Firm Aligns Rising Portfolio of Enterprise-Class SSDs and HDDs to Help Key Workloads Inside the AI Knowledge Cycle
Fueling the following 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 clients plan and develop superior storage infrastructures to maximise their AI investments, enhance effectivity, and scale back the overall value of possession (TCO) of their AI workflows.
AI fashions function in a steady loop of information consumption and era – processing textual content, photographs, audio and video amongst different information varieties whereas concurrently producing new distinctive information. As AI applied sciences develop into extra superior, information storage techniques should ship the capability and efficiency to help the computational hundreds and speeds required for big, subtle fashions whereas managing immense volumes of information. Western Digital has strategically aligned its Flash and HDD product and expertise roadmaps to the storage necessities of every essential stage of the cycle, and as we speak launched a brand new industry-leading, high-performance PCIe® Gen5 SSD to help 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 question that Generative AI is the following transformational expertise, and storage is a essential enabler. The implications for storage are anticipated to be important because the function of storage, and entry to information, influences the velocity, effectivity and accuracy of AI Models, particularly as bigger and higher-quality information units develop into extra prevalent,” mentioned Ed Burns, Analysis Director at IDC. “As a pacesetter in Flash and HDD, Western Digital has a possibility to learn on this rising AI panorama with its sturdy market place and broad portfolio, which meets a wide range of wants inside the totally different AI information cycle phases.”
“Knowledge is the gas of AI. As AI applied sciences develop into embedded throughout nearly each {industry} sector, storage has develop into an more and more necessary and dynamic element of the AI expertise stack,” mentioned Rob Soderbery, government vp and common supervisor of Western Digital’s Flash Enterprise Unit. “The brand new AI Knowledge Cycle framework will equip our clients 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 clients.”
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 improve versus the earlier era 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 offers a wealthy function set, together with NVMe® 2.0 and OCP 2.0 help, 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 yr.
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 at the moment are sampling. Extra particulars in regards to the drives will probably be launched later this yr when quantity shipments start.
Western Digital can be now sampling the {industry}’s highest-capacity, 32TB ePMR enterprise-class HDD to pick out clients. Designed for enormous 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 will probably be out there later this summer time.
“Every stage of the AI Knowledge Cycle is exclusive with totally different infrastructure and compute necessities. By understanding the dynamic interaction between AI and information storage, Western Digital is delivering options that not solely provide increased capacities however are additionally tailor-made to help the intense efficiency and endurance of next-generation AI workloads,” mentioned Soderbery. “With our rising portfolio, long-term roadmap and fixed innovation, our purpose is to assist clients unlock the transformative capabilities of AI.”
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