Huawei is said to be in the process of unveiling its cutting-edge data storage solution, the OceanStor Arctic, by 2025.
The heart of this upcoming product is an innovative technology known as the “magneto-electric disk” (MED). Nevertheless, details surrounding this new storage method remain shrouded in secrecy, with specifics yet to be disclosed.
Huawei's MED Technology Advancements
According to reports, Huawei's upcoming MED technology is expected to accommodate rack capacities exceeding 10PB while operating on less than 2kW of power. The company also asserts a 20% cost reduction compared to tape storage alternatives and an impressive 90% decrease in power utilization when juxtaposed with conventional hard drives.
Impressive Efficiency and Performance Metrics
Huawei's projections are indeed striking. Today, a standard 42U rack has the capacity to house approximately 288 HDDs, with the capability to store up to 8.64PB of data. Such a configuration typically demands around 2.88kW of power for operation.
A Glimpse into Future Storage Solutions
Moreover, there exist 4U storage servers such as the ASRock Rack 4U100-C612, capable of accommodating 100 3.5-inch hard drives and storing up to 3PB of data while operating at 1kW. Nonetheless, the energy consumption of 10 such machines would be considerable.
The reduced power requirements of the Huawei OceanStor Arctic emerge as a standout feature. However, the precise methodologies enabling Huawei to achieve such significant power efficiencies with seemingly disk-based technology remain ambiguous.
The Mystery Behind MED Technology
Additionally, details concerning Huawei's MED technology remain elusive. Speculations from a Tom's Hardware report propose that the foundational concept of MED technology could revolve around the magneto-electric effect, establishing a link between a material's magnetic and electric attributes.
Yet, this speculation remains just that—an educated guess. The full scope of Huawei's MED technology and the mechanisms enabling its remarkable efficiency and performance enhancements are yet to be unveiled.
