Supermicro and Solidigm are actively tackling the intensifying demands of AI workloads with their efficient, rack-sized storage solutions, designed to streamline AI data pipelines, as discussed at a recent AI Field Day event. They are engineering a three-tiered platform specifically to accommodate the diverse needs of AI processes—from data ingestion and transformation to training and inference—enhancing performance with high-speed, high-density SSDs from Solidigm. As AI data centers seek to become more environmentally sustainable, the partnership underscores their commitment to delivering solutions that not only meet the technical demands of AI but also pave the way for greener computing practices. Read more in this article by Andy Banta, sponsored by Solidigm.
Solidigm – a Bigger, Faster, and More Efficient Storage for AI
Solidigm’s AI Field Day presentation highlighted the critical role of large-scale, high-efficiency storage solutions like NAND flash memory in meeting the evolving demands of AI, as covered by tech analyst Ben Young. The company, born from the union of Intel’s NAND SSD business and SK Hynix, demonstrates expertise in delivering high-density QLC SSDs, such as the D5-P5336 model, which significantly outperforms traditional HDDs in capacity and speed while reducing energy consumption. Solidigm’s storage innovations, offering up to 61.44TB per slim drive, not only future-proof AI infrastructure but also promise to drive advancements across various industries by improving training times and real-time decision-making capabilities.
Intel Xeon CPUs – How Efficiency Makes It a Top Contender for AI Inference
In the AI arms race, Intel’s latest 5th generation Xeon processors have emerged as a powerful and efficient alternative to GPUs for certain AI workloads, according to Ben Young’s AI Field Day article. With a 36% performance boost in specialized AI tasks enabled by Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX), these CPUs accelerate deep learning particularly for AI inference, offering a cost-effective option for applications with lighter and less frequent processing needs. Intel’s dedication is clear as they bolster their CPUs’ AI capabilities and facilitate developers with tools like the OpenVINO toolkit, positioning Xeon CPUs as a feasible choice for an array of AI workloads, balancing the scale with GPUs based on the specific requirements of the task. Read more in this Gestalt IT article by Ben Young, sponsored by Intel.
Solidigm and Why Storage Is Critical to the Success of AI
At AI Field Day, experts from Solidigm and Supermicro illuminated the critical role of high-performance storage in ensuring the success of Generative AI, which demands instant, uninterrupted access to massive datasets. Efficient storage solutions are paramount to prevent downtime, which can lead to significant loss in both productivity and financial terms. Their discussion underlined the importance of structuring and cataloging data for future use, emphasizing that optimized storage systems with high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) are essential for Generative AI’s accelerating growth and the reliable generation of actionable insights. Read more in this article by Jeff Powers for Gestalt IT, sponsored by Solidigm.
Improving Network Operations With a Doppelganger From Forward Networks
Forward Networks introduced innovative ways to improve network operations using a digital twin of any network at Networking Field Day, simplifying complex environments for diverse operational teams. Their solution, Forward Enterprise, captures detailed configuration and state data, enabling queries through a SQL-like language without requiring deep knowledge of specific vendor syntax. Additionally, their AI-powered features, AI Assist and Summary Assist, transform natural language into precise queries and summaries, respectively, facilitating even quicker access to critical network information, thus enhancing efficiency across the board. Read more in this Gestalt IT article by Bruno Wollmann, sponsored by Forward Networks.
Using AI to Enhance Forward Networks NQE
In this article, Tom Hollingsworth highlights Forward Networks’ new AI Assist feature for their Network Query Engine (NQE), emphasizing a user-friendly approach to complex network queries. This feature allows professionals to input plain language requests which are then translated into precise NQE syntax by AI, ensuring transparency and fostering a deeper understanding of the underlying system. Forward Networks’ approach to integrating AI not only streamlines the process of extracting network insights but also acts as a learning tool, bridging the gap between user intent and technical query execution. Read more in this Networking Field Day article sponsored by Forward Networks.
