KIOXIA Improves Software-Enabled Flash Technology with QLC Flash and Advanced Weighted Fair Queueing

SAN JOSE, Calif., November 11, 2020 – Generational changes in flash storage have just become easier to adopt and deploy for hyperscale storage developers.  KIOXIA America, Inc. (formerly Toshiba Memory America, Inc.), today announced the addition of QLC support and weighted fair queueing (WFQ) to its Software-Enabled Flash™ technology. The addition of these important features demonstrates KIOXIA’s commitment to developing barrier-breaking technology for cloud-scale storage. KIOXIA America will highlight Software-Enabled Flash at this week’s Flash Memory Summit Virtual Conference & Expo during a technical session on Wednesday, Nov. 11 beginning at 8:35 a.m. PT

First announced at the 2020 Open Compute Summit in April, KIOXIA’s Software-Enabled Flash technology removes the barriers associated with legacy hard drive-based technologies to deliver an entirely new way to maximize the potential of flash. Software-Enabled Flash technology fundamentally changes the relationship between solid state storage and the host in cloud environments. With this technology, developers are freed from narrowly defined “drive” behavior, which presents challenges for applications requiring control over workload isolation, data placement, and Quality of Service. Using the API specification, hyperscale flash storage developers realize the increased speed and capability of flash with the ease of software definability.

Software-Enabled Flash technology delivers a unique WFQ capability that allows the user to define and control latency live as applications are running – something that has not been possible with traditional drive-based solutions. WFQ delivers advanced queuing and scheduling features including:

• Host control to prioritize and manage die time and deliver latency management through the Software-Enabled Flash API 
• Host can prioritize multiple workloads based on application and modify when needed
   

KIOXIA has also added QLC support to the open source software API, making Software-Enabled Flash technology able to support all popular NAND densities including SLC, MLC, TLC, and QLC.

“These new capabilities expand the functionality of the API, improve user control and deliver on our promise to improve flash efficiencies in hyperscale data centers,” noted Eric Ries, SVP, Memory Storage Strategy Division (MSSD), KIOXIA America, Inc. “With the addition of QLC support and WFQ, KIOXIA continues to evolve the capability and functionality of our Software-Enabled Flash technology – making it one of the best new tools for developers to build on.”

Software-Enabled Flash hardware is compliant with PCIe^® standards, enabling a large ecosystem and accelerating open innovation across multiple products. The API specification is available on the KIOXIA America, Inc. GitHub^® site..

To visit KIOXIA America’s FMS event platform, 3D virtual booth, demonstrations and presentations please register for FMS here:
www.expotracshows.com/flash-memory/2020.

For more information, please visit www.kioxia.com and www.SoftwareEnabledFlash.com.

About KIOXIA America, Inc.
KIOXIA America, Inc. (formerly Toshiba Memory America, Inc.) is the U.S.-based subsidiary of KIOXIA Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of flash memory and solid state drives (SSDs). From the invention of flash memory to today’s breakthrough BiCS FLASH™ 3D technology, KIOXIA continues to pioneer cutting-edge memory solutions and services that enrich people's lives and expand society's horizons. The company's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive, and data centers. For more information, please visit KIOXIA.com.