SanDisk FlashSoft software for VMware vSphere 6

BENGALURU: SanDisk, a global provider of flash storage solutions, has launched FlashSoft software for VMware vSphere 6 as a virtual data service through integration with VMware vSphere APIs for IO Filtering (VAIO).

This latest version of FlashSoft software represents an advance in terms of platform integration, usability and performance, in host-level storage acceleration. The new VAIO-integrated FlashSoft software will provide write-back caching support for all VMware datastores including VMware Virtual Machine File System (VMFS), Network File System (NFS), VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes and VMware Virtual SAN.

“We are excited about this significant leap forward for our FlashSoft software for VMware vSphere, which will significantly reduce the storage latency that constrains application performance in virtualized servers,” said Sumit Sadana, Executive Vice-President, Chief Strategy Officer and GM of Enterprise Solutions, SanDisk. “We have been collaborating closely with VMware for more than a year in order to seamlessly bring the benefits of server-tier flash acceleration to the VMware vSphere platform and ecosystem.”

The VMware vSphere APIs for IO Filtering will enable integration of third-party data services with vSphere, allowing partner technologies to contribute to VMware’s software-defined storage capabilities through Storage Policy Based Management (SPBM).

As the design partner for caching solutions built on VMware vSphere APIs for IO Filtering, SanDisk collaborated with VMware in the specification and development of this new capability to bring partner technologies into close alignment with vSphere.

The benefits of this new version of FlashSoft for VMware vSphere will include:

1. As a data service integrated through VMware Storage Policy Based Management (SPBM), the cache will be automatically deployed, managed and maintained cluster-wide through VMware vCenter storage policies.

2. As a supported solution of both VMware vSphere Storage Policy Based Management and VMware vSphere APIs for IO Filtering, customers and OEM partners will be able to adopt FlashSoft or other third-party virtual data services.

“VMware vSphere APIs for IO Filtering will bring third-party data services into the closest possible level of integration with VMware vSphere,” said Charles Fan, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Storage Business Unit, VMware.

“As a design partner, SanDisk has helped us develop a framework for not only incorporating its own FlashSoft software, but also enabling storage acceleration data services for our entire partner ecosystem. This helped us further extend our software-defined storage vision through unique software-based data services," added Fan.

FlashSoft software for VMware vSphere 5.1 and 5.5 is a VMware Partner Verified and Supported Product (PVSP). The new FlashSoft software for VMware vSphere 6 is certified VMware Ready and will be available for purchase from SanDisk and its enterprise channel partners later this year.