SSSI has developed an extensive library of educational materials about SSD performance and how to use the SSS Performance Test Specifications to measure it.  If you’re new to SSDs or simply want to become more knowledgeable on the subject, we can help.

Below is a list of white papers, presentations, webcasts, and even a video that discuss SSDs, SSD performance and how it should be measured.  The list is in the recommended order of reading / viewing, and ranges from basic overviews to technical details.  Hope you find this useful.

1. What more logical place to start than Solid State Storage 101?  This white paper talks about SSDs, how they work and how they fit into system architectures.
2. Another white paper, NAND Flash Solid State Storage for the Enterprise, looks at Flash memory in more detail and how SSD controllers work.
3. Facing an SSS Decision? Here is How SNIA is Helping Users Evaluate SSS Performance is a presentation that starts to delve into SSD performance and the basic principles of the SSS Performance Test Specification.
4. The presentation Validating SSS Performance also introduces the SSS PTS, but in additional detail.
5. The Solid State Storage Performance Test Specification (SSS PTS) White Paper provides an easily understandable introduction to the SSS PTS.
6. Here’s a video of our own Eden Kim Describing the SSS PTS at Storage Visions 2012.
7. SNIA Solid State Storage Test Specification is a more technical description of the contents of the SSS PTS.
8. Now that you’ve read all about them, the actual SSS PTS documents can be downloaded here.
9. And finally, SSSI has put together a webpage on Understanding SSD Performance, which explains the test results generated from the SSS PTS and what they mean to users.

You can find a lot of other informative material related to SSDs on the SSSI Education page.

If you have any questions, comments or requests, please comment on this post or send a message to asksssi@snia.org.

At last week’s Storage Vision conference, SSSI announced the Understanding SSD Performance project, which is intended to educate users about how to use the SSS PTS (Performance Test Specification) to make intelligent decisions about SSD performance.  You can find the press release here.

The project outcomes so far include a new webpage at www.snia.org/forums/sssi/pts, a white paper (www.snia.org/forums/sssi/knowledge/education), and a webcast.

Join us for the webcast on January 19 at 11AM Pacific Time by going to www.brighttalk.com/webcast/663/40549.

Update:  A recording of this webcast is available here.

Presenter: Tom Coughlin, SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative and President, Coughlin Associates

Abstract: This session presents a brief overview of the solid state technologies which are being integrated into enterprise storage systems today, including technologies, benefits, and price/performance. It describes where they fit into today’s typical enterprise storage architectures today, with descriptions of specific use cases. Finally, the session speculates briefly on what the future will bring.

Check out a new Webcast this week by analysts Jim Handy and Tom Coughlin.

When: December 16, 2010 at 9:00AM PT

What: Why HDD and Flash Belong Together

To attend: http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/23850 

Please be sure to log on and learn from two top industry analysts.

In London this week, I was invited to present on solid state storage at the SNIA Europe Data Center Academy event.  It was  a well-attended event with a good mix of  IT managers, consultants and press in the audience – including Chris Mellor from The Register who subsequently published this blog.  Chris is one of the most perceptive journalists in the industry and really nailed the key issues in his blog.  Check it out!

BTW, the presentation is among the latest batch of SNIA tutorials, which you can find here.

Last week’s SNW show in Orlando had encouraging signs that the recession is receding. IT end-user attendance was slightly up on previous shows (although vendor attendance was down); IT end users had budget and were looking for the optimal way to invest it, and there was clear excitement around a number of topics – including solid state storage.

Solid State Storage was well represented on the agenda, both in the vendor-neutral SNIA Tutorials, and in the SNW sessions:

SNIA Tutorials:
• Executive Overview and Current Topics in Solid State Storage, Rob Peglar, Xiotech
• Apples to Apples, Pears to Pears in SSS Performance Benchmarking, Esther Spanjer, Smart Modular Technologies
• Latency: the Heartbeat of a Solid State Disk, Levi Norman, Texas Memory Systems
• The Benefits of Solid State in Enterprise Storage Systems, David Dale, NetApp
• Using SSD MLC NAND in Data Center Applications, Tony Roug, Intel
• Solid State Storage Architectures, Jamon Bowen, Texas Memory Systems

SNW Vendor Presentations:
• Panel: Is SSD Right for your Enterprise? Moderator: Jeff Janukowicz, IDC; Panelists: David Dale, NetApp; Steve Johnson, LSI Corporation; Gary Tressler, IBM; Rich Vignes, Seagate; Tom Lattin, HP
• Dynamic Tiering – Taking Advantage of the Best of HDDs and Solid State, Ron P. Bianchini, Avere Systems
• Getting the Most out of SSDs- Data Center IT System Optimization Best Practices, Mike Chenery, Pliant Technology
• Flash Solid State Storage reliability & data Integrity – Are We There Yet? David Flynn, Fusion-io

All of the presentations are available on the SNW website. In addition, the SNIA Tutorials are available on the SNIA website.

Check them out.

Welcome to the SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative’s new blog site!

Check out the SNIA SSSI at SNW Spring – 2010, April 12-14 in Orlando, Florida.  Look for presentations from SNIA SSSI and SSSI member companies in the Hands-on-Labs, Tutorials (Executive and SSS tracks), and general sessions (Solid State track).  Make sure to come and visit with us over cocktails and d’oeurves at the EMC sponsored Welcome Reception Monday night from 6:00 – 7:30pm.

Stay tuned to this blog site for more discussions about solid state storage technology and the forthcoming Solid State Storage Performance Test Specification (SSS PTS).