QLC Hits the Storage Sweet Spot: Flash Performance That Won’t Break the Bank

As data generation and innovation continue to explode across industries worldwide, demand for high-capacity, cost-effective data storage has never been greater. Enter QLC (quad-level cell) flash storage – a compelling infrastructure option for IT organizations supporting hybrid cloud environments looking to balance performance, capacity and cost.

QLC is differentiated from other types of flash memory because it stores four bits (hence the “quad”) per cell. That’s up to 33% more capacity per cell vs. TLC (triple-level cell) technology, which stores three bits per cell. And so forth for SLC (single-level/one bit) and MLC (multi-level, or two bits per cell).

By storing more in the same physical space, QLC flash significantly increases storage density, providing users the benefit of higher-capacity drives at lower costs per gigabyte (GB). This makes them ideal for budget conscious deployments, or applications where space, cost and/or energy efficiency are critical.

QLC: Tons of Storage, Zero Sticker Shock

For anybody just joining the blog, here’s a quick summary. QLC is a perfect solution for replacing hybrid/HDD drives or when you need high volume storage without overspending. And a more economical choice for large-scale data storage needs where performance can’t be sacrificed, or where you’re optimizing for total cost of ownership (TCO) over performance alone.

QLC is particularly well-suited for read-centric workloads requiring performance predictability and low TCO, such as:

• Storing mountains of data for analytics.
• High-performance storage backup systems.
• Keeping older (colder) data accessible without premium price.
• Managing huge media/content libraries.

Hitachi VSP One Block: Where QLC Really Shines

For IT and data leaders looking to maximize their storage ROI (aka, get the most bang for their storage buck), Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One (VSP One) Block QLC might be just what the data doctor ordered (so to speak).

With our latest update, we've expanded our QLC options to provide greater flexibility than ever, now scaling from 538 to 1805 TiBe with configurations from 9 to 24 drives. And industry-leading capacity with massive 30TB drives.

This makes VSP One Block QLC perfect for:

• Data Lakes and Analytics: Managing massive datasets undergoing constant analysis? QLC delivers speedy reads that keep analytics humming without premium storage costs.
• Backup and Disaster Recovery: Need better backup performance without the enterprise SSD price tag? QLC is the perfect middle ground – significantly faster than spinning disk but far easier on your budget than alternative flash solutions.
• Long-term Data Retention: Is your organization drowning in cold, historical data you rarely access but need to keep around, e.g., compliance records? QLC lets you keep it all accessible without spending a fortune.
• Large-scale Media Archives: Managing a growing mountain of videos, images and data intensive media files? QLC's massive capacity handles content libraries with the responsiveness of flash at a price point that won't break the bank. This also makes it perfect for content delivery networks (CDNs) and applications like media streaming or distribution.

Big Savings You Actually Care About

QLC flash solutions like VSP One Block QLC are smart for a lot of reasons. But it really all comes down to getting flash-level speed without the typical flash-level price, delivering savings in a number of different ways:

• Reduced power consumption per terabyte stored.
• Lower cooling requirements for equivalent capacity.
• Minimized rack space utilization through higher density drives.
• Decreased TCO for large-scale storage deployments.

While QLC isn’t exclusively about the bottom line, in this case, the bottom line savings are clear. Allowing you to expertly balance the needs of those members of your IT team who may prioritize performance with those of your finance team, who might prioritize reduced spend.

Hitachi VSP One Block QLC, for the Win

To recap, with QLC you get flash-level performance at much friendlier prices, plus lower power consumption and a smaller data center footprint. A win-win for everyone.

It is important to keep in mind, QLC shines brightest with read-heavy workloads rather than write-intensive applications. While that means it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, QLC does fill a critical need in the storage landscape, providing the perfect middle ground between premium performance and budget-conscious storage options.

For any organization planning a storage upgrade or building out infrastructure for data-heavy applications, Hitachi VSP Block QLC is worth adding to your short list.

Connect with your Hitachi Vantara representative to find out more. And you can take that to the bank.

Read more 

• Blog: Elevating VSP One to a New Level with Samsung QLC
• News release: Hitachi Vantara Expands Hybrid Cloud Storage Platform with Object Storage, All-QLC Flash and Advancing Cloud Integration
• Top 10 Reasons Why: Hitachi Vantara VSP One Block Quad-Level Cell (QLC) SSD Appliance
• Webpage: Midrange Storage: VSP One Block - Power of Simplicity
• Datasheet: Remove the Chaos of Data Complexity with VSP One Block