Kioxia and Dell cram 10 PB into slim 2RU server

Dell and Kioxia have revealed a 2RU server capable of storing 10 petabytes of data, using Kioxia’s high-capacity LC9 SSDs. This achievement underscores a major step forward in storage density, relevant for data centers supporting AI, big data, and large-scale backups.

The server, developed by Dell with Kioxia’s LC9 high-capacity QLC SSDs, integrates 40 of these SSDs within a compact 2RU chassis. Each SSD is in the E3.L form factor, contributing to a total capacity of approximately 10 PB. Dell’s PowerEdge R7725xd server, powered by AMD EPYC 9005 processors, is designed to support this dense configuration, with the system supporting up to five 400 Gbps NICs for fast data transfer.

According to Arun Narayanan, SVP of Compute and Networking at Dell, this setup enables scalable AI infrastructure without sacrificing performance, emphasizing the storage density and power efficiency of the solution. Neville Ichhaporia, SVP and GM of Kioxia’s SSD business, highlighted that these servers allow customers to handle massive data ingestion, scale data lakes, and perform large backups within a significantly reduced footprint, potentially reaching 196 PB in a rack of twenty such servers.

Why It Matters

This development matters because it represents a substantial increase in storage density, enabling data centers to reduce physical footprint and potentially lower costs while managing ever-growing data volumes. It also demonstrates the feasibility of deploying extremely high-capacity SSDs in compact server configurations, supporting AI, big data, and backup workloads at scale.

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Background

Previously, high-capacity SSDs like Kioxia’s LC9 have been used in enterprise servers, but integrating 10 PB into a single 2RU chassis marks a notable milestone. Dell has been actively incorporating Kioxia’s SSDs into its PowerEdge lineup, and this demonstration pushes the boundaries of storage density in rack-mounted servers. Other manufacturers, such as Micron, Sandisk, SK Hynix, and Solidigm, are developing similarly large SSDs, with some aiming for 256 TB or even 1 PB drives, indicating a competitive race toward ultra-high-capacity storage solutions.

“The Dell PowerEdge R7725xd combined with Kioxia’s high-capacity enterprise SSDs delivers the storage density and power efficiency our customers need to scale AI infrastructure without sacrificing performance.”

— Arun Narayanan, SVP of Compute and Networking at Dell

“With these servers, customers can deploy massive ingestion streams, scale data lakes effortlessly, and handle large backups in a fraction of the footprint, improving TCO to new levels.”

— Neville Ichhaporia, SVP and GM of Kioxia America

What Remains Unclear

It is not yet clear whether these configurations will be commercially available at scale or remain in demonstration/test phases. Further details on performance metrics, durability, and cost are still emerging.

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What’s Next

Next steps include potential commercial rollout of the 10 PB server, further testing of durability and performance, and development of supporting infrastructure. Industry observers will watch for real-world deployment and adoption in large data centers.

Key Questions

How does this 10 PB server compare to existing storage solutions?

This server significantly surpasses typical enterprise storage densities, offering a compact 2RU chassis with 10 PB capacity, compared to traditional systems that require much larger footprints for similar capacities.

Are these high-capacity SSDs commercially available now?

While Kioxia’s LC9 SSDs are available and used in some enterprise systems, the specific 10 PB configuration is currently a demonstration; commercial availability at this scale is yet to be confirmed.

What workloads are best suited for this high-density server?

Large-scale data ingestion, AI training, data lakes, backups, and archival storage are primary use cases benefiting from this capacity.

Will this development impact data center costs?

Potentially, by reducing the physical footprint and improving TCO through higher density, but actual cost implications depend on market factors and deployment scale.