Do you know what is the FPGA technology?
Developers must carefully consider alternatives when looking for ways to implement the memory control functions and I / O interfaces of flash arrays. Traditional ASSP and ASIC device choices lack the flexibility needed to respond to the rapidly growing flash memory market. For most applications, ASICs are too expensive to use. In contrast, storage subsystem developers try to take advantage of flash memory, respond quickly and flexibly, and adapt to emerging memory types and changes in standards.
In contrast, programmable ICs such as FPGAs are very suitable for enterprise applications based on flash memory. FPGA development cycle is very short, and the cost is low, the risk is low, can quickly adapt to changes in demand, the use of emerging memory technology and interface standards, such as PCIe. With current large-capacity programmable devices, control and interface functions can also be built into multiple memory types, enabling the subsystem to support both MLC and SFC flash memory. It is also easy to implement critical fault-tolerant RAID algorithms in FPGA logic.
Compared with some characteristics unique to the previous ASIC, FPGA has obvious performance and custom function advantages. Today's PLDs are manufactured using the most advanced silicon process nodes, embodying the best performance semiconductor technology. For example, the 28-nm PLD interface can now transmit data on a high-speed data interface at a transmission rate of up to 28 Gbps, meeting the performance requirements of high-speed protocols such as PCIe, SAS / SATA, and Fibre Channel. FPGAs also have soft and hard core IPs, such as memory controllers, embedded processors, and transceiver modules, which further improve performance, enrich functions, and increase efficiency. Finally, advances in PLD packaging technology have also increased the number of high-speed I / O ports and the number of general-purpose I / O pins.
Programmable state machine with flash cache
Memory array manufacturer Violin Memory Co., Ltd. lists the following advanced attributes of memory arrays, which are very cost-effective and meet the needs of next-generation 24x7 enterprise data centers:
* Performance: Compared with HDD, the delay and I / O operations per second (IOPS) are improved by an order of magnitude. The processor is matched.
* Cost: The use of solid-state memory greatly reduces the cost per GB and cost per I / O.
* Reliability: It guarantees that enterprise data will not be lost (through RAID algorithm), the system continues to serve, and there will be no downtime.
These attributes can be implemented on a new generation of memory arrays based on low-cost NAND flash memory per GB. Its architecture uses two levels of flash memory functions, flash memory control (vFLASH) and flash RAID (vRAID). The flash memory controller utilizes bits, modules, planes, and chip-level flash technology read, write, and erase operations and error status functions at the flash memory conversion level. VFLASH functions include recording structure data layout, and flash memory management "garbage collection" function to free up flash memory space. Flash RAID controllers should go beyond traditional RAID-1 and RAID-5 algorithms to meet the unique characteristics of flash memory. For example, a 4 + 1 verification model is more efficient and slower than traditional algorithms, and it can handle faults more efficiently, and does not require replacement of modules.
Both flash memory and RAID control functions can be well implemented using FPGA technology (Figure 2). In silicon-based state machines, instead of using traditional microprocessor / software methods to implement key algorithms, it can significantly reduce latency. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, the FPGA-based implementation method can achieve a very flexible design, adapting to the rapid development of flash memory and related features. Able to bring new designs to market and discover new opportunities at a very low cost. Moreover, using FPGA features such as memory controllers, transceiver modules, and high-speed interfaces for memory and PCIe, a very good system can be introduced to the market within a few days or weeks, which is much faster than traditional methods.
New model of enterprise storage
Today's enterprise storage systems require the performance and cost advantages of flash memory to achieve their competitiveness. Design challenges related to flash memory, such as ensuring data integrity and responding to emerging memory types and changing standards, can be solved by using FPGA-based PSM to implement memory management and I / O. With the combination of FPGA technology and flash memory, even the most demanding workloads, storage system planners can meet performance requirements and ensure system integrity, flexibility, and adaptability.
If you want to know more, our website has product specifications for FPGA technology, you can go to ALLICDATA ELECTRONICS LIMITED to get more information