Introducing HP SmartCache for HP ProLiant Gen8 Servers
Storage needs for enterprise systems are advancing rapidly in both performance and capacity and most applications require a balance of those attributes. However, certain applications emphasize one attribute over another. For instance, applications that process many read and write requests to the storage subsystem make performance a priority.
Two storage technologies commonly address application needs. The SSD, with its very low latency, is the answer for performance-conscious applications. The hard disk drive (HDD), with its long-term reliability and economical per-GB cost, meets large capacity needs.
As the cost of SSDs is trending downward, SSD technology is making inroads into the enterprise server market to address the low latency requirements for certain applications. However, even with the performance benefit and lower cost, SSD technology will not replace HDD technology in the near future since HDDs remain an economical and durable (long-term) storage medium.
HP SmartCache technology eases your decisions by providing an incremental, economical way to introduce SSD technology into your environment. HP SmartCache provides SSD performance benefits while simultaneously preserving investments in previously purchased hard disk assets.
Caching works by intelligently placing data in a lower latency device so that responses to future requests for that data can occur much quicker. If an application requests data that is in the cache (called a “cache hit”) then the lower latency device can service that transaction. Otherwise, a “cache miss” occurs and the data must be accessed from the original, slower device. As more cache hits occur, overall performance improves.
HP SmartCache is supported on HP ProLiant Gen8 servers with one of the following controllers: P420i, P420, P421, P822 and P721m. HP SmartCache is an included feature on the P822 and P721m/2G FBWC. The HP SmartCache architecture is flexible and supports any HP ProLiant Gen8 supported HDD for bulk storage and any HP ProLiant Gen8 supported SSD as an accelerator.
The basic HP SmartCache architecture is comprised of the following three elements:
- Bulk storage: The first element is the bulk storage device, which is any supported HDD attached to the HP Smart Array controller.
- Accelerator: The second element, the accelerator, is a faster/lower latency SSD device that caches data.
- Metadata: The final element is metadata, information held in a relatively small storage area that maps the location of information residing on the accelerator and bulk storage devices.
HP SmartCache is deployed and managed through the same management tool for HP Smart Array – the HP Array Configuration Utility (ACU).
HP SmartCache provides the following features and benefits:
- Workload Acceleration – Workload acceleration performance by caching hot data on SSDs
- Simplified Deployment – Seamless integration into your datacenter with no application or operating system changes
- Unified Management – Manage your array and HP SmartCache through the Array Configuration Utility (ACU)
- Efficient Operations – Performance and efficiency gains utilizing your existing HP ProLiant Gen8 server technology.
For more information about HP SmartCache – click here and here or contact our sales consultants by phone: (+371) 67819977.