SSD E2: Here comes the storage revolution with 1 petabyte in a single device

The data storage sector can be about to undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of SSD E2: A promise of a new format developed by the collaboration between Storage Networking Industry Association (Snia) and the Open Compute Project (OCP).

Designed to fill Gap between high capacity hard drives and high performance SSDs, E2 promises up to 1 petabyte (1,000,000 gb) of storage in a single unit, Using Flash QLC memory.

SSD E2 Technical Characteristics

SSD E2 adheres to Enterprise and Data Center Standard Form Factor (EDSFF) specifications, reusing the standard industry connector already present on E1 and E3 devices.

With dimensions of 200 mm long, 76 mm high e 9.5 mm thick, E2 is designed for high capacity implementation on 2u server.

Each unit can store up to 1 petabyte of data, allowing a single server to accommodate up to 40 units, totaling 40 storage petabytes.

Drives communication is carried out Via nvmeusing 6.0 x4 or upper PCIe connections. Each SSD E2 can consume until 80 watts of power, Although most operate between 20 and 30 watts, which still represents a significant thermal challenge and can make the use of air cooling unfeasible.

How does SSD E2 work in practice?

A lot of people can confuse: After all, are we talking about a traditional hard drive (HDD) or an SSD? THE E2 It is, in fact, a SSD (Solid State Drive) – But in a Different and optimized format for data centers.

What differentiates the E2 from other SSDs?

1. Flash QLC memory storage: While HDDs use magnetic discs to record physically data, SSDs use flash memory chips. In E2, the technology employed is the QLC NAND flash (Quad-level cell), which can store four bits per cell, increasing storage density. This is why each E2 can reach 1 PB in just 9.5 mm thick.
2. Physical format and standard connector: E2 follows the Enterprise and Data Center SSD Form Factor (EDSFF) standard, which facilitates integration into high density servers. It is similar to a “ruler” (so many call this “Ruler SSD” format), fitting as a module that slides 2u servers, unlike the traditional 2.5 ″ format that we know in notebook SSDs or desktops.
3. Between SSD and HDD with the idea of ​​“Warm Storage”: o E2 does not replace completely The fastest SSDs or the cheapest HDDs. It is born to be the middle ground: great for data that do not need constant and fast access (as in operational databases), but cannot be in slow hdds. For example, safety copies that are accessed moderately, or high density media files that need to be available quickly.
4. Performance and Energy: Although it does not have the same focus on the speed of the NVME SSDs for general use, E2 still offers higher performance than HDD. It connects by PCIE 6.0 x4 or rather, but its main focus is capacity.

How much should an E2 SSD cost?

Unfortunately, There is no official price disclosed to SSD E2 unitssince technology is in the prototype phase and still faces technical challenges, such as high energy consumption and thermal management.

However, we can make some estimates based on:

• Current price of large capacity SSDS QLC: for example, SSDs de 30 TB For date centers can cost in the US$ 5.000 a US$ 10.000 per unit.
• Exponential Cost Growth by TB: How the E2 goes to 1 PB (1.000 TB)the total cost per unit will probably be In the house of hundreds of thousands of dollars Initially, until technology matures.

For reference, mass storage solutions (such as Arrays NVME and Storage Appliances) 1 PB can exceed US$ 500.000 In complete servers, depending on the characteristics of redundancy and performance.

Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that an E2 of 1 PB, when available commercially, costs hundreds of thousands of dollars – Which makes it totally unfeasible for home consumers and accessible only to major data centers and organizations with very specific needs.

Applications and Challenges

SSD E2 is made for applications dealing with “warm data” – information accessed with moderate frequency such as recent backups, media files and analytical data.

With target speeds of 8 a 10 MB/s por TeraByteE2 has performance potential superior to the traditional HDDsalthough the main focus is on storage capacity.

However, the implementation of E2 faces challenges regarding energy consumption and heat dissipation. Such factors require more efficient cooling solutions and can limit the adoption of E2 in environments that do not support such thermal requirements.

Future perspectives

Companies like Micron are among the main taxpayers for the manufacture of E2, and Pure Storage already demonstrated a 300tb prototype.

It is expected that with the advancement of technology and the overcoming of current challenges, SSD E2 becomes a practical and economical solution to the growing demand for high capacity storage on data centers.

Check out the specifications of the Micron model:

As storage needs continue to grow, especially with the increased data generated by artificial intelligence applications and Big Data analysis, solutions such as this will be increasingly considered.

Also read:

E2 on personal computers: reality or fiction?

The promise of up to 1 petabyte storage in a single drive draws attention from the general public as well. But will we see the E2 In desktops and household notebooks?

The answer, for now, is no. E2 was created with total focus on Data Centers and Corporate Serverswhere data volume and the need for massive storage are incomparably larger than in domestic environments. In addition, there are some practical barriers for adoption on PCs:

• Energy consumption: Even operating at lower levels (20-30 watts), it is a high value for personal computers. An typical NVME M.2 SSD consumes about 3 to 5 watts, much more compatible with notebooks and desktops.
• Physical size: E2 is 20 cm long and 7.6 cm high, designed for 2U servers with specific cooling systems. It would be unfeasible to fit this drive into ordinary towers or laptops. At least for now.
• Cost and need: Most home users need not store hundreds of Terabytes or Petabytes of data. Even video professionals, for example, often use more affordable solutions.

Therefore, although E2 technology is a milestone for companies, For end consumers will continue to evolve In other formats, such as NVME M.2 and high -speed PCIE SSDs – increasingly compact and efficient.

Fonte: StorageReview