New SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative Projects Featured at SNW Fall 2013

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 14, 2013) -

News Summary:

SNIA SSSI Features at SNW Fall 2013:

• Launch of the SSD Features Rating project to better understand what users expect of SSDs
• Programming models to enable software to take advantage of NVM features
• New white paper on PCIe SSD standards and markets, authored by 13 SSSI member experts
• SSD performance test specifications for client and enterprise, including the just released PTS Enterprise 1.1
• Workload I/O Capture Program to gain insights into workload characteristics, key performance metrics, and guidance on improving SSD design
• A SNIA tutorial featuring the work of the SNIA Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Programming Technical Work Group, whose goal is to provide guidelines to enable a common ecosystem for NVM-enabled software

The Storage Network Industry Association's Solid State Storage Initiative (SSSI), an effort formed to foster the growth and success of the market for solid state storage in both enterprise and client environments, will showcase new technical and educational work at the SNW Conference (www.snwusa.com), booth #206, October 15-17, 2013, in Long Beach, CA.

"2013 has been a productive year for the SSSI. We have expanded our activities in the areas of PCIe SSD, SSD performance, workload I/O capture, and NVM programming, and have enhanced our educational offerings," said Paul Wassenberg, SSSI Chair from Marvell Semiconductor. "SSSI will showcase these activities and more at SNW Fall 2013."

To better understand what users expect of SSDs, the SSSI will kick off the SSD Features Rating Project at SNW. A survey will target a broad spectrum of SSD users, asking them to rate the importance of various SSD features to better understand which attributes are most important in applications. Results will help SSD manufacturers to design products more suitable for these applications, and provide guidance to users looking for the best SSD for their application. More details can be found at www.snia.org/forums/sssi/featuressurvey.

In recognition of the fast growing market for PCIe SSD products, the SSSI has released two new white papers written by SSSI experts: the first on PCIe SSD standards and markets; and the second on SSD performance. Also available is a FAQ on the SSSI Workload I/O Capture Program (WIOCP) and a guide to using the SNIA SSS Performance Test Specification highlighting the latest additions to the client and enterprise specifications, including the just released PTS Enterprise 1.1.

At their booth at SNW, SSSI will show the Workload I/O Capture Program (WIOCP), which utilizes the first such software designed to capture data that can be analyzed to gain insights into workload characteristics, key performance metrics, and guidance on improving SSD design. 

SSSI experts will be available to discuss the work of the NVM Programming Technical Work Group. Their programming models enable software to take advantage of NVM features, and include NVM-specific extensions to traditional SSS and a new programming model for emerging storage/memory hybrid hardware. A SNIA tutorial on the NVM Programming Model will be presented by NVMP TWG Chair Paul von Behren of Intel Thursday, October 17 at 3:00 pm.

"The work of the SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative is critical in that it helps the marketplace to better understand SSD technology and take advantage of capabilities like NVM programming, enhancing performance, and matching SSDs to applications," said Jim Handy, Director at Objective Analysis. "With new products and solutions incorporating solid state entering the market in rapid numbers, having the most current knowledge is essential to evaluating, selecting, and using solid state storage in the organization, and to the rapid acceptance of the technology worldwide." 

How to Get Involved

Any company interested in participating in the ongoing work of the SSSI is encouraged to join SNIA (www.snia.org/member_com/join), SSSI (www.snia.org/forums/sssi/about/join), and the SSS TWG (www.snia.org/forums/sssi/programs/twg). Status on updates to specifications, related white papers, and industry articles can be found at www.snia.org/forums/sssi.

About the SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative

The SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative (SSSI) fosters the growth and success of the market for solid state storage in both enterprise and client environments. Members of the SSSI work together to promote the development of technical standards and tools, educate the IT communities about solid state storage, perform market outreach that highlights the virtues of solid state storage, and collaborate with other industry associations on solid state storage technical work. SSSI member companies represent a variety of segments in the IT industry (see http://www.snia.org/forums/sssi/about/members). For more information on SNIA's Solid State Storage activities, visit www.snia.org/forums/sssi and get involved in the conversation at http://twitter.com/SNIASolidState.

About the SNIA

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a not-for-profit global organization of over 400 member companies spanning virtually the entire storage industry. The SNIA's mission is to lead the storage industry worldwide in developing and promoting standards, technologies, and educational services to empower organizations in the management of information. To this end, the SNIA is uniquely committed to delivering standards, education, and services that will propel open storage networking solutions into the broader market. For additional information, visit the SNIA web site at http://www.snia.org, and visit www.snia.org/international for a list of international affiliates.

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