Tuesday, 29 April 2025
29.2 C
Singapore
30.3 C
Thailand
26.5 C
Indonesia
28.9 C
Philippines

Pure Storage launches high-performance AI and HPC data storage platform

Pure Storage unveils FlashBlade//EXA, a high-performance AI and HPC storage platform designed to improve scalability and metadata processing efficiency.

Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) has unveiled FlashBlade//EXA, a cutting-edge data storage platform designed to support the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). With a focus on speed, scalability, and efficiency, the new solution aims to overcome limitations of traditional storage systems and optimise performance for GPU-intensive workloads.

Breaking performance barriers in AI storage

As AI models become more sophisticated, they require faster and more efficient data storage solutions. Traditional storage architectures struggle to keep up with high-speed data access needs, leading to bottlenecks that slow down model training and inference. Rob Lee, Chief Technology Officer at Pure Storage, highlighted the significance of the new platform, stating, “FlashBlade//EXA delivers a massively parallel architecture that enables independent scaling of data and metadata to provide customers with unmatched performance, scalability, and adaptability for some of the largest, most demanding data environments in the world. Storage is now accelerating the pace of large-scale HPC and AI evolution.”

Initial testing indicates that FlashBlade//EXA can achieve read speeds of over 10 terabytes per second in a single namespace, setting a new benchmark in AI storage performance. Its ability to scale data and metadata independently ensures smooth handling of complex workloads, while the use of off-the-shelf third-party data nodes allows for seamless expansion. By leveraging standard protocols and networking, the platform also simplifies deployment and management for enterprises.

Adapting to modern AI and HPC requirements

The rise of AI has transformed storage demands, requiring systems that can process vast amounts of multimodal data—including text, images, and videos—at high speeds. Traditional storage solutions, originally designed for predictable HPC environments, struggle with the diversity and concurrency required by modern AI applications.

Rob Davis, Vice President of Storage Networking Technology at NVIDIA, stressed the importance of high-performance storage in AI development: “Data is the fuel for enterprise AI factories, directly impacting performance and reliability of AI applications. With NVIDIA networking, the FlashBlade//EXA platform enables organisations to leverage the full potential of AI technologies while maintaining data security, scalability, and performance for model training, fine-tuning, and the latest agentic AI and reasoning inference requirements.”

FlashBlade//EXA is purpose-built to support these evolving needs. Its disaggregated, massively parallel architecture ensures continuous storage performance as AI models grow in complexity. By improving GPU utilisation and reducing idle time, enterprises can accelerate their AI and HPC projects more effectively. The integration of Pure Storage’s metadata engine with its Purity operating system, along with cost-effective data nodes, also delivers a strong balance between price and performance.

Key features and industry impact

FlashBlade//EXA is designed to offer three main advantages:

  • Unmatched performance at scale – Achieves over 10 terabytes per second read speeds within a single namespace, reducing AI model training times and improving workflow efficiency.
  • Reduced operational complexity – Eliminates metadata bottlenecks, enhancing data availability and system resilience without manual intervention.
  • Accelerated AI and HPC innovation – Supports high-speed networking through NVIDIA ConnectX NICs, Spectrum switches, LinkX cables, and optimised communication libraries for superior performance.

Pete Manca, President of Penguin Solutions, described how the new storage solution meets the needs of modern AI environments: “At Penguin Solutions, we are experts at helping our customers deploy AI infrastructure at scale. We know the complexity involved, and that legacy storage systems can undermine high-performing AI infrastructure. FlashBlade//EXA is purpose-built for the demands of modern AI and HPC workloads. It provides the bandwidth, manageability at scale, and configurable, disaggregated architecture needed to power today’s large data centres. We see it as an ideal solution for intensive AI environments and HPC applications.”

Industry analysts also recognise the impact of AI on storage demands. Matt Kimball, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, explained: “AI has disrupted the storage market. Legacy storage environments are unable to handle the massive parallelism required of AI and HPC. Modern storage and data platforms must continuously feed the GPUs and accelerators training large foundation models and support the most demanding workloads. However, with high-performance storage comes complexity. With FlashBlade//EXA, Pure Storage is leveraging its decade of experience unlocking the potential of metadata performance while abstracting the complexity associated with managing these environments. If FlashBlade//EXA delivers on its promise, it will return real value to organisations of all sizes.”

The new storage platform is expected to be available by mid-2025.

Hot this week

Netflix raises subscription prices in Singapore again

Netflix again raises subscription prices in Singapore, with new rates for all plans and extra member slots.

Bowers & Wilkins unveil updated headphones and McLaren-themed earbuds in Singapore

Bowers & Wilkins launches Px7 S3 headphones and Pi8 McLaren earbuds in Singapore. These headphones blend high-quality sound with comfort and stylish design.

GITEX to launch in Vietnam, unlocking growth in Southeast Asia’s digital economy

GITEX announces debut in Vietnam for October 2026, spotlighting its growing tech economy and boosting Southeast Asia’s digital innovation.

XPENG unveils AI-powered innovations and supercharged EVs at Auto Shanghai 2025

XPENG launches AI brain, 10-minute charging EV, and IRON humanoid robot at Auto Shanghai 2025, setting new mobility benchmarks.

Mac-style tools are coming to iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 to boost productivity

Apple is planning Mac-style updates in iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 to boost productivity, with features expected at WWDC 2025.

India could manufacture all US-bound iPhones by the end of 2026

Apple plans to manufacture all iPhones for the US market in India by the end of 2026 to avoid China tariffs and secure its supply chain.

Razer Launches Pro Click V2 and V2 Vertical Mice: Blending Gaming and Productivity

Razer's new Pro Click V2 and V2 Vertical mice offer gaming precision and ergonomic comfort, with AI prompt access and long battery life, available now!

Nintendo Pop-Up Store and Mario Kart Fun Return to Jewel Changi Airport

Experience the magic of Nintendo at Jewel Changi Airport with the return of the Pop-Up Store and the exciting Mario Kart Jewel Circuit Challenge!

Lian Li’s new Lancool 207 Digital case brings a 6-inch LCD screen to your PC

Lian Li's Lancool 207 Digital PC case brings a bright 6-inch LCD screen to your setup, offering style, function, and full customisation.

Related Articles

Popular Categories