Flash Cache

Optimize your storage system performance by adding NetApp® Flash Cache intelligent caching instead of more hard disk drives or SSDs. Improve storage efficiency and reduce costs by using Flash Cache with SATA drives.

 

Flash Cache speeds access to data through intelligent caching of recently read user data and NetApp metadata in the storage controller. No setup or ongoing administration is needed, although you have the option to tune the operation of Flash Cache. It works with all storage protocols and all NetApp software. With Flash Cache you can:

  • Increase I/O throughput by up to 75%[1]
  • Use up to 75% fewer disk drives without compromising performance[2]
  • Increase e-mail users by up to 67% without adding disk drives[3]

The combination of intelligent caching and NetApp® storage efficiency technologies enables the Virtual Storage Tier, a unique approach to automated storage tiering. The NetApp Virtual Storage Tier promotes hot data to performance storage in real time without moving the data, allowing you to scale performance and capacity while achieving the highest level of storage efficiency in the industry.

Flash Cache modules are integrated as a standard feature in high-end NetApp storage systems. With 1TB of Flash Cache built in to optimize performance, your system can respond in real time to dynamic workloads.

Buying Flash Cache doesn't need to be a leap of faith because you can simulate the results of adding cache to your current NetApp storage system with Predictive Cache Statistics, a feature of the NetApp Data ONTAP® operating system.

Learn more about intelligent caching with Flash Cache (PDF).

[1] See WP-7082, "Using NetApp Flash Cache (PAM II) in Online Transaction Processing"
[2] See TR-3799, "Flash Cache in File Services Workloads"
[3] See TR-3867, "Using Flash Cache for Exchange 2010"