SCSI Trade Association Unveils Updated Technology Roadmaps Highlighting Continued Innovations in SAS Data Storage Interface

LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwired - Jan 4, 2016) - Highlighting continued innovation and increased performance in the proven SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) data storage interface protocol, the SCSI Trade Association (STA) (http://www.scsita.org/) today unveiled its latest SAS technology roadmaps at the fifteenth annual Storage Visions Conference in Las Vegas. Showing the availability of prototypes and end-user products for each generation of Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), the roadmaps include a schedule for the next generation 24Gb/s SAS, SAS external and internal cabling solutions and a look at SAS device-to-mid-plane interconnects.

The updated SAS Technology Roadmaps can be downloaded and viewed with notes at http://www.scsita.org/library/2015/10/serial-attached-scsi-technology-roadmap.html.

"For storage professionals seeking fast, flexible and reliable data access, SAS continues to be the proven platform for innovation," said Rick Kutcipal, president of STA and Product Planning, Data Center Storage Group, Avago Technologies. "As evident in these robust roadmaps, SAS provides superior enterprise-class system performance, connectivity and scalability."

In a Storage Visions Conference panel presentation on January 5 at 4:30 p.m. titled "Keeping it Now: Emerging Storage Technologies," Cameron Brett, STA board member and director of Enterprise SSD Marketing at Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., will discuss the latest innovations in 12Gb/s SAS including:

• More efficient use of Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) with the new Zoned Block Command feature for increased density in hard disk drives (HDDs)
  
  
• Support for the U.2 initiative through the SFF-8639 connector
  
  
• The MultiLink SAS^™ architecture, a slot-compatible implementation that takes advantage of the increasing performance of solid state drives (SSDs) in standard form factors as well as support for existing HDDs
  
  
• The Storage Intelligence feature that optimizes SSD applications, boosts storage system performance and increases the endurance of SSDs

During his presentation at Storage Visions, Brett is also providing attendees an overview of 24Gb/s SAS objectives that will effectively double the bandwidth of 12Gb/s SAS, support two generations of backward compatibility and preserve the existing SAS value proposition. 24Gb/s SAS commercial devices are expected in the marketplace in 2018. 

"The demand for digital data creation and consumption is growing every year and this growth in content capacity requires not just more storage devices but faster interfaces to move that data around to where it is needed," said Tom Coughlin, founder of Coughlin Associates and Storage Visions Conference chairperson. "The SCSI Trade Association is showing further innovations in the SAS storage interface that will support the growth in enterprise storage applications."

About STA
The SCSI Trade Association (STA) was established in 1996 to provide a focal point for members to communicate the benefits of SCSI to the industry. STA promotes the understanding and use of Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) technology and influences the evolution of SCSI standards to meet future industry needs. The Association has a ten-member Board of Directors, which oversees the Marketing Communications and Technology Committees and all STA activities. For more information, please visit the STA web site at http://www.scsita.org, send an email to info@scsita.org or call the STA office at (415) 561-6273.