3 nodes per cluster up to 252 nodes
Emerging Data Storage by Dell Technologies, Implementation by UNICOM Engineering
With their latest PowerScale all-flash nodes, Dell Technologies is poised to unlock the full potential of your data and expedite your AI innovation journey. However, Dell Technologies has partnered for years with UNICOM Engineering to help customers bring these solutions to reality.
UNICOM Engineering is proud to be recognized as the Dell Technologies OEM Partner of the Year four times in the last five years. Our team has vast experience helping organizations leverage AI advancements and innovative technology to optimize the performance of their solutions with our unparalleled access to the latest Dell Technologies solutions and deep relationships with the manufacturer's product and engineering teams.
To learn more about how we can help you bring your solution to market and gain a competitive edge, visit our website to schedule a consultation today.