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November 6, 2008: SanDisk has released details of a new flash file system for solid-state drives (SSDs) that yields dramatic improvement in performance and reliability for computing applications.
Known as ExtremeFFS, this next-generation patented flash management system has the potential to accelerate random write speeds by up to 100 times over existing systems. ExtremeFFS on a page-based algorithm, which means there is no fixed coupling between physical and logical location. When a sector of data is written, the solid state drive (SSD) puts it where it is most convenient and efficient, thereby increasing write performance and overall endurance.
The new system also features a fully non-blocking architecture in which all of the NAND channels can behave independently, with some reading while others are writing and garbage collecting. Another key element of ExtremeFFS is usage-based content localization, which allows the advanced flash management system to "learn" user patterns and over time localize data to maximize the product's performance and endurance.
Concurrent with the launch of as ExtremeFFS, SanDisk has also introduced two new performance metrics - vRPM and LDE - that can help end-users evaluate SSDs. vRPM enables comparisons in performance between an SSD and a hard disk drive (HDD) or another SSD, and LDE calculates the lifespan of a solid-state drive. The company has also proposed a new Long-Term Data Endurance (LDE) system, which simplifies endurance as a useful number, as the first industry metric of long-term data endurance.
The LDE proposal and white paper, along with a backgrounder on vRPM, is available on the SanDisk website at www.sandisk.com/SSD/Tech_and_metrics.
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