Is MLC Ready for the Enterprise?

MLC NAND Flash was once considered unfit for the enterprise because it lacked one ingredient that was critical in the enterprise environment: endurance. While SSDs have quickly become the storage solution of choice for various applications, including OLTP, DSS, boot, webservers and VOD, many still hold the belief that MLC flash is only suitable for boot or read intensive applications. Are they right? The success of SSDs in the enterprise has been phenomenal. However in order for SSDs to truly move the needle in enterprise storage adoption, SSD vendors must find a way reduce cost and make MLC work. While this may seem like a “pie in the sky” idea, storage vendors are already beginning to make this a reality.

Learning Objectives

Dispel the myth that MLC flash-based storage devices cannot meet enterprise endurance requirements.
Illustrate how enterprise storage vendors are already adapting MLC technology in storage devices through important technology breakthroughs.
Present real world test results that show how enterprise SSDs with MLC NAND flash can achieve up to 50 full random drive writes per day for five years.
Discuss the impact that these technologies will have on enterprise adoption of SSDs, and what this means for SSD prices in the near term.