Enterprise SSDs vs Normal SSDs
Whenever modern computing devices or speed and storage upgrades are mentioned, one name prevails over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs): an SSD, aka solid-state drive. What exactly is an SSD? Why is it important for present-day computer systems? Let’s dig deep into the world of SSDs to learn what they are and how they are changing the definition of today’s computer storage.
What are SSDs or Solid-state Drives?
Fundamentally, SSDs are computer storage devices that use assemblies of integrated circuits, unlike their counterparts HDDs which have moving parts. This basic difference in their design equips SSDs with many benefits over traditional disk drives in terms of reliability, energy efficiency, speed, and performance. SSDs store data using NAND flash memory and possess a controller to distribute data and manage read-write operations. Data access is much faster and power consumption is reduced significantly.
SSD Types, Form Factors, and Capacities
- There are different types of SSDs based on the kind of connection interface they have—SATA SSDs, PCIe SSDS, NVMe SSDs, mSATA SSDs, and M.2 SSDs.
- They come in 2.5-inch, U.2, M.2, AIC (Add-in-Card), and external SSD form factors to suit diverse use cases and devices.
- The capacities of SSDs can range from 128GB to over 30TB.
What are Enterprise SSDs?
Enterprise SSDs are high-performance storage solutions designed to meet the demands of data center workloads and high-intensity applications, such as virtualization, real-time analytics, and database management. They are known as server-grade, server, or data center SSDs. They offer high endurance, performance, throughput, and reliability. Low latency and fast access times are their prominent features.
Key Features Unique to Enterprise SSDs
When looking for SSDs for servers, SSDs for data centers, or high-performance SSDs for AI workloads, one name that rises above others is ‘Enterprise SSDs’. They provide exceptional, high-capacity storage for servers and cloud environments, mission-critical applications, and high performance for AI workloads with unique features.
Enhanced Reliability –
Reliability or the estimate of system failures during operations is calculated in MTBF or Mean Time Between Failures. The best enterprise SSDs are designed to last a lot more than a normal SSD and handle heavy workloads. Therefore, the MTBF in enterprise SSDs is dramatically higher reaching around 3 million hours signifying they have a longer lifespan. The Consumer SSDs are typically used in desktops and laptops, so they can survive typically about 1.5 million hours before failure. Consumer SSDs are prioritized for cost-consciousness over extreme endurance because of their less demanding functions.
Robust Data Protection – PLP
The need for enterprise-grade performance and application in critical projects makes it crucial for SSDs for servers to have robust data protection mechanisms. Data loss over an unexpected power outage can cause severe consequences, driving SSD manufacturers to integrate strong Power Loss Protection mechanisms. To implement PLP, power-loss detection circuitry, power storage capacitors and advanced firmware are required. The enterprise-level SSDs are built with advanced error correction algorithms, stern integrity checks and encryptions for absolute data protection. The consumer SSDs may or may not have a PLP functionality to decrease the complexity and cost factors.
High endurance – DWPD
DWPD is a metric indicative of how many times the SSDs can be written before they void the warranty. It is one of the key factors that determines an SSD’s performance in different workload scenarios. SSDs designed for enterprises are capable of handling a large volume of write operations in a day compared to normal SSDs. High DWPDs are intended for enterprise computing environments, data centers, and servers to withstand larger volumes of daily writes required. A normal SSD on the other hand with just smaller browsing requirements, basic applications, and only a few large file transfer needs can work efficiently with a DWPD of 0.3-1, whereas an enterprise SSD can start from 3 DWPDs and have as much as 25 DWPDs in instances like heavy databases.
NAND flash memory –
Server SSDs utilize higher-end NAND technologies with the most evolved error correction mechanisms and data distribution algorithms to manage heavy tasks. The SSDs for high-performing workloads need Single-Level Cell (SLC) NAND architecture to cater to the speed and endurance calls of such workloads. The SLC NAND stores only 1 bit of data per cell, resulting in faster read/write speeds, data integrity, and longer lifespans. The client SSDs prioritize affordability and do not need higher endurance ratings, hence they are built on MLC (Multi-Level Cell) and Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NANDs providing the higher storage densities essential in typical consumer-level usage.
Specialized Interface –
SATA and PCIe interfaces can be used in both consumer SSDs and enterprise SSDs, however they are common in consumer SSDs. Modern enterprises and data centers favor NVMe since integrating this storage protocol accelerates data retrieval to significant levels. NVMe SSDs access data directly from the flash memory to realize very high-speed data transfers. SAS interface SSDs are also commonly used in enterprises to gain better performance and reliability. When the intended use case or performance requirements are demanding, Client SSDs may also consume the NVMe interface.
| Feature | Enterprise SSDs | Client SSDs |
|---|---|---|
| Workloads | Sustained reads and writes at full speed with frequent random access | Sequential reads and writes with less frequent random access |
| Budget | Higher Price Tag | Cost-conscious |
| Performance Requirements | Steady State Performance – high performance over extended periods | Fresh/Out-of-the-Box – can deliver slower performance under sustained heavy usage |
| Data Integrity | Advanced features for data protection | Basic data protection features |
| Target Use | Data Centers, Mission Critical Servers | Personal Computers |
| Optimized for | 24/7 operations | 8 hr operations |
| SSD Requirements | Active Use power of 55°C for 24 hours | Active Use power of 40°C for 8 hours |
| Power Loss Protection | Yes | No |
| Hot-Pluggable Backplane | Yes | No |
| Capacity | Enterprise-grade capacities ranging up to 30TB | 4TB and less |
| Lifespan | Write cycles lasting between 3 to 5 years | Lifespan can exceed 30,000 write cycles that lasts from 5 to 10 years |
Understanding Read-intensive, Write-intensive, and Mixed-use SSDs and their Exact Application
SSDs are designed to address different types of workloads with differing proportions of read and write operations. They are bifurcated into write-intensive, read-intensive, and mixed-use SSDs.
Write-intensive – These SSDs are designed for tasks where data is consistently written on SSD and such operations require higher DWPD ratings. WI SSDs are used for video editing, data logging, and transactional operations as these types of work queues require longer lifespans and a steady write speed.
Read-intensive – RI SSDs are ideal for streaming, web servers, content delivery, and workloads that need lesser write operations and high storage capacities. They are optimized for read-heavy tasks, delivering lower write endurance or DWPDs, high read speeds, fast data access, and low query latency.
When buying an SSD, consider the nature of the work carried out and the performance requirements in your IT environment. Take into account the endurance ratings that decide the drive’s sustainability and suitability in your enterprise environment. A WI SSD is employed where writing tasks are performed heavily, an RI SSD can be engaged when the intensity of read operations is more and reserve the MU SSDs to balance the read and write activities.
How to Decide the Right SSD?
Using an unsupported drive adversely impacts the system’s overall speed, performance, consistency, and IO delivery while reducing latencies. Do not settle for less – explore ServerBasket’s range of best SSDs for data centers and enterprises. Place a call and talk to our IT specialists skilled in building high-performance storage solutions to find optimal and affordable SSDs for your business. SSDs are designed with different specifications to target different types of workloads and to achieve different purposes. Arrive upon an SSD balanced for your operations, taking into consideration – the IT infrastructure, budget, interface, compatibility, and compatibility for newer technologies.
