SMART Modular introduces Flash Drives Designed to Combat SEU Challenges

SMART Modular Technologies introduces SEU Mitigation for SSDs: A Game Changer for High-Reliability Systems

Imagine you’re managing a remote data center, perhaps in a rugged landscape where repairs are a logistical nightmare. Now, picture a sudden system failure caused by something as unpredictable as a cosmic ray. Sounds like a plot twist from a sci-fi movie, right? But for those in the tech trenches, this is a very real concern. Enter SMART Modular Technologies, a division of SGH, which has just rolled out a new technology to combat these troublesome single event upsets (SEUs) in their flash memory systems.

So, what exactly are SEUs? In simple terms, they’re like little gremlins that can flip bits in digital memory, causing data to go haywire. This can happen when high-energy particles—think cosmic rays or even radiation from the Earth—collide with sensitive electronic components. The result? Potentially catastrophic errors that can bring critical systems to their knees.

SMART’s latest innovation focuses on their MP3000 NVMe SSDs, which promise to reduce annual failure rates from a staggering 17,500 failures per million units to less than 10. That’s not just a marginal improvement; it’s a seismic shift that could save companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in service costs and downtime. As Satya Iyer, SMART’s VP of specialty memory, puts it, “In networking and telecom applications in remote and hard-to-service locations, SEU mitigation can make the difference for systems that require 24/7 uptime.”

What’s particularly interesting about this technology is how it goes beyond traditional error correction codes (ECC). While ECC is a common technique used to detect and correct errors, SMART’s approach allows the SSD to recover from these soft errors without needing a full system reboot. Imagine the relief of not having to restart an entire system just because a bit flipped. This capability is especially vital in environments where uptime is not just a luxury, but a necessity.

Now, let’s talk about the hardware. SMART’s boot drives come in a range of storage capacities—from a modest 60 GB to a hefty 1.92 TB—catering to both commercial and industrial applications. The ME2 SATA M.2 and mSATA drives are available in temperature grades that can withstand everything from a balmy 70°C down to a bone-chilling -40°C. Meanwhile, the MP3000 NVMe PCIe drives offer the same robust temperature resilience, ensuring they can operate in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. Plus, they come equipped with SafeDATA power loss protection, which adds another layer of security against unexpected shutdowns.

But why should you care? Well, if you’ve ever experienced the frustration of a system failure, you’ll appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing your hardware is built to withstand the unpredictable. Whether you’re running a telecom network in a remote area or managing sensitive data for a critical application, the stakes are high.

In a world where every second of uptime counts, SMART Modular’s SEU mitigation technology could be the unsung hero that keeps your systems running smoothly. And while we might not be able to control cosmic rays, we can certainly prepare for their impact. As technology continues to evolve, innovations like these remind us that sometimes, the most advancements come from tackling the challenges that lie just beneath the surface.

Technology Explained

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M.2: M.2, also known as Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), is a computer expansion card format that is designed to replace the outdated mSATA standard. It is thinner and longer than mSATA, which gives it a much higher data transfer rate. The M.2 format measures 22mm in width and can measure up to 110mm in length. It uses the M-key and B-key connectors to interface with PC host systems, and can connect to both SATA III and PCIe for data transfer. Due to its small size, M.2 is often used for ultra-slim laptops and netbooks, as well as in embedded SSDs for tablets and other mobile devices. It is also becoming increasingly popular in the desktop computer industry, thanks to its compactness and fast transfer speeds. This makes M.2 ideal for gaming PCs, workstations, and other demanding applications that require high levels of data throughput.

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NVMe: Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) is a newly developed technology that has been gaining traction in the computer industry. This technology is a standard interface which allows for high-speed storage and retrieval of data from solid state drives (SSDs). NVMe is designed to increase the speed of data transfers in storage systems by enabling a direct connection to PCI Express (PCIe) bus, resulting in significantly faster access times compared to traditional interface protocols such SSDs. NVMe is particularly useful for applications that require lightning-fast access to large amounts of high-value data. NVMe-based SSDs are being widely adopted in the computer industry and are being employed to power data centers, high-end workstations, and gaming machines to support lightning-fast data processing and retrieval, which unlocks possibilities for machine learning, real-time analytics, edge computing, and other cutting-edge applications. NVMe is proving to be an invaluable tool in the field of computing, offering immense

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PCIe: PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for connecting components such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to a motherboard. It is the most widely used interface in the computer industry today, and is used in both desktop and laptop computers. PCIe is capable of providing up to 16 times the bandwidth of the older PCI standard, allowing for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as storage, networking, and communications. PCIe is an essential component of modern computing, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

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SSD: A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a modern data storage device that employs flash memory technology to store data electronically. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This leads to quicker boot times, faster application loading, and smoother overall system performance. SSDs are known for their durability, shock resistance, and energy efficiency, making them ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and other portable devices. They come in various form factors, including 2.5-inch, M.2, and PCIe cards, and are favored for their reliability, quiet operation, and reduced heat generation

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