Pure Storage & CERN tackle data bottlenecks with flash tech

Pure Storage has joined forces with CERN openlab in a collaboration intended to enhance the capabilities of scientific research through advanced flash storage technology.

The collaboration focuses on optimising Pure Storage's DirectFlash technology to support CERN's High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) era, facilitating the demands of data-intensive high-energy physics experiments. The partnership aims to transform how exabyte-scale data is stored and analyzed, bringing about improvements in speed, density, and sustainability.

CERN openlab is engaged in substantial research and development activities, focusing on integrating sustainable technological solutions that cater to the unique infrastructure needs of the scientific community, particularly in accommodating the massive data outputs from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Traditional storage solutions have emerged as bottlenecks for high performance computing, thus prompting the exploration of high-density flash storage technologies to enhance performance and energy efficiency.

Pure Storage, through a multi-year agreement, is set to support CERN openlab in evaluating these storage technologies, which promise better space and energy efficiency. A core aspect of the collaboration involves utilizing DirectFlash technology to bolster CERN's high-energy physics workloads, targeting an overhaul of data management to support future scientific research endeavors.

The partnership aims to optimise the exabyte-scale flash infrastructure along with the application stack, serving Grid Computing and High Performance Computing (HPC) workloads. Both organisations have agreed to identify ways to maximise performance across both hardware and software components, while focusing on energy savings within a unified data platform.

"Together with CERN openlab, we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in HPC and Grid Computing environments supporting cutting edge scientific workflows," said Rob Lee, Chief Technology Officer at Pure Storage. "With the integration of our state-of-the-art technology in CERN's large-scale distributed storage system, CERN openlab is ready to tackle the unprecedented volumes of data with unparalleled speed and reliability while empowering researchers for the extraordinary challenges posed by the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) era."

Luca Mascetti, Storage Chief Technology Officer at CERN openlab, also highlighted the anticipated benefits of the collaboration. "We expect this partnership will deliver some key wins as we look to the future of storing scientific experiments data. First, we expect to integrate this technology into our large-scale distributed storage system and to deliver data more effectively, providing a way to scale storage performance beyond what is possible today. Second, we are hoping to unlock the next generation of high energy physics breakthroughs at CERN and demonstrate to the broader scientific community the potential for enhancing storage capabilities, ultimately accelerating the pace of discovery and innovation at research institutions globally."

The collaboration between Pure Storage and CERN openlab is poised to revolutionise how data is recorded and managed, advancing the distributed storage infrastructure necessary to meet the escalating demands of CERN's scientific pursuits.