ZFS and hybrid storage pools (HSP) is the subject of a recent posting by Sun blogger "Thin Slice," who writes about the collaboration between Sun and Intel that has delivered the combination of ZFS and high performance, flash-based solid state drives (SSDs) to offer enterprises cutting-edge HSP innovation that can reduce the risk, cost, complexity, and deployment time of multi-tiered storage environments.

The blog notes that Sun's ZFS file system transparently manages data placement, holding copies of frequently used data in fast SSDs while less-frequently used data is stored in slower, less expensive mechanical disks. The application data set can be completely isolated from slower mechanical disk drives, unlocking new levels of performance and higher ROI. This HSP approach provides the benefits of high performance SSDs while still saving money with low cost high capacity disk drives.

Solaris ZFS can easily be combined with Intel's SSDs, Thin Slice continues, by simply adding Intel Enterprise SSDs into the server’s disk bays. ZFS is designed to dynamically recognize and add new drives, so SSDs can be configured as a cache disk without dismounting a file system that is in use. Once this is done, ZFS automatically optimizes the file system to use the SSDs as high-speed disks that improve read and write throughput for frequently accessed data, and safely cache data that will ultimately be written out to mechanical disk drives.

Among the advantages stemming from the Intel side of this collaboration are that Intel's SSDs provide 100x I/O performance improvement over mechanical disk drives with twice the reliability:

• One Intel Extreme SATA SSD (X25-E) can provide the same IOPS as up to 50 high-RPM hard disk drives (HDDs) -- handling the same server workload in less space, with no cooling requirements and lower power consumption.

• Intel High-Performance SATA SSDs deliver higher IOPS and throughput performance by featuring the latest-generation native SATA interface with an advanced architecture employing 10 parallel NAND Flash channels equipped the latest generation (50nm) of NAND Flash memory. Powerful Native Command Queuing enables up to 32 concurrent operations, allowing Intel SATA SSDs to deliver the performance needed for multicore, multi-socket servers while minimizing acquisition and operating costs.

• Intel High-Performance SATA SSDs feature sophisticated “wear leveling” algorithms that maximize SSD lifespan, evening out write activity to avoid flash memory hot spot failures. These Intel drives also feature low write amplification and a unique wear leveling design for higher reliability and longer drive life. The result translates to a tangible reduction in TCO and dramatic improvements to system performance, the blog points out.

This combination of Intel SSDs and ZFS results in an HSP capability that consumes 1/5 the power at 1/3 the cost of standard monolithic storage pools while providing maximum performance.

Doing the math, Thin Slice demonstrates that, if an application environment with a 350 GB working set needs 30,000 IOPS to meet service level agreements, 100 15K RPM HDDs would be needed. If the drives are 300GB, consume 17.5 watts, and cost $750 each, this traditional environment provides the IOPS needed, has 30TB capacity, costs $75,000 to buy, and consumes 1.75 kWh of electricity.

By contrast, using a Hybrid Storage Pool, six 64 GB SSDs (at $1,000 each) provide the 30,000 IOPS required, and hold the 350GB working set. Lower cost, high-capacity drives can be used to store the rest of the data; 30 1TB 7200 RPM drives, at $689 each ($20,670) and consuming 13 watts, provide cost-effective HDD storage.

The resulting savings are dramatic:

• Purchase cost is $26,670, a 64-percent savings
• Electricity consumed is 0.392 kWh, a 77-percent savings

More Information

Solaris ZFS Enables Hybrid Storage Pools - Shatters Economic and Performance Barriers

HSP speed and performance notes

Get Unprecedented Efficiencies using Hybrid Storage Pools with Solaris ZFS and Intel SSDs

Sun's Hybrid Storage Pool trumps EMC's Use of Flash Devices [...read more...]

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