Fusion’s directCache transforms ioMemory into a transparent, auto-tiering, acceleration device to cache any block-based storage medium whether it is a disk array, SAN, direct attached storage or iSCSI target. directCache places the caching software in the server to deliver lower cache latency. With directCache, Fusion-io customers can have Terabytes of cache acceleration at their fingertips to speed performance of any backing store. This add-on module for ioSphere integrates tightly with Fusion’s Virtual Storage Layer, a flash-optimized OS subsystem, to deliver immediate application workload performance improvements.

directCache Benefits

• Transparently accelerate existing storage volumes. directCache caches the most frequently accessed blocks for instant performance gains
• Seamless integration with existing block storage devices. directCache eliminates the need for costly and complex tiering systems based on Fibre Channel or SAS disks
• Minimum disruption with maximum benefit. directCache requires no changes to the storage
  infrastructure, preserving existing configurations
• Immediate performance improvements. Requests coming from NAND flash memory at the server-level can be hundreds of times faster than those from disk-based solutions
• Reduce the need to configure disks for IOPS. directCache delivers up to hundreds of thousands of IOPS, eliminating the need to overprovision drives, and cutting cost and complexity
• Maximum performance from NAND flash memory. ioMemory with directCache removes the overhead of legacy storage protocols by integrating directly with a native PCIe implementation

Features

• Support for direct attached, SAN-attached, and appliance-attached storage
• Transparent installation. Host operating systems continue to see block devices as-is
• Data security. directCache’s write through caching keeps data as safe as your backing store
• Statistics to monitor cache hits and performance

Technical Detail

• Accelerate any OS visible block storage volume
• Write through cache mode
• Replacement based on recency
• Direct integration with Virtual Storage Layer (VSL)
• Fully associative
• Individual storage sector granularity
• Avoids meta-data double writing on fault load
• Maintains 100% cache capacity utilization
• Avoids saturated write performance loss and wear
• Full performance of backing-store even with no cache hits
• Adapts to current health and usable capacity of the ioMemory

directCache Diagram

Product Features

Product type	Add-on software module for ioMemory VSL
Cache type	Fully associative cache
Cache mode	Write-through
Minimum cacheable block size	512B
Max cache instances per host	Unlimited
Additional CPU & RAM overhead	No noticeable increase over the ioMemory VSL requirements
Product architecture	Independent Linux kernel module, Window volume/disk filter driver
Management	CLI utilities to bind, unbind, and provide status
Protection modes	Optional partition table obfuscation
Power loss protection	Yes

 

System Requirements

ioMemory VSL driver	directCache requires a 2.3.0 version of the ioMemory VSL or later
Compatible cache devices	All ioDrive, ioDrive Duo, and ioDrive Octal products are compatible with directCache except ioDrives with a v6 or earlier adapter
Operating systems	64-bit Microsoft Server 2003/2008/2008 R2/Vista/Win7, RHEL 5/6, SLES 11
Supported backing store types	Disk, disk partition, hardware RAID volume, software RAID volume, iSCSI LUN, Fibre Chennel Lun

 

For More Information:

Visit http://www.fusionio.com

To speak with a Fusion-io specialist in the U.S. call: +1 (801) 424 5500

To speak with a Fusion-io specialist outside the U.S.: http://fusionio.com/company/contact