Data Storage

All the computing prowess in the world will have nothing to chew on if data isn't fed to the processors. It used to be that human operators had to input the data manually—through "devices" like old-fashioned punch cards. Nowadays, thanks to data storage devices such as HDDs, SSDs, virtual or cloud storage, servers can access a trove of data which is retained even after the devices have been powered down.

In the architecture of a data center, there is usually a "storage layer" that comprises devices for data storage. Important features such as RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) are utilized to achieve redundancy and ensure high availability. Data center operators may prepare a disaster recovery plan (DRP) to help recover lost data in the event of a disruptive failure.

On the flip side, the accessibility and efficiency of storage devices may be enhanced with virtualization techniques such as Software Defined Storage (SDS), or network-based storage such as Network-Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Network (SAN). NVMe interfaces may be used to accelerate data transfer.

Not only is data storage a vital part of modern computing, it is also the impetus for a wide range of technological advancements. Big data, which gleans value from the massive volume of data that is uploaded to the internet on a daily basis, relies heavily on efficient data storage. Machine learning and deep learning revolve around having the artificial intelligence sift through a sea of data to engage in training and inferencing. Not to mention, every time you upload photos to your social media or log into your office computer remotely to work from home, you are benefiting from the data storage aspect of public or private clouds.

GIGABYTE Technology has a line of server products designed exclusively for data storage. The S-Series Storage Servers offer all of the aforementioned features: SDS for virtualization, RAID for availability and redundancy, and NVMe for improved performance. A large number of hot-swappable bays are included for easy scalability. Redundant 80 Plus Titanium or Platinum PSUs, combined with GIGABYTE's precision engineering, allow users to benefit from optimal power usage that maximizes the system's power-to-performance ratio and reduces OPEX. For hardware-based authentication, an optional TPM 2.0 module can be installed to protect passwords, encryption keys, and digital certificates from unauthorized access.