Enterprise-Class SSD market interface contention: Will SATA be replaced by NVMe?

As is known to all, NVMe is built on the NVM (Non-volatile Memory, Nand-flash-based) and PCIe based on a new transport protocol, which differs from the SCSI used on the Sata/sas interface. Due to its inherited HDD ecosystem, SATA has advantages in terms of cost and compatibility, so it becomes the preferred choice for most users.

But in the 2017, this trend is likely to change, so let's take a look at why we're saying that.

First, NVMe is more capable of performing nand-flash than SATA

NVMe eliminates the HBA at the hardware level, docking the SSD directly with the host PCIe. This not only simplifies the complexity of the system, but also reduces the bottleneck of the interface level for the performance of NAND flash, which can be accessed concurrently with no upper limit of theoretical bandwidth. Coupled with a customized NVME protocol, the storage device's key metrics latency and bandwidth far outweigh the SATA interface.

We use Intel's current offerings as an example to further illustrate:

The maximum bandwidth for all SATA SSDs in the 1,intel DC series SSD is not greater than 550mb/s, while the largest bandwidth in NVMe is up to 5GB/S (P3608 series). This is due to the current SATA interface rate 6gb/s limit.

The latency of SATA SSDs in 2,intel DC series SSDs is generally greater than 50US (e.g. s3610 series), while the P3700 series with the same specification NAND (20nm 2D MLC) is only about 20US. This is due to the addition of HBA cards and software protocols .

For next-generation NVM, such as the 3D Xpoint,sata interface will be more confusing.

second, the popularity of 3D Nand makes SATA SSD lose price Advantage

3D NAND is considered to be the most efficient way to reduce the price of SSDs because 3D NAND can achieve higher storage densities on the same nano-process.

Previously, Samsung was not open to downstream manufacturers because of its mastery of 3D technology, which led to the inability of other homes to use it. But in 2016, Toshiba and Micron released a 3D NAND production plan, and NVMe SSD vendors had a new option.

Naturally, SSD vendors quickly released 3D NAND products. such as Intel's P3520 series (3D MLC), Micron's 5100 series (3D ETLC). Into the 2017, there will be more manufacturers to join, the source of western data forecast, mid-2017, 3D NAND will occupy half of the.

Also use Intel's products as an example to illustrate the price advantage of 3D NAND. We chose U.2 's NVMe, with a capacity of around 400GB, at a price reference to the Amazon website. The following conclusions are obtained:

1, 3D NAND makes NVMe cheaper. Compare the P3520 and S3520 series with the same 3D NAND. Although the price per gigabyte is much higher than SATA, the price of the two is already very close after a weighted lifetime, and NVMe is even 3% cheaper than SATA. What's more, NVMe outperforms SATA in both bandwidth and iops costs.

2, the price difference between 3D NVMe and 2D SATA shrinks a lot. Comparing P3520 and S3610, it can be seen that the cost per gigabyte of the two-weighted lifetimes has been reduced from nearly 10 times times the 2D era to 3 times times. Considering the bandwidth and IOPS cost advantages of NVME, this can almost offset each other.

In addition, the introduction of 3D drives the SSD's capacity to increase significantly.

In 2016, more than 6T of NVMe SSDs (such as HGST's Ultrastar SN260, Samsung's PM1725) appeared on the market, with 2017 per-disk capacity exceeding 10TB, while SATA SSD capacity remained below 4T.

So what's the reason? Or because of the limitations of the SATA interface. Once the capacity is increased, the performance per gigabyte is no longer sufficient for SSD scenarios (100IOPS/GB as standard).

third, rich NVMe interface multi-extrusion SATA Market

NVMe is not just the beginning of the AIC structure (need to directly uncover the host backplane, plugged into the PCIe card slot), there are u.2, m.2 and BGA and other forms. U.2 and m.2 are compatible with SATA interfaces and have been supported by NVMe and server vendors.

For these types of forms, u.2 will be the mainstream of the future, focusing on portable management (hot plug function) and high performance, while m.2 is mainly used in the consumer market.

Recently, there have been many voices predicting m.2 into data centers, such as custom servers and all-flash arrays. This is mainly because m.2 can supplement u.2 in terms of power consumption and volume, the normal u.2 NVMe power consumption is around 25W, which is 4 times times larger than a typical SATA SSD. And the m.2 power is close to SATA.

Low-cost NAND can also be used on m.2 to populate the NVMe mid-low-end SSD market. And this market happens to be the main battlefield of SATA SSD.

Several SSD vendors already have m.2 products, such as the Intel P3100 series (256GB:$0.48/GB,1TB:$0.40/GB. Amazon website), the prices are very close to the people.

The ultra-micro has always been sensitive to NVMe's sense of smell, then does it support m.2? Access to its website, found that the micro-m.2 has indeed released a variety of server support, it seems to m.2 into the data center is already ready.

Finally, the perfect manufacturer supports the promotion of ecosystem maturation.

In 2016, the NVMe circle of friends also ushered in a good news, NVMe over fabrics specification released, indicating that NVMe is about to enter the network storage market, as the main beneficiary Mellanox natural laughter to close the mouth.

But NVMe is by no means an oligopoly, and in this market, whether it is the underlying SSD, the middle server platform or the upper-level storage software, can participate. We see that there are many domestic manufacturers.

NVMe shows a buoyant heart, ready to do a 2017, the next step is to accept the market test. NVMe will be in the market to adapt to demand and improve themselves, forming a powerful force.

Summarize

This article explains in 4 ways that NVMe will eventually replace Sata. As a leader in the age of mechanical hard drives, SATA has many advantages that it applies to the market. But the times are changing, the underlying hardware and the upper software are creating and innovating, and in this moment we feel happy and anxious.

However, the new technology has brought progress to our world, and we should be happy and ready for change anyway.

Description

This article was first published in the public, "the forefront of storage technology," and you are welcome to get the latest NVMe technology and information.

Resources

1,pcie nvme* SSD in Smaller Form factors by Becky Loop

2,why NVMe would Replace SATA SSDs in the Data Center by Michael Smullen

3,http://www.supermicro.org.cn/products/nfo/m.2.cfm

4,https://www.amazon.com/

5,https://www-ssl.intel.com/

6,http://www.tomsitpro.com/articles/datacenter-m.2-ssd-pcie-specification,2-950.html

7,http://www.flashmemorysummit.com/english/collaterals/proceedings/2016/20160809_keynote4_wd_sivaram.pdf

8,http://www.techinsights.com/nand-flash-roadmap/

Enterprise-Class SSD market interface contention: Will SATA be replaced by NVMe?