SAS Flash 3 drives?

Question

I just updated to block version 05.33.009.5.155 and came across this when searching for something. So now I'm curious as to what these SAS flash 3 drives are. I wanted to see if anyone else has heard about them and wanted to share this too.

https://www.emc.com/collateral/white-papers/h12204-vp-for-new-vnx-series-wp.pdf

SAS Flash 3 drives in all-Flash Storage Pools

In VNX OE for Block version 05.33.009.5.155 multiple sizes of SAS Flash 3 drives are introduced. SAS Flash 3 drives provide Flash performance at a reduce cost when compared to SAS Flash and SAS Flash 2 Flash drives. The SAS Flash 3 drives do not support FAST VP and are only supported in homogeneous all Flash Storage Pools with drives of the same Flash type.

adhamakady · Answer

Hey, Flash 3 are lower endurance (less Writes Per Day) SSDs. You'll also find them in larger capacities compared to the SLC/eMLC Flash drives used in FAST Cache / FAST VP. Adham

Rainer_EMC · Answer

Yes this is a new class of flash drives that is now supported with the latest VNX OE release

From the release notes:

Support for new solid state drives (SSD)

Starting with this release, 200GB and 400GB Fully Automated Storage Tiering for Virtual Pools (FAST VP) solid state drives (SSD) can now be configured for FAST Cache.

In previous releases, this SSD drive was called ‘SAS Flash VP’ because it could only be used for FAST VP.

Beginning with this release, this drive type is called ‘SAS Flash 2’.

Also with this release, you can configure a new class of SSD drives as their own homogeneous all Flash pools.

These new ‘SAS Flash 3’ SSD drives cannot be used for FAST Cache or FAST VP.

The drives are also not supported as system drives.

Existing VNX2 storage systems configured with the original ‘SAS Flash’ drives will continue to be supported.

The original ‘SAS Flash’ drives will continue to be available for upgrades because you cannot mix drive types within FAST Cache.

VNX

SAS Flash 3 drives?

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