Pure Storage rolls out unified storage feature for its Flash platform

Storage tech solution provider Pure Storage has announced Unified Block and File Storage feature for its all-Flash storage platform — FlashArray. With this feature, customers will be able to access native block data and file services from a single, global pool of storage resources. 

For context, in file storage, data is stored as a single piece of information inside a folder, whereas, block storage organises the data into evenly sized volumes for easier and faster access, especially when the data is very large. Initially, storage solutions were created either for block or file use cases; the industry then graduated to using multi-protocol solutions, where the block or file storages are ‘bolted-on’ each other. The challenge with multiprotocol block and file storage solutions is that the level of complexity increases with scale.

Pure Storage claims that its unified storage solution is built from the ground specifically to cater to both block and file storage. It eliminates the need for pre-planning storage growth and eliminates administration time. Further, the unified storage solution also allows administrators to natively manage VM on FlashArray, including VM-level statistics, snapshots, quotas, and policies.

“Customers have expressed the need for a single platform to handle multi-protocol architecture for block and file, along with VM workload, instead of buying separate storage systems. They want to consolidate everything on a single platform and run it efficiently,” said Sudharsan Aravamuthan, head of systems engineering, India, Pure Storage.

Leveraging this type of platform provides up to an estimated 62% reduction in management time and up to 58% total cost of ownership improvement over three years, the company statement said.

“The legacy unified storage market has been held back by the inflexibility and cost of decades old architectures. It’s time for a new way: we’re excited to introduce the first truly unified block and file storage platform, built from the ground up for modern simplicity and the ability to evolve with customers,” Shawn Hansen, vice president and general manager, FlashArray, Pure Storage.