| | December 20139CIOReviewdevice replaces almost 2,000 spinning 15K RPM disk drives, along with the power, cooling and rackspace required to support them. Furthermore, because these devices deliver transactions at near sub-millisecond latencies, database administrators no longer need heroic actions (especially the time consuming reorgs) to make their databases perform. Using these types of devices for the more demanding tables and indexes, and then using slower speed 7.2K RPM disks for colder data provides the best of both worlds: the best $/IOPS AND the best $/GB, lowering the overall system cost.Another area where flash can be transformational is in tactical and first responder vehicles. In those environments, spinning disks are generally not an option. In fact, in the past these vehicles had to park to process large amounts of data, because spinning disk drives could not take the shock and vibration. Flash storage technologies now allow the command and control applications running in these vehicles to process data on the move, even in harsh environments and over rugged terrain. Flash is not only valuable in combat vehicles. In fact, anywhere space, temperature and vibration are issues, flash offers a better solution. That includes aircraft, smaller watercraft, helicopters and submarines. The same is true for first responder vehicles here at home, to improve the situational awareness of police officers and help them do their jobs more safely and effectively.For streaming data, flash may not be a good fit. If the data is large block, with some randomness, there may be some benefit, but it is not nearly as cost-effective as in the small block, random I/O world. In fact, large amounts of streaming data quickly overrun the capacities of flash devices. Generally, SATA or near-line SAS disks are better suited for these environments and far more cost-effective.So, while flash doesn't "change everything" where it does fit its impact is powerful. In the environments mentioned above, flash technology adoption is beginning to kick the fast (10K and 15K RPM) disk market to the curb. If that trend continues, we may witness the demise of that market, particularly as newer, more capable flash technologies come on the scene and price and latency continue to fall.Flash storage technologies now allow the command and control applications running in these vehicles to process data on the move, even in harsh environments and over rugged terrainWith a cumulative market valued at $518 billion (2013 ­ 2018), the U.S. Federal IT market will grow steadily ­ at about 3 percent CAGR over the period 2013 ­ 2018. Total annual U.S. Federal IT market will surpass $93 billion by 2018 Courtesy: Market Research Media
< Page 8 | Page 10 >