Supplier Claims 300TB Flash Drives Will Expire in 2026

Pure Storage, a provider of all-flash storage gadgets, expects the capability of its proprietary direct flash module (DFM) solid-state drives to extend sixfold to 300TB in a couple of years. The corporate expects advances in 3D NAND areal density pushed by the elevated variety of layers and different components to ship such a dramatic improve in capability. SSDs for shopper PCs are additionally anticipated to realize capability within the coming years, but it surely’s not that large of a deal.

“Our plan for the following few years is to take our aggressive place in onerous drive into a complete new space,” stated Alex McMullan, CTO of Pure Storage. Blocks and Files. “We ship 24TB and 48TB as we speak [DFM] drivers. you’ll be able to wait […] At our Speed up convention, we have now a variety of bulletins relating to bigger and bigger disk sizes, the place we outlined our purpose of getting 300TB disk capability by 2026 or earlier than.”

Pure Storage’s proprietary DirectFlash Module (DFM) drivers are used solely with the corporate’s FlashArray and FlashBlade storage techniques. DFMs are much like ruler kind issue SSDs and even use the usual U.2 NVMe connection, however they’re designed for particular machines solely. The modules use enterprise-class SSD controllers, albeit with totally customized firmware and 3D TLC or 3D QLC NAND reminiscence gadgets, although it is unclear whether or not the corporate is utilizing any proprietary packaging to extend the capability of its flash chips.

There are a number of methods to sixfold the capability of Pure’s DFM in three years, but it surely will not be straightforward. The obvious means is to make use of extra superior 3D NAND ICs. Whereas Pure makes use of 3D NAND gadgets with 112 to 160 layers lately, the variety of energetic layers will improve to 400 to 500 within the subsequent 5 years, Pure says that this may improve the capability of 3D NAND ICs.