Accelerator improves RAID array management
Microchip’s Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 series of NVMe RAID storage accelerators speeds access to NVMe storage in AI data centers. It achieves this through a disaggregated architecture that separates storage software from the hardware layer, leveraging dedicated PCIe controllers to offload CPU processing and accelerate RAID operations. Microchip reports the SmartRAID 4300 achieves up to 7× higher I/O performance compared to the previous generation in internal testing.
In the SmartRAID 4300 architecture, storage software runs on the host CPU while the accelerator offloads parity-based redundancy tasks, such as XOR operations. This allows write operations to bypass the accelerator and go directly from the host CPU to NVMe drives at native PCIe speeds. By avoiding in-line bottlenecks, the design supports high-throughput configurations with up to 32 CPU-attached x4 NVMe devices and 64 logical drives or RAID arrays. It is compatible with both PCIe Gen 4 and Gen 5 host systems.
The SmartRAID 4300 accommodates NVMe and cloud-capable SSDs for versatile enterprise deployments. It uses architectural techniques like automatic core idling and autonomous power reduction to optimize efficiency. The accelerator also provides security features, including hardware root of trust, secure boot, attestation, and Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) support to ensure data protection.
For information on production integration, contact Microchip sales or an authorized distributor here.
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