NetApp Vision for NVMe and Storage-Class Memory with Jeff Baxter

Jeff Baxter, Chief Evangelist for ONTAP at NetApp, outlined NetApp’s strategic vision for the integration of NVMe and storage-class memory into its products, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation in the storage industry. The approach was presented against the backdrop of broader industry changes, including the shift toward data-driven environments and the increasing importance of digital transformation in changing how businesses operate and create value. Baxter noted that leveraging NVMe and storage-class memory is crucial as these technologies become more ingrained in the industry’s future.

During the presentation, Baxter underscored the significance of flash memory in the digital transformation and its prevalence amongst high-performance workloads. He described how NetApp initially missed the inflection point of all-flash adoption but subsequently climbed to the second position in the market and aims to reach the top. The talk drew distinctions between NVMe and existing technologies, noting the dramatic improvements in performance and reduction in latency that NVMe offers, which align with the demands of emerging applications like artificial intelligence and real-time analytics. The session included a discussion on hybrid storage solutions, which allows layering of storage-class memory with solid-state drives for optimized performance and cost-effectiveness, and positioned NetApp to harness these technologies efficiently in enterprise environments.

Baxter also touched upon various media layers and the company’s forward-looking architectural strategies to manage these complex storage tiers seamlessly. He clarified that NetApp does not produce solid-state media but collaborates closely with major suppliers to ensure readiness for the enterprise market. NetApp seems to be preparing for a holistic adoption of these solutions within their data center architecture, envisioning the integration of NVMe and storage-class memory as standard across infrastructures, while simultaneously developing mechanisms to move and manage data effectively across different storage layers. Overall, the presentation conveyed a strong message of NetApp’s commitment to innovation and adaptation in the rapidly evolving storage industry, ensuring their solutions are both cutting-edge and aligned with customer needs.