KIOXIA KumoScale Software v3.19 Delivers Automated SSD Lifecycle Management

Includes Updated NVMe-oF Specification Support for OpenStack Software

KIOXIA America, Inc. has released version 3.19 of its KumoScale™ storage software built around the NVM Express™ over Fabrics (NVMe-oF™) protocol with enhanced automation and orchestration support. Designed for cloud-centric deployment at data center scale, the KumoScale based storage platform delivers high performance NVM Express (NVMe™) flash storage as a disaggregated networked service. Major features in KumoScale software version 3.19 include SSD device management and enhanced NVMe-oF specification support for the latest release of OpenStack^® infrastructure software, codenamed “Xena.”

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Designed for cloud-centric deployment at data center scale, the KumoScale based storage platform delivers high performance NVMe flash storage as a disaggregated networked service. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Operator-driven SSD Device Management

Version 3.19 adds automation support for lifecycle management of NVMe drives in disaggregated storage nodes. This means that storage administrators now can monitor and manage storage resources at all points from the client all the way down to the firmware of the storage devices being used. SSD functions supported include:

• Adding and removing SSDs from storage pools
• Migrating data on one SSD to another without interrupting I/O
• Blinking the LEDs of SSDs safe for physical removal
• Upgrading SSD firmware

Importantly, data relocation can be performed without disrupting storage traffic, allowing online upgrade of SSDs to add capacity or performance.

Declarative Control

KumoScale maintenance operations are declarative, rather than imperative. This makes otherwise risky and complex activities easy and safe, by embedding the logic for how to accomplish them into the system itself. This is done via a simple, but deceptively powerful, control structure called an “operator.” Pioneered in the Kubernetes^® container orchestration framework, operators allow the user to simply specify the desired state of the system (e.g. which SSDs should be empty or their desired firmware version), and the system will act to move itself to that state. Operators are provided for a variety of maintenance and configuration actions in addition to SSD management.

OpenStack Software Support

KumoScale storage software version 3.19 includes native integration with the latest OpenStack infrastructure software release, codenamed Xena. As an active member of the OpenStack contributor community, KIOXIA has made several enhancements to seamlessly integrate high performance NVMe-oF storage to this popular open source infrastructure framework. KIOXIA contributions enhance NVMe-oF storage capabilities in the OpenStack environment:

1. The Xena release os-brick nvme.py connector broadens support to include many commonly used Linux^® distributions.
2. The Xena release nvme.py connector has been enhanced to support volume snapshots.

These enhancements make NVMe-oF technology more efficient for large scale OpenStack infrastructure deployments.

KumoScale software version 3.19 also includes additional enhancements to add support for the Ubuntu distribution of Linux, the latest Kubernetes CSI version, and adds CSI and Ansible^® support of snapshot and clone functionality.

Please visit KumoScale.com to learn more. Customers interested in testing KumoScale software v3.19 are encouraged to contact KumoScale sales.

About KumoScale Storage System

KumoScale™ storage system software is a leading high-performance block storage software suite for on-premise clouds. Combining the speed and responsiveness of born-in-the-cloud software with the staying power of one of the world's largest flash memory makers, the KumoScale storage system software uses NVMe™ technology to enable flash as a service in software defined storage (SDS) environments for Kubernetes, OpenStack and bare metal infrastructures.

About KIOXIA America, Inc.

KIOXIA America, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of KIOXIA Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of flash memory and solid state drives (SSDs). From the invention of flash memory to today’s breakthrough BiCS FLASH™ 3D technology, KIOXIA continues to pioneer innovative memory, SSD and software solutions that enrich people's lives and expand society's horizons. The company's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive, and data centers. For more information, please visit KIOXIA.com.

© 2021 KIOXIA America, Inc. All rights reserved. Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services, and contact information is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable KIOXIA product specifications.

Notes:

1: As of June 8, 2021. Source: KIOXIA Corporation

The OpenStack^® Word Mark is a registered trademark of the OpenStack Foundation, in the United States and other countries and are used with the OpenStack Foundation's permission. We are not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by the OpenStack Foundation, or the OpenStack community.

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