Flash memory

Storage startup trends: Vendors to watch in 2018

Another year is behind us, and 2017 wasn't kind to enterprise-storage startups, as a bunch went belly up or sold off their assets. Not deterred by this recent history and startup trends, a new group of companies has emerged to try and make an impact in 2018. These include Aparavi, Attala Systems, Elastifile, Minio, Morro Data, Vexata, Wasabi Technologies and WekaIO. They have products focused on hot storage sectors, such as flash, hybrid cloud, scale-out file systems and object storage. Who's behind these startups? What do they offer that the market doesn't already provide? And, given recent startup trends, what are their chances for success? Find out with an early look at these upstarts.

A server still looks like a server, and network cables and racks haven't changed much over the last couple of decades, but storage has fundamentally transformed. Disk has lost its crown as the king of primary storage and is becoming relegated to the secondary -- and even cold -- storage world. More significantly, the data center is becoming more software-defined. That means storage functions that once demanded specialized hardware now reside in adaptable, pliable, reprogrammable and easily updateable software constructs. Explore the state of the software-defined storage market.

The advent of virtualization and its need to share all resources threatened the relevance of direct-attached storage (DAS) -- storage within the server. Only the emergence of flash storage, most specifically PCIe SSDs, staved off DAS' extinction, with the likes of Fusion-io demonstrating what you could do with high-speed flash integrated in the server. Today, storage is about to move even further into the server thanks to advancements in storage-class memory -- also known as persistent memory -- technologies. Here's how, why and what this development could mean to you.

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Persistent storage-class memory to revolutionize data centers

Since it doesn't lose data during power outages, persistent memory will revolutionize direct-attached storage in particular and the cost/performance ratio of computing overall. Continue Reading

By

• Jim Handy, Objective Analysis

Persistent storage-class memory to revolutionize data centers

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Do users need 3D NAND flash memory?

The population of users who need 3D NAND flash chips on their computers is limited to those who run extremely large workloads, such as big applications or multiple virtual machines. Continue Reading

By

• Brien Posey

NAND flash memory basics: Comparing SLC, MLC and TLC NAND

NAND is the most popular type of flash, but there are many different types, and they each serve a different purpose. Do you know your NAND flash basics? Continue Reading

By

• Robert Sheldon

NOR vs. NAND flash memory: What companies need to know

NOR and NAND flash memory each suit different use cases, and companies looking at a flash memory product need to know the difference before they buy. Continue Reading

By

• John Edwards

Hard disk vs. flash storage: The fight of the century?

When deciding which storage method you want in your corner, the benefits of flash storage are very appealing. But should you forget about hard disk arrays entirely? Continue Reading

WD-Toshiba memory sale requires 2-week notice to WD

Toshiba and Western Digital's SanDisk subsidiary acted on a San Francisco judge's suggestion today and agreed that Toshiba would give SanDisk two weeks' notice before closing on a transfer or sale ... Continue Reading

By

• Carol Sliwa

The status of NAND flash memory now and in the near future

Flash memory chips have driven a revolution in storage, and faced a recent shortage because of huge demand. That's easing, and advances in NAND technology show a great future. Continue Reading

By

• Jim O'Reilly

NAND flash technology is just the beginning

NAND flash adoption has been as fast as the speed it offers, but faster storage techs such as 3D XPoint and phase-change memory are on their way. Continue Reading

By

• Rich Castagna

Manufacturing NAND flash chips

NAND flash chips are made in fabrication plants known as fabs. Market oversupply or undersupply can cause manufacturers to alter production plans. Continue Reading

By

• Carol Sliwa