AI Assistance Without Leveraging Infrastructure Data, With Forward Networks
AI has become a critical yet contentious component in networking, as vendors seek balance between leveraging its benefits and protecting the sensitive data it runs on. Forward Networks has innovatively addressed this challenge with its AI Assist and Summary Assist features, enabling network engineers to streamline their use of the Network Query Engine (NQE) without exposing critical infrastructure data. These tools epitomize strategic AI implementation, delivering powerful assistance within a data-secure framework to optimize network management while safeguarding company-specific information. Learn more in this article by Aaron Conaway, sponsored by Forward Networks.
Quantum Myriad – a Transactionally-Consistent Scale-Out All-Flash File Storage
Quantum has taken a bold step towards solving the scalability dilemma faced by enterprise storage solutions with the introduction of Myriad, a cloud-native all-flash storage platform uniquely designed for transactionally consistent operations. Myriad’s open architecture, built with industry-standard components, promises unprecedented flexibility and scalability across environments, both on-premises and in the cloud, catering to the demanding requirements of modern workloads. Setting a new standard in high-performance storage solutions, Quantum Myriad is poised to address the needs of businesses grappling with exponential data growth, ensuring predictability and innovation at the core of its scale-out storage offering. Read more in this Gestalt IT article by David Klee, sponsored by Quantum.
Quantum Myriad: A Future-Proof Storage for High-Performance Workloads
Quantum advances its storage portfolio with Myriad, the latest software-defined solution that streamlines unified file and object storage capabilities tailored to today’s intensive workloads like AI and HPC. Myriad’s innovative architecture, built on a cloud-native foundation, promises high throughput and low latency, driven by NVMe technology to meet the rigorous demands of data-rich environments. This strategic move not only bridges the gap between Quantum’s StorNext and ActiveScale products but also redefines the company’s trajectory by catering to the burgeoning needs of capacity, performance, and scalability inherent to modern data workflows. Read more in this Gestalt IT article by Max Mortillaro, sponsored by Quantum.
Empowering the API Fortress Using FortiWeb Cloud WAF as a Service With Fortinet
At Cloud Field Day, Fortinet showcased their FortiWeb Cloud WAF as a Service, positioning it as a trailblazer for bolstering web application and API security in the face of an ever-present digital threat landscape. This sponsored article by Chris Hildebrandt discusses this customer-focused solution, which stands out for its machine learning engine that intelligently learns and documents API structures, enabling it to draft specific security policies and swiftly identify high-priority threats. FortiWeb™ Cloud WAF-as-a-Service epitomizes a proactive approach to cybersecurity, offering a unified view across environments and actionable insights to optimize security postures for SOCs.
The Importance of a Web Application Firewall With Fortinet
At Cloud Field Day, Fortinet underscored the critical role of Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) in safeguarding enterprise applications, as demonstrated in a live hack simulation on a drone control app. In this sponsored article, Jeffrey Powers discusses FortiWeb Cloud WAF, a defender against sophisticated threats, highlighting its ability to identify and thwart attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting to protect daily web operations. With the growing deployment of web applications across various sectors, including drone technology, Fortinet’s solutions like FortiSOAR and FortiAnalyzer are vital in offering proactive, machine learning-driven response strategies to maintain security and operational integrity.
Elevating Cloud SOC by Leveraging Fortinet’s Automation and Intelligence
Fortinet’s presentation at Cloud Field Day highlighted its commitment to evolving Security Operations Centers (SOCs) through automation and intelligence, exemplified by their flagship FortiSOAR solution. Designed to predict and prevent attacks proactively, FortiSOAR simplifies playbook creation with a no-code, drag-and-drop interface and integrates seamlessly with over 500 tools. The solution’s capacity to scale security operations by automating decision-making and incident response positions FortiSOAR as a transformative force for SOCs to become more agile and efficient in the face of complex cyber threats.
Unlocking Developer Efficiency With Self-Service Dev Portals and RackN
In this article for Gestalt IT, Adam Fisher concludes his series focused on RackN, IT Ops, and infrastructure provisioning and management. With RackN’s Digital Rebar platform, IT Ops can bring infrastructure operations back under their control, freeing developers from infrastructure concerns and enabling them to focus on applications. Integrating Digital Rebar with self-service developer portals allows for consistent and compliant infrastructure provisioning, enhancing developer efficiency and loyalty, while ensuring security, cost control, and alignment with organizational standards. The collaboration between IT Ops and developers facilitated by RackN ultimately drives innovation and improves business competitiveness.
