Firm Aligns Rising Portfolio of Enterprise-Class SSDs and HDDs to Assist Key Workloads Inside the AI Knowledge Cycle
Fueling the subsequent wave of AI innovation, Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) launched a six-stage AI Knowledge Cycle framework that defines the optimum storage combine for AI workloads at scale. This framework will assist prospects plan and develop superior storage infrastructures to maximise their AI investments, enhance effectivity, and scale back the full value of possession (TCO) of their AI workflows.
AI fashions function in a steady loop of information consumption and technology – processing textual content, photos, audio and video amongst different information sorts whereas concurrently producing new distinctive information. As AI applied sciences change into extra superior, information storage techniques should ship the capability and efficiency to assist the computational masses and speeds required for big, refined fashions whereas managing immense volumes of information. Western Digital has strategically aligned its Flash and HDD product and know-how roadmaps to the storage necessities of every crucial stage of the cycle, and right now launched a brand new industry-leading, high-performance PCIe® Gen5 SSD to assist AI coaching and inference; a excessive capability 64TB* SSD for quick AI information lakes; and the world’s highest capability ePMR, UltraSMR 32TB* HDD for cost-effective storage at scale.
“There’s little doubt that Generative AI is the subsequent transformational know-how, and storage is a crucial enabler. The implications for storage are anticipated to be important because the function of storage, and entry to information, influences the pace, effectivity and accuracy of AI Fashions, particularly as bigger and higher-quality information units change into extra prevalent,” mentioned Ed Burns, Analysis Director at IDC. “As a frontrunner in Flash and HDD, Western Digital has a chance to learn on this rising AI panorama with its robust market place and broad portfolio, which meets a wide range of wants inside the completely different AI information cycle levels.”
“Knowledge is the gas of AI. As AI applied sciences change into embedded throughout just about each {industry} sector, storage has change into an more and more necessary and dynamic element of the AI know-how stack,” mentioned Rob Soderbery, govt vp and normal supervisor of Western Digital’s Flash Enterprise Unit. “The brand new AI Knowledge Cycle framework will equip our prospects to construct a storage infrastructure that impacts the efficiency, scalability, and the deployment of AI functions, underscoring our dedication to ship unparalleled worth to our prospects.”
Rising Suite of Enterprise AI Storage Options for Compute- and Storage-Intensive Workloads
The brand new Ultrastar DC SN861 SSD is Western Digital’s first enterprise-class PCIe Gen 5.0 answer with industry-leading random learn efficiency and projected best-in-class energy effectivity for AI workloads. With capacities as much as 16TB, it delivers as much as 3x random learn efficiency enhance versus the earlier technology with ultra-low latency and unimaginable responsiveness for big language modeling (LLM) coaching, inferencing and AI service deployment. As well as, the low energy profile delivers increased IOPS/Watt, lowering general TCO. The elevated PCIe Gen5 bandwidth addresses the rising wants of the AI marketplace for high-speed accelerated computing mixed with low latency to serve compute intensive environments of AI. Constructed for mission-critical workloads, the Ultrastar DC SN861 gives a wealthy function set, together with NVMe® 2.0 and OCP 2.0 assist, 1 and three DWPD, and a 5-year restricted guarantee1. The Ultrastar DC SN861 E1.S is now sampling. The U.2 will start sampling this month and will start quantity shipments in CQ3’24. Extra particulars on E1.S and E3.S kind elements will comply with later this 12 months.
Complementing the Ultrastar DC SN861, is the expanded Ultrastar DC SN655 enterprise-class SSD vary designed for storage-intensive functions. The brand new choices for the U.3 SSD will attain as much as 64TB, driving increased efficiency and capability for AI information preparation and quicker, bigger information lakes.
These new DC SN655 variants are actually sampling. Extra particulars in regards to the drives shall be launched later this 12 months when quantity shipments start.
Western Digital can also be now sampling the {industry}’s highest-capacity, 32TB ePMR enterprise-class HDD to pick prospects. Designed for large information storage in hyperscale cloud and enterprise information facilities, the brand new Ultrastar DC HC690 high-capacity UltraSMR HDD will play an important function in AI workflows the place large-scale information storage and low TCO are paramount. Leveraging confirmed designs from generations of extremely profitable merchandise, the brand new 32TB drive delivers unbeaten capability with seamless qualification and integration for speedy deployment, whereas sustaining superior dependability and reliability. Extra particulars in regards to the drive shall be out there later this summer time.
“Every stage of the AI Knowledge Cycle is exclusive with completely different infrastructure and compute necessities. By understanding the dynamic interaction between AI and information storage, Western Digital is delivering options that not solely supply increased capacities however are additionally tailor-made to assist the acute efficiency and endurance of next-generation AI workloads,” mentioned Soderbery. “With our rising portfolio, long-term roadmap and fixed innovation, our aim is to assist prospects unlock the transformative capabilities of AI.”
Join the free insideBIGDATA newsletter.
Be a part of us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/InsideBigData1
Be a part of us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insidebigdata/
Be a part of us on Fb: https://www.facebook.com/insideBIGDATANOW