MZ-ILT30T0 Samsung PM1643 SAS-12GBPS 30.72TB SFF SSD

Unveiling the Samsung PM1643 SAS SSD Overview

The Samsung PM1643, bearing the model identifier MZ-ILT30T0, is not merely a solid-state drive; it is a definitive statement in the realm of enterprise data storage. Representing the pinnacle of performance, capacity, and reliability, this 30.72TB SAS-12Gbps SFF drive is engineered for the most demanding data center and enterprise applications. Built upon Samsung's groundbreaking V-NAND technology and fortified with a suite of enterprise-grade features, the PM1643 is designed to be the cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, where downtime is not an option and speed is a necessity.

Architected for the Data-Intensive Era

In an age defined by big data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time transaction processing, traditional storage solutions become significant bottlenecks. The PM1643 directly addresses this challenge by offering an unprecedented combination of massive capacity and blistering transfer speeds via the SAS-12Gbps interface. It is purpose-built to serve as primary storage in high-performance servers, storage arrays, and hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), enabling businesses to process, analyze, and store vast datasets with unparalleled efficiency.

Enterprise-Grade Features

Beyond raw speed and capacity, the Samsung PM1643 is packed with features designed for the relentless 24/7/365 operational demands of the enterprise world.

Power Loss Protection (PLP)

Unexpected power loss is a major risk for data integrity. The PM1643 incorporates robust Power Loss Protection circuitry. This includes onboard capacitors (or similar energy storage systems) that provide enough hold-up power in the event of a sudden power failure to complete any pending writes in the drive's cache (DRAM) to the non-volatile NAND memory. This prevents data corruption and ensures data-at-rest remains consistent.

TCG Enterprise Security

Security Standard: TCG (Trusted Computing Group) Enterprise SSC
This drive supports hardware-based encryption compliant with the TCG Enterprise standard. It allows for secure, full-disk encryption (FDE) without a meaningful performance penalty. This feature is vital for protecting sensitive data in multi-tenant environments and for meeting stringent regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS). Management of the encryption keys can be integrated with existing enterprise security systems.

Enhanced Endurance & Wear Leveling

Enterprise workloads involve constant writing and rewriting of data. The PM1643 is built to withstand this punishment.
Terabytes Written (TBW): The drive is rated for an extremely high TBW value, indicating the total amount of data that can be written to it over its lifetime. This is a direct result of the high-endurance V-NAND and the over-provisioning (allocating extra NAND capacity not visible to the user) that helps in managing write amplification and wear.
Advanced Wear Leveling: The controller employs sophisticated wear-leveling algorithms to distribute write and erase cycles evenly across all the NAND blocks. This prevents any single cell from wearing out prematurely, maximizing the drive's operational lifespan.

Dual-Port SAS Connectivity

A hallmark of high-availability SAS drives is dual-port connectivity. The PM1643 features two independent SAS ports, allowing it to be connected to two different host controllers (HBAs) simultaneously. This enables redundant paths to the data. If one controller, cable, or port fails, the system can automatically failover to the second path without any service interruption, which is a fundamental requirement for mission-critical applications.

Use Cases

The combination of its massive capacity, high throughput, and low latency makes the Samsung PM1643 SAS SSD exceptionally well-suited for a range of demanding applications.

Data Analytics & Big Data

Platforms like Hadoop, Splunk, and other large-scale data analytics engines require rapid access to massive datasets. The PM1643's high IOPS and bandwidth significantly reduce query times and accelerate data processing, enabling faster insights and decision-making.

High-Frequency Transaction Databases

Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, SAP HANA, and other OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) databases thrive on low latency and high random I/O performance. The PM1643 can handle thousands of transactions per second, ensuring rapid response times for critical business applications.

Virtualization & Cloud Infrastructure

Large-scale VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM environments place immense strain on storage subsystems. The PM1643 is ideal for storing hundreds of virtual machines (VMs), hosting virtual disks (VMDKs, VHDs), and handling the intense I/O patterns generated by multiple simultaneous VMs. It is also a perfect fit for software-defined storage (SDS) and hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) nodes from vendors like Dell VxRail, Cisco HyperFlex, and Nutanix.

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) & Media Streaming

Storing and delivering high-resolution video content (4K, 8K) requires immense storage capacity and high sequential read throughput. The PM1643 can serve as a high-performance cache or primary storage for media servers, reducing buffering and ensuring a smooth user experience.

AI and Machine Learning Workloads

Training machine learning models involves reading enormous training datasets repeatedly. The speed of the storage layer directly impacts training time. The PM1643 accelerates this process by providing rapid access to these datasets, reducing the time-to-insight for data science teams.

Compatibility

The Samsung PM1643 SAS SSD is designed for seamless integration into existing enterprise ecosystems.

Server and Storage Array Compatibility

The drive is compatible with a wide range of enterprise hardware from major OEMs, including Dell EMC PowerEdge servers, HPE ProLiant and Synergy servers, Cisco UCS servers, and IBM Power Systems. It is also certified for use in enterprise storage arrays from Dell EMC (PowerVault, Unity), HPE (3PAR, Nimble Storage), NetApp, and many others. It is always recommended to check the vendor's compatibility matrix for specific model certification.