Pure Storage adds 3D memory, Oracle and SAP systems, predictive support
Pure Storage outlined plans to add the latest in flash memory technology to its storage arrays, launched optimized systems for SAP and Oracle and added capacity planning to its cloud management system.
The storage company, in its first product launch since its initial public offering, could benefit as more data centers turn to solid state arrays and rival EMC preps a merger with Dell. On the other side of the flash storage equation, HP, EMC and a bevy of others have focused on solid-state arrays.
Pure Storage, which is boasting a Net Promoter Score of 79, is taking the approach used with its FlashArray//m and software where upgrades are modular and easily made.
Pure Storage launches new array, software, upgrade program
For instance, Pure's 3D TLC Flash array will use 3D NAND, which packs more capacity, and will allow customers to mix and match TLC and MLC memory. TLC stands for triple level cell flash that stores three bits of data per cell of flash media. MLC is multi-level and more expensive.
Matt Kixmoeller, vice president of products at Pure, said the ability to mix and match TLC and MLC will allow customers to gradually improve the hardware capacity over time. "The hardware will have the same lifespan, but mixing TLC and MLC will improve density over time," said Kixmoeller. "The upgrades will be modular."
Kixmoeller added that Pure has been able to get costs down to $1.50 per usable GB.
In addition, Pure said it was adding SAP and Oracle to its FlashStack CI line. FlashStack is sold along side Cisco's Unified Computing System. Pure rides shotgun with Cisco on converged infrastructure deals.
For Oracle databases, Pure will converge transactional and data warehouse loads, provide instant database cloning for testing and development and automated backup and recovery. It's also worth noting that Pure's FlashStack will be an alternative to Oracle's Exadata hardware.
On the SAP side of the enterprise equation, Pure is launching a FlashStack for enterprise resource planning applications and providing instant snapshots for system copies. Pure said it can cut deployment time by 50 percent and reduce maintenance.
The Oracle and SAP stacks will "put Pure at the highest end of mission critical applications," said Kixmoeller.
Pure is also launching a capacity planning tool for its Pure1 cloud management and support software. Pure1 has more than 2,000 global users and about 21 percent of them are managing arrays from mobile devices.
To go along with the capacity planning addition, Pure1 is getting proactive service analytics tools. The general idea is that Pure can manage upgrade remotely and initiate service calls to customers 58 percent of the time.
In many respects, Pure1 Global Insight will operate like an antivirus provider finding emerging threats. The predictive support tool will predict known issues, detect configuration issues and capacity problems on the fly as it monitors performance of its arrays.