Pure Storage Announces First Enterprise-Class All-NVMe Flash Array, FlashArray//X

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), the market's leading independent all-flash data platform vendor for the cloud era, today announced FlashArray//X, the company's first all-NVMe, enterprise-class all-flash array. Built on proven FlashArray architecture, FlashArray//X enables true global flash management with new Purity DirectFlash software and NVMe DirectFlash Modules from Pure Storage, which eliminate performance bottlenecks associated with legacy technologies. This end-to-end, software-to-raw flash optimization over NVMe dramatically improves system performance and allows customers to further unlock the value of their data.

"Cloud-era web scale applications and a massively increased focus on data analytics across nearly every industry demand a new generation of all-flash storage, designed to power tomorrow's innovation," said Matt Kixmoeller, VP of Product, Pure Storage. "Today, infrastructure underpins the number one priority we hear from our customers – The need to put their organizational data to work."

Data continues to grow at a breakneck pace. According to industry experts, more than 90 percent of all data ever created was generated in the last few years, and analysts forecast that by 2025 humans will generate 180 zettabytes of data annually. This presents modern organizations with both challenge and opportunity – how to store unprecedented volumes of data, and subsequently, how to gain value from that data to drive informed business decisions. Modern organizations, such as MacStadium, require fast, agile, always-on infrastructure to enable next-generation innovation.

MacStadium is the world's largest hosting provider of dedicated Apple Mac computers, dedicated server rentals and Hosted Mac Private Cloud solutions. Number 44 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list, MacStadium uses Pure as a platform to power developer workstations for top tier web-scale enterprises that rely on instantaneous performance. This allows MacStadium to meet ever-increasing demand and improve service level agreements for current customers.

"Pure Storage provides us with a building block platform for customers that expect best-in-class, always-on service. Fully NVMe and equipped with DirectFlash, FlashArray//X will enable even greater performance density, which allows us to respond to customer demand for additional capacity ad-hoc," said Jason Michaud, President, MacStadium. "And the Evergreen Storage model means best-in-class infrastructure that never slows down, never goes offline and doesn't require a forklift upgrade to leverage the latest advances in hardware and software."

FlashArray//X expands the FlashArray family, and includes three new innovations for end-to-end NVMe optimization:

• DirectFlash Software. A new software module within the Purity Operating Environment, DirectFlash implements global flash management (garbage collection, allocation, I/O optimization, error correction) at the system level that otherwise typically runs inside each SSD, delivering higher performance and better flash utilization.
• DirectFlash Modules. Connected to the FlashArray controllers via NVMe, DirectFlash Modules work with the DirectFlash Software to enable direct software-to-raw flash communication. DirectFlash Modules make 100 percent of the flash within a module accessible to the FlashArray, and will be available in 2.2, 9.1, and 18.3 TB raw capacities.  The 18.3TB DirectFlash Module will enable FlashArray//X to deliver more than 1PB of effective storage within a 3U base chassis.
• //X70 Controllers. New //X70 controllers enable NVMe communication within the FlashArray's existing midplane and chassis, which take advantage of Pure's foresight to pre-wire the FlashArray chassis for both SAS and NVMe when it was first introduced in 2015.

This end-to-end, software-to-raw flash optimization reduces latency by up to 50 percent, and increases write bandwidth by up to 2x and performance density by up to 4x. Within the FlashArray family, FlashArray//M delivers general-purpose consolidation at optimal value and FlashArray//X offers maximum consolidation power per rack unit. Customers can now consolidate and run their most demanding workloads on just 10 DirectFlash Modules.

Pure combines purpose-built software and hardware with its Evergreen Storage program to create a best-in-class storage experience for the modern digital enterprise - proven 99.9999 percent availability and rich data services.

Since its inception, Pure Storage has designed arrays architected specifically for flash from the ground up. DirectFlash represents the future of storage, a future that is modern and allows software to communicate directly with the flash media, without the inefficiencies or limitations of existing solid-state drives (SSDs) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS).

"The increasing importance of cloud-based computing to enterprises of all sizes is driving evolution in enterprise storage as the industry enters the cloud era," said Eric Burgener, Research Director, Storage, at IDC.  "To handle the performance and scale requirements in this new era, the flash-optimized array architectures of the past will need to give way to flash-driven architectures that retain none of the limitations of the prior SCSI era.  The All-Flash Arrays of the future will be based around much higher performance, much more efficient NVMe technology, will emphasize software-driven designs, and provide the multi-tenant management framework to handle dense workload consolidation at cloud scale."

Availability

FlashArray//X with both 2.2 and 9.1 TB DirectFlash Modules is available to order today, will be shipped as a Directed Availability release starting in early Q2 FY2018 and is fully supported for production use. General Availability of FlashArray//X, which will support both 18.3TB DirectFlash Modules and upgrades from existing FlashArray//M systems, is expected in early 2H FY2018. Authorized Pure Storage channel partners can help customers determine the right configuration for their environment. To find a reseller in your region, visit http://www.purestorage.com/contact.html.

"Pure Storage has other storage vendors playing catch-up with the announcement of its latest product, FlashArray//X," said Rob Owen, AVP, Solutions Architecture, CDI LLC. "This high-performance addition to an already impressive storage line will pave a path for the next generation of storage platforms, which will undoubtedly demand NVMe technologies. Leading the pack isn't easy, but Pure Storage continues to do so through innovation and a keen ear for customer feedback."

To learn more about this announcement please join us today, April 11th, at 10:00am PDT for a live virtual event featuring IDC Research Director Eric Burgener and MacStadium President Jason Michaud. To join the conversation live via TweetChat, use the hashtag #NextGenAFA. Visit our blog for a series of technical and educational deep-dives on FlashArray//X, DirectFlash and how to gain an advantage from your data in the cloud era.

To see FlashArray//X in action or for a hands-on demonstration, join us at our annual conference, Pure//Accelerate, June 12-14 in San Francisco.

About Pure Storage

Pure Storage (NYSE:PSTG) helps companies push the boundaries of what's possible. Pure's end-to-end data platform - including FlashArray, FlashBlade and our converged offering with Cisco, FlashStack – is powered by innovative software that's cloud-connected for management from anywhere on a mobile device and supported by the Evergreen business model. The company's all-flash based technology, combined with its customer-friendly business model, drives business and IT transformation with solutions that are effortless, efficient and evergreen. With Pure's industry leading Satmetrix-certified NPS score of 83.5, Pure customers are some of the happiest in the world, and include organizations of all sizes, across an ever-expanding range of industries.

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Analyst Recognition:
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IDC MarketScape for All-Flash Arrays

Pure Storage, the "P" Logo, DirectFlash, Evergreen, FlashArray and FlashBlade are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Storage, Inc. All other trademarks or names referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the expected performance and benefits of Pure Storage's product offerings. The words "believe," "may," "will," "plan," "expect," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including future reports that we may file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Pure Storage assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

Any unreleased products, features, or functions referenced in this release, our website or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Pure Storage's discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Pure Storage's product offerings should make their purchase decisions based upon products, features and functions that are currently available.

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SOURCE Pure Storage