New Storage Solution for Data Centers and Servers : NGSFF SSD

State-of-the-Art SSD Solutions for Data Center and Enterprise Servers

NGSFF SSD's 9 Advantages for Data Center and Enterprise Server Systems NGSFF SSD is the way of the future for data centers and enterprise applications. The dimensions and key features are optimized to fully utilize the server front drive bay area space, helping to achieve a high density and space-efficient design. This results in the following key benefits for NGSFF SSDs: (1) Double/quadruple capacity (2) Universal form factor to support multiple SSD interface protocols, including PCIe® , SAS, SATA and Gen-Z. (3) High Availability via a supporting Dual port (4) Hot-insertion/Hot-removal capabilities (5) Server-front-bay serviceability (6) 12V power supply as the main power source for the SSD (7) Power reset capability by software (8) Power loss protection (9) Visual reporting of detailed SSD status Mechanical Outline and Higher Capacity Using a NGSFF SSD can provide 4 times higher storage capacity than an M.2-based server system. This reduces the rack space of a data center dramatically. For example, one rack of a NGSFF SSD can replace four racks of an M.2-based SSD in a data center while providing the same total storage capacity with less power consumption.

Simplifying Maintenance Via Server-Front-Bay Serviceability The NGSFF form factor is designed with features like hot insertion, hot removal, activity and status indicator LEDs. Collectively, these features enable the NGSFF SSD to be usable and serviceable from the front bay of standard 1U servers. Universal Form Factor to Support PCIe® , SAS and SATA Interfaces The NGSFF form factor is designed to support multiple bus interfaces, including PCIe® , SATA and SAS. If the interface detect signal (IfDET) is low, then the interface protocol of the NGSFF SSD is SAS or SATA.

Dual Port Support for PCIe® The PCI Express® (PCIe® ) interface may be configured as either a Single port x4 lane SSD or a Dual port x2 lane SSD. If the dual port control signal, called DualPortEn# (Pin 46), is enabled by the host then the NGSFF SSD works as a Dual port x2 lane mode to provide High Availability, which is needed by many enterprise server systems. Gen-Z Interface Support Gen-Z supports a wide range of physical layer signaling rates and types, including both electrical and optical. NGSFF SSDs may support Gen-Z devices that utilize the PCIe® physical layer. The Gen-Z device appears to the system as a PCIe® device before and during training. 12V Direct Main Power and 3.3V Aux Power The NGSFF supports 12V as the main power source (Pin 30, 32, 34, 36) to the SSD. Therefore, the host does not need to convert from 12V to 3.3V voltage in the host system, so the number of voltage regulator chips on the host system PCB is reduced. This decreases the complexity of the PCB and software while lowering the BOM cost as well. Power Reset of NGSFF SSD by Software NGSFF supports a “Power Disable” control signal, called PWDIS (Pin 28), which disables 12V power to all of the active components on the NGSFF SSD. This PWDIS functionality is applied only to the 12V supply, and does not affect the 3.3V supply. This power disable capability allows for easier remote power reset of SSD by software. Hot-Plug Insertion and Removal and Host-Side Implementation To support hot-insertion and hot-removal of the NGSFF SSD, the two presence detect signals--PRSNT 1# (pin 67) and PRSNT 2# (pin 6)—are defined. These presence detect signals are used by the system to recognize the presence of an NGSFF SSD in order to enable auxiliary signals like the reference clock, PCIe® reset, and SMBus signals.

First Mating Group Pins and Host-Socket Implementation Example Since the 12V (pre-charge, pin 36) and PWDIS (pin 28) should be detected first by the host, these signals are defined as the 1st mating group signal. Due to the staggered connector pin arrangement on the NGSFF SSD connector, six pins (GND, 12V pre-charge, PWDIS pins) shall be mated to the gold fingers of NGSFF SSD earlier than other pins during the module insertion process.

Visual Reporting of SSD Status Two status indicator LEDs are mounted on the rear part of the NGSFF SSD in order for the server maintainer to monitor the status of the NGSFF SSD easily and visually. Lighting of both LEDs are driven by the internal controller of the SSD. When it is inserted into the NGSFF SSD in the front bay of a standard 1U server, the LED lights are easy to monitor.

Electrical Specifications Note that the signal name is defined from the perspective of the SSD device (i.e. the Rx or input signal means the receiving signal is from the SSD device’s perspective and not from the host’s point of view).