Dell launches ObjectScale XF960 for faster, secure AI storage
Dell has announced the global availability of ObjectScale XF960 with the 4.1 software update, designed to address the growing data demands associated with artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
Performance enhancements
The ObjectScale XF960 aims to support organisations facing rapid data growth and complex processing requirements needed for AI applications. According to Dell, ObjectScale XF960 delivers up to twice the performance of the closest competitor in the object storage sector, setting new performance benchmarks for this category.
The company states that customers can expect up to 300% faster read throughput and response times for operations such as model checkpointing and fine-tuning, which are critical in AI workflows. The appliance achieves these improvements through the use of ObjectScale 4.1's storage efficiency features, high-capacity and high-speed SSDs - including TLC, SED TLC, and QLC drives - alongside dual 32-core processors and 100GbE networking at both the back and front ends.
Efficiency and storage capabilities
The 4.1 software introduces five user-configurable compression algorithms, enabling compression ratios of up to 9:1, according to Dell's internal testing. This allows organisations to balance compression ratio and speed depending on workload needs. Additional enhancements in space reclamation improve the speed at which deleted capacity is freed up, and a new capacity dashboard provides real-time monitoring and alerts related to storage use.
The XF960 hardware increases storage density, now supporting 61TB QLC drives in configurations ranging from 6 to 24 drives per node. This means that clusters can scale from 230TB up to 23.6PB per rack, with future support planned for 122TB QLC drives for up to 47PB per rack. Dell states this represents up to eight times the raw capacity compared to the preceding model.
Security and resilience
With AI workloads regularly relying on sensitive data, Dell emphasises security improvements in the new release. The XF960 introduces Self-Encrypting Drive support with Local Key Management, offering FIPS-certified encryption. Keys are managed directly within the appliance through Dell iDRAC, supporting key rotation and regulatory compliance.
ObjectScale 4.1 now supports TLS 1.3 encryption, which is considered more secure and faster than previous versions, removing outdated algorithms that may compromise data integrity. Additionally, new erasure coding options allow administrators to choose between 12+4 or 10+2 schemas, providing more flexibility for data protection based on an organisation's requirements.
S3 compatibility improvements
ObjectScale's S3 API compatibility has been expanded in version 4.1. New features include event notifications that push updates to external applications when changes occur in S3 buckets, supporting more efficient real-time processing in AI data pipelines. Furthermore, object listing performance has been improved, with up to three times faster listing in multi-virtual data centre environments.
The new release adds support for S3FS, allowing S3 buckets to be mounted on Linux as local file systems. This, along with compatibility for the AWS 2.29 software development kit, is intended to improve workflow integration and access to AI application development tools.
Upgrade path and integration
Existing ECS customers can upgrade to ObjectScale 4.1 with a software-only update. According to Dell, the upgrade process is managed by its remote professional support team at no extra cost, provided the customer has a ProSupport contract. The XF960 can also be incorporated into current ECS environments, allowing the addition of all-flash capacity to virtual data centres without disruption.
ObjectScale and PowerScale are identified by Dell as the storage foundations of its AI Data Platform. The company states that this approach addresses all stages of AI and analytics workloads, from initial ingestion to model deployment.
"These breakthrough releases represent more than incremental improvements. They embody our commitment to creating technologies that empower organisations to tackle their most ambitious AI initiatives while simplifying data management at exabyte scale. Whether you're training complex machine learning models, managing massive data lakes or supporting distributed AI teams, ObjectScale delivers the performance, efficiency and resiliency needed to turn AI possibilities into realities."
ObjectScale 4.1 is available as a software upgrade, and the XF960 all-flash appliance can be ordered for both new deployments and updates to existing infrastructure.
