Industrial NVMe SSDs have become a crucial component in a wide range of applications, including automotive, robotics, remote communication installations, and medical equipment. These devices require a perfect balance of reliability, quality, performance, security, and longevity to operate under demanding conditions. In this article, we will explore the key features and benefits of industrial NVMe SSDs, as well as some of the leading solutions available in the market.
Performance and Endurance
Industrial NVMe SSDs are designed to deliver robust performance that withstands extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration. This is achieved through the use of industrial temperature ranges and solid-state components with no moving parts. Furthermore, these SSDs offer high endurance and reliability throughout their lifetime, as indicated by extensive testing results.
Sequential and Random Performance
Industrial NVMe SSDs provide high sequential read and write speeds, as well as impressive random 4KB read and write IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). These performance metrics enable the SSDs to deliver the highest throughput-per-watt and best steady-state performance compared to other industrial-grade SSDs over wide temperature ranges.
Endurance and Data Retention
Industrial NVMe SSDs are designed with high endurance in mind, ensuring that the storage devices can handle multiple drives writes per day (DWPD) without compromising data integrity. Moreover, these SSDs offer excellent data retention capabilities, with some models providing up to 10 years of data retention at the beginning of their life cycle.
Form Factors and Capacities
Industrial NVMe SSDs come in various form factors and capacities to cater to the diverse requirements of different applications. Some of the popular form factors include M.2, mSATA, eUSB, and 2.5-inch SSDs. The capacity of these SSDs ranges from as low as 8GB to as high as 4TB, providing ample storage options for applications with varying data storage needs.
M.2 Form Factor
M.2 NVMe SSDs are designed to deliver high performance in a small form factor for many of today’s space-constrained system requirements. They are available in different sizes, including M.2 2230, 2242, 2280, and 22110, making them suitable for a broad range of embedded infrastructure applications such as communication equipment, industrial automation, transportation control, defence, medical imaging, data logging, and security/surveillance systems.
mSATA, eUSB, and 2.5-inch SSDs
Other form factors, such as mSATA, eUSB, and 2.5-inch SSDs, offer flexibility in terms of compatibility with different system designs and requirements. These SSDs provide various capacities and performance levels, making them ideal for a wide range of applications, from booting and code storage to heavy data logging and mixed-use workloads.
Temperature Ranges and Thermal Management
Industrial NVMe SSDs are designed to operate within wide temperature ranges, typically from -40°C to 85°C. This makes them suitable for applications that are prone to temperature extremes, such as robotics, transportation, and process monitoring. Moreover, these SSDs often include integrated thermal management solutions, such as temperature sensors, to monitor and maintain the optimal operating temperature, ensuring data reliability and device longevity.
Power Management and Protection
One of the critical features of industrial NVMe SSDs is their ability to protect data from unexpected power loss. This is achieved through a combination of hardware and firmware solutions, such as power-fail protection, voltage regulation, and power management features like Active State Power Management (ASPM).
Power-Fail Protection
Power-fail protection ensures that all system and user data are stored to the NAND flash during an unintentional shutdown. Some SSDs even employ additional features like Swissbit’s powersafe, which utilizes reliable tantalum capacitors to store energy, ensuring that the cache content is hardened into the NAND flash in case of sudden power failure.
Security and Data Encryption
Industrial NVMe SSDs are equipped with various security features to safeguard sensitive data. These include AES 256-bit encryption, end-to-end data path protection, and self-encrypting drive (SED) capabilities. In addition, some SSDs offer advanced security options like TCG Opal 2.0, crypto erase sanitization, and device locking features, ensuring that your data remains secure in any situation.
Remote Monitoring and Management
Industrial NVMe SSDs often incorporate remote monitoring and management capabilities, enabling users to keep track of the device’s health, performance, and status. For example, Swissbit’s Life Time Monitoring (LTM) feature allows users to access the SSD’s detailed Life Time Status and predict imminent failure, preventing unexpected data loss. These monitoring features often utilize extended S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) interfaces or vendor-specific commands to retrieve the necessary information.
Roadmap Stability and Product Lifecycle
Industrial applications typically demand extended product lifecycles to ensure the long-term availability of components. Industrial NVMe SSDs often offer roadmap stability through Product Lifecycle Solutions, which maintain the same NAND and controller throughout the SSD’s lifetime. This ensures that the storage device remains compatible and available for the application, reducing the need for frequent design changes or component replacements.
Leading Industrial NVMe SSD Solutions
Several manufacturers offer high-quality industrial NVMe SSDs, each with its unique features and benefits. Some of the prominent solutions include:
Virtium StorFly M.2 NVMe SSDs
Virtium’s StorFly M.2 NVMe Industrial SSDs are specifically designed for harsh environments prone to high and low temperatures, shock and vibration, and inconsistent power sources. They are available in various capacities, form factors, and performance levels, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including robotics, transportation, and telecommunications.
Swissbit N-20m2 and N-30m2 SSDs
Swissbit addresses the diverse needs of industrial and embedded markets with its N-20m2 and N-30m2 SSDs. These SSDs offer low power consumption, small form factors, and high performance, coupled with hardware power fail protection, thermal and data care management, and various security options.
Micron Industrial SSDs
Micron offers a range of industrial SSDs that deliver reliable performance, high capacities, and industrial temperature options in several form factors. Their SSDs provide robust performance, roadmap stability, and high reliability, making them suitable for automotive and industrial applications.
ATP Industrial SSDs
ATP’s industrial solid-state drives and modules deliver dependable performance, efficient responsiveness, and long usage life for mission-critical tasks. ATP SSDs are available in various form factors, such as 2.5″ SSDs, M.2 embedded modules, mSATA, eUSB, and industrial USB drives, and support high-speed interfaces like SATA 6 Gb/s and the latest NVMe protocol on a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface.
Conclusion
Industrial NVMe SSDs have become an essential component in many mission-critical applications, offering a perfect balance of performance, reliability, and longevity. By understanding the key features and benefits of these storage solutions, businesses can make informed decisions when selecting the right SSD for their specific application requirements. With a wide range of options available, industrial NVMe SSDs have the potential to drive innovation and efficiency across various industries and applications.