- Pro
IBM all-flash expansion turns the Scale System 6000 into a data-hungry machine
Comments (0) ()When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: ITHome)
- IBM triples system capacity to support heavier AI and supercomputing data demands
- New flash enclosure enables larger caches designed for dense multitenant cluster workloads
- Expanded hardware targets operators scaling parallel processing pipelines across massive datasets
IBM has expanded the Storage Scale System 6000 to support a full rack capacity of up to 47PB, following the introduction of new All-Flash Expansion Enclosures equipped with 122TB QLC flash drives.
This update represents a threefold jump from earlier limits and is aimed at environments that handle high-volume data operations.
- Amazon Black Friday deals are live: here are our picks!
The system is positioned for organisations that work with supercomputing tasks, large AI pipelines, and cloud computing service delivery.
You may like-
Seagate's new storage looks to cover everything you'll need for the age of AI - including up to 3.2 petabytes in a single enclosure
-
Solidigm packed $2.7 million worth of SSDs into the biggest storage cluster I've ever seen: nearly 200 122TB SSDs used to build a 23.6PB cluster in 16U rackspace
-
Huawei released an AI SSD which uses a secret sauce to reduce the need for large amounts of expensive HBM
Hardware built for heavier throughput
The company claims the new design can sustain workloads that rely heavily on steady throughput and high availability.
It also states that the larger platform simplifies scaling for operators that maintain large clusters.
The All-Flash Expansion Enclosure brings support for bigger caches that enable multitenancy at multiple levels within a cluster.
IBM states operators can run several data-intensive workloads without creating bottlenecks across the file system.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The enclosure can house up to four Nvidia BlueField-3 DPUs and twenty-six dual-port QLC flash drives within a 2U unit, which allows the system to meet requirements linked to AI training, simulation workloads, and wide parallel processing.
Support for Nvidia’s Spectrum-X Ethernet switches is also included, allowing checkpoint times in model training processes to be shortened.
IBM positions these hardware links as essential in environments where fast data movement is needed to sustain active GPU fleets and complex scheduling.
You may like-
Seagate's new storage looks to cover everything you'll need for the age of AI - including up to 3.2 petabytes in a single enclosure
-
Solidigm packed $2.7 million worth of SSDs into the biggest storage cluster I've ever seen: nearly 200 122TB SSDs used to build a 23.6PB cluster in 16U rackspace
-
Huawei released an AI SSD which uses a secret sauce to reduce the need for large amounts of expensive HBM
IBM has updated its Storage Scale System software to align with the rise in total storage.
The 7.0.0 release adds support for the higher capacity modules and includes broader erasure coding with a 16+2 configuration that is intended to improve efficiency.
Write performance has also been increased to match the enhancements in throughput and IOPS, with earlier figures from the four-rack configuration placed the system at around 2.2PB of capacity, up to 13 million IOPS, and read speeds of up to 330GB per second.
The 2025 update lifts the IOPS ceiling to 28 million and raises read throughput to 340GB per second.
These adjustments aim to ensure that the expanded hardware does not introduce new delays when workloads scale.
The enclosure acts as a high-density option for operators that rely on an SSD layer as their primary storage base while continuing to use cloud storage for distribution beyond the core data centre.
IBM states that the increased volume allows its global-caching layer to keep larger active datasets closer to GPUs, removing separate data islands and keeping pipelines steady.
The architecture is built to serve clusters that need predictable movement of information between nodes, especially in situations where CPU utilisation rises during heavy compute windows.
The company’s messaging frames the update as a triple-tier improvement that combines higher density, better data handling, and wider workload support.
That said, the long-term impact will depend on how consistently the system performs at full capacity once deployed at scale.
Via HPCWire
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
Efosa UdinmwenFreelance JournalistEfosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master's and a PhD in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
Seagate's new storage looks to cover everything you'll need for the age of AI - including up to 3.2 petabytes in a single enclosure
Solidigm packed $2.7 million worth of SSDs into the biggest storage cluster I've ever seen: nearly 200 122TB SSDs used to build a 23.6PB cluster in 16U rackspace
Huawei released an AI SSD which uses a secret sauce to reduce the need for large amounts of expensive HBM
You can put 70 SSDs and HDDs in this case to deliver almost 3PB capacity - and it got me thinking, why aren't there any 3.5-inch SSDs?
Samsung archrival showcases 245TB PCIe Gen5 SSD, joining Kioxia, Huawei and Sandisk - with Solidigm, Samsung and Micron expected to launch similar products in 2026
Solidigm confirms 245+ TB SSDs set to launch before end of 2026
Latest in Pro
Best portable projector of 2025
Need an eSIM but not sure which one to buy? I have the perfect Black Friday eSIM deal for you
Take extra care shopping for Black Friday deals - experts find thousands of fake websites looking to steal your details
Microsoft Teams guest access could let hackers bypass some critical security protections
Many of us aren't confident we could spot a fake website this Black Friday - so be on your guard
Print security means business security: protecting data across the physical-digital boundary
Latest in News
We may see the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 very soon, after this latest leak
Google's AirDrop hack for Android is having some early teething issues
VPN support lands on next-gen Amazon Fire TV Sticks – but only two VPNs are ready
How to watch Heated Rivalry online – watch in UK, US, Canada as the steamy hockey drama hits No.1
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, November 30 (game #1406)
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, November 30 (game #637)
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless review: an immersive, mid-market gem
- 2Surfshark Starter: VPN features, devices and price explained
- 3Three $30 Black Friday VPN deals that you really must not ignore
- 4We may see the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 very soon, after this latest leak
- 5Sorry, ChatGPT and Gemini can't improve on my mom's handwritten Apple Pie recipe
