Viking Enterprise Solutions and Kalray launch new generation of storage arrays
Viking Enterprise Solutions, a division of Sanmina Corporation, and Kalray have announced the co-development of FLASHBOX, a new generation of storage arrays.
The solution will be based on a fully resilient VDS2249R system from Viking Enterprise Solutions and Kalray's smart storage acceleration card that leverages Kalray's MPPA DPU (Data Processing Unit) processor.
As technology applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, image processing and analytics proliferate and produce a huge amount of data every second of every day, the need for fast and high-capacity storage solutions has grown dramatically, the companies state.
Current SSD technology has evolved to address this challenge, however SSD direct attachment results in inefficient processing and wasted storage.
To resolve this, newer NVMe disaggregated storage solutions are emerging that separate compute and storage resources using a hyper-fast and standard-based NVMe protocol, improving and optimising storage systems.
The collaboration between Viking Enterprise Solutions and Kalray is focused on creating a NVME disaggregated storage solution that addresses common storage challenges such as performance bottlenecks, while providing plug and play ease of use at a reasonable price.
FLASHBOX will be based on Kalray's MPPA DPU, a new generation of fully programmable data-centric processors. Whereas most All-Flash Array solutions currently use multiple adapter cards with CPUs (x86) that run storage services, Kalray runs all of the critical functions of a disaggregated storage appliance on a single chip: Kalray MPPA DPU.
According to the companies, key target markets include the AI, high performance computing, life sciences and financial industries that utilise data intensive applications and require low latency, high performance storage.
The new storage array solution, designed to deliver an improved level of integration, speed and performance, will be unveiled at a digital event in late September.
Kalray CEO Eric Baissus says, "Working with Viking Enterprise Solutions, we are sharing the same vision. To be widely deployed, new technologies need to be easy to adopt and affordable.
"To this end, we are very proud to work with Viking Enterprise Solutions to revisit the way storage appliances are designed. Our common objective is to be a game changer with FLASHBOX by providing to the market a unique high performance, low power, cost-effective new generation of storage appliance based on NVMe technology.
Viking Enterprise Solutions SVP Rick Kumar says, "We want to change the way the industry uses and processes data, while unleashing the full potential of current and emerging NVMe SSD technologies, without compromising enterprise grade features like high availability and scalability."
Kumar says, "Our partnership with Kalray will provide a new generation of storage array solutions for cloud and edge with Kalray's K200-LP best-in-class smart storage acceleration card.