Infrastructure Pipelines Become Reality With RackN Digital Rebar
In this Cloud Field Day Tech Note for RackN, Adam Fisher explores how Digital Rebar empowers IT Ops with consistency, efficiency, and flexibility in managing modern data centers. Infrastructure pipelines, enabled by RackN’s Digital Rebar, streamline infrastructure provisioning and management, allowing for faster time to value and improved collaboration between teams. With multi-site management and IaC catalogs, IT Ops can achieve operational control and standardization across their organization’s infrastructure deployments. Learn more about RackN’s solutions and watch their presentations from Cloud Field Day!
RackN Brings Bare Metal Into the Cloud Age
Adam Fisher, in this Day Tech Note presented by RackN, discusses how RackN’s Digital Rebar has changed the infrastructure mindset by bringing modern cloud automation to traditional infrastructure. As cloud adoption increases, IT practitioners need to adapt their skillsets beyond traditional silos and embrace the agility and scalability of the public cloud in enterprise infrastructure. Digital Rebar enables centralized, end-to-end infrastructure-as-code workflows for bare metal provisioning, allowing infrastructure teams to manage, update, and scale bare metal systems with ease. Read more at Gestalt IT!
RackN Bridges the Gap Between People and Platforms
Adam Fisher discusses the power of Digital Rebar from RackN in this Tech Note, the first of a series sponsored by RackN. With technology evolving rapidly, the need for automation in deploying applications at scale has become crucial. RackN’s Digital Rebar serves as a reliable automation platform that empowers IT Ops to effectively manage infrastructure in the modern era, bridging the gap between people and platforms.
Segmentation Is a Key Edge Building Block with Mako Networks
In this Gestalt IT Tech Note, Brian Chambers discusses the importance of segmentation in operating edge environments at scale. He emphasizes that while edge environments resemble cloud architectures, they also face unique challenges, such as lack of on-site staff and poor physical security. Chambers highlights how effective network segmentation can improve performance, enhance security, and enable better network traffic management. He explores the role of segmentation in various industries, particularly retail, and emphasizes the need for a capable partner like Mako Networks to provide effective segmentation services in edge computing solutions. Read this article, sponsored by Mako Networks, to learn more about edge connectivity.
Seeing Through Hybrid Multi-Cloud With Forward Networks
In this Tech Note article at Gestalt IT, Justin Warren discusses the challenges of securing cloud environments in the world of hybrid multi-cloud. He emphasizes that full visibility and understanding of network configurations are crucial for effective security. Forward Networks, known for network observability, offers a solution that simplifies the complex topology of cloud environments, provides consistent visibility across networks, and enables operators to ask the right security questions. Warren highlights the importance of combining existing techniques with new methods to navigate the diversity of environments and avoid overwhelming complexity. Read more in this article, which was sponsored by Forward Networks.
StorPool – Storage Delivery With Commodity Hardware the Right Way!
In this Gestalt IT Tech Note, Chris Childerhose discusses how StorPool is disrupting the storage scene with its software-defined storage solution. The platform overcomes the challenges faced by IT teams by allowing the use of any hardware while managing it homogeneously. With broad compatibility and being a fully-managed storage solution, StorPool aims to meet the needs of various sectors, including private/public clouds and managed service providers. Its unique architecture, data integrity, scalability, and hardware-agnostic approach set it apart in the storage market, offering cost savings and simplifying datacenter design. Rear more in this article, sponsored by StorPool Storage!
Easy, Verified M&A With Forward Networks
Forward Networks can ease the process of integrating networks after a merger or acquisition, regardless of the platforms or deployments. The company builds a digital twin of an environment and collects information to model the network and provide comparison capabilities between points in time, ensuring better observability and pinpointing changes in the environment. Forward Networks supports data collection from all major cloud providers and most network security device manufacturers, which ensures path observability from end to end in multi-cloud, hybrid cloud, cloud-only, and on-premises-only deployments, while its Network Query Engine allows for positive or negative verification of intent. In this article, sponsored by Forward Networks, Remington Loose provides a look at this unique aspect of their solution.
