Fusion-io launches Sandy Bridge optimised Nand storage

Fusion-io has refreshed its enterprise storage range to make full use of Intel's Sandy Bridge chipsets, and improve data transfer in enterprise resource planning systems, virtual environments, enterprise applications and databases.

The ioDrive and ioDrive2 Duo feature the latest Nand Flash, which the firm claims helps double performance over the previous generation and significantly boosts reliability.

Key features include the ability to write 900,000 and read 700,000 input/output operations per second, as well fetch data in 15 microseconds.

This is the first large-scale product refresh and includes a number of improvements, David Flynn, chief executive at Fusion-io, told V3.

"Using Nand Flash the ioDrives are able to double the information feed and thus make use of all the processing power within Intel's Sandy Bridge chipsets. This is something that cannot be achieved with existing mechanical drives," he said.

"We've also reduced the latency to 15 microseconds, so data can be fetched faster than before and users can get more work done per dollar spent."

Flynn also noted that the use of Nand memory allows the firm to improve performance and reliability, and bring the cost down. Prices start at around $10 per gigabyte.

Fusion-io has also introduced a chip level fault repair system in the form of Adaptive FlashBack technology. This allows ioMemory to repair itself if there is a single die or a multi chip failure without disrupting performance.

The drives are offered in 365GB, 785GB, 1.2TB and 24TB capacities. All major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, OSX, Solaris x86, ESXi 5.0 and HP-UX, are supported, and shipping is set to begin in November.