Solid State Drive - SAS

Serial-Attached SCSI solid-state drive (SAS) is a type of NAND flash-based storage or caching device. The SAS interface is all about performance rather than the traditional SCSI. SSD technology stores data in flash memory just like in SD cards which means data is retained even without power. These SSDs are designed using the SAS interface and have similar dimensions to fit in the same slot as a hard disk drive. SAS SSDs are available in the 2.5-inch form factor and the 3.5-inch form factor.

We have different bandwidth options for SAS SSDs including the 3 Gbps, 6 Gbps, and 12 Gbps. In their unique nature, SAS SSDs are about reliability and performance.

The SAS SSDs have been commonly used in servers and enterprise storage arrays where there are application workloads that require high input/output (I/O), high availability (HA), and low latency. Some of the popular application cases requiring SAS SSDs are server virtualization, high-performance computing, online transaction processing, and data analytics.

We have SAS solid-state drives from all the big manufacturers and in different write endurance options. For example, we have high-capacity 800GB and 3.84TB SAS SSDs that are designed for read-intensive workloads will typically guarantee one drive write per day (DWPD). On the other hand, lower-capacity SAS SSDs that are designed for write-intensive workloads might guarantee up to 25 DWPD.

In comparison, SAS SSDs hard drives are able to deliver faster data transfer rates in relation to serial ATA (SATA) SSDs. SAS SSDs have built-in features that improve reliability including advanced error correction, data integrity technologies, and greater signal quality on both the cable and backplane where applicable. These features also allow support for dual-port operations.

In addition, with SAS solid-state drives using higher signal voltage, they can reliably transmit data at twice the speed of SATA drives. Data transfer not only happens at greater speeds but also with improved overall data integrity from end to end.

Other features and benefits of the SAS SSDs include:

• Lesser need for hardware overhead which comes in handy in maximizing IOPS and reducing data latency.
• Support for multiple data paths guarantees availability and greater performance levels as well as providing data path redundancy.
• SAS enables the connection of multiple devices across different sizes using longer cables making them ideal for enterprise solutions.
• SSD cache helps store a temporary copy of your active data guarding against data loss
• Higher mean time between failures (MTBF)
• SAS SSDs are non-mechanical which helps in eliminating moving components and associated noise.
• Speeds of up to 15,000 RPM
• Compatibility with SCSI and SATA devices

Lastly, the design of next-generation SAS SSDs utilizing the SAS 4.0 specification will see throughput reach the nominal 24 Gbps figure which is double the 12 Gbps bandwidth associated with SAS 3.0 SSDs. SAS SSDs meet the demands of challenging enterprise environments where performance and reliability are the most important considerations.