MLC vs. eMLC – What’s the Difference?

eMLCFrom time to time IT managers ask The SSD Guy if there’s an easy way to compare SSDs made with MLC flash against those made using eMLC flash.  Most folks understand that eMLC flash is a less costly alternative to SLC flash, both of which provide longer wear than standard MLC flash, but not everyone realizes that eMLC’s superior endurance comes at the cost of slower write speed.  By writing to the flash more gently the technology can be made to last considerably longer.

So how do you compare the two?  OCZ introduced MLC and eMLC versions of the same SSD this week, and this provides a beautiful opportunity to explore the difference.

As you would expect, the read parameters are all identical.  This stands to reason, since Continue reading “MLC vs. eMLC – What’s the Difference?”

Big Data? Move the App to the Data

Inside Violin Memories' 6000-Series flash Memory ArrayIn Big Data circles there is a saying that it might be easier to move the application program to the data, rather than to move the data to the server where the application is working.  There’s a lot of wisdom in that.  The application is small and can move rapidly.  Big data takes time to move.

In that spirit at least one Violin Memory customer has decided to move their applications into the servers that reside within one of Violin’s 6000 Series flash Memory Arrays.  These are the two green boards running Continue reading “Big Data? Move the App to the Data”