HPE debuts hybrid storage configs: Rising SSD costs hit supercomputing
HPE aims for the market with faster, more cost-effective HPC storage to combat rising costs
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) unveiled new hybrid storage configurations for its Cray Supercomputing Storage Systems, aimed at providing high-performance compute customers with faster data throughput. These configurations combine SSDs and new 32 TB SAS-4 HDDs, offering up to 41 percent more data throughput per storage rack compared to existing models.
The E2000 line, which already provides all-flash, all-disk, tiered, and hybrid storage options, now embeds the Lustre open-source parallel file system and supports NVMe Gen 5 SSD building blocks.
The primary motivation behind these new hybrid configurations is the rising cost of storage resulting from the increasing demand for AI infrastructure, which is driving up prices for memory and other components. However, HPE notes that the cost of silicon-based NAND flash SSDs is growing faster than that of hard drives. Consequently, research institutions and national laboratories can save on storage costs by investing more in compute nodes, without sacrificing the required performance.
Trish Damkroger, HPE's senior vice president for HPC and AI Infrastructure Solutions, highlighted that the new hybrid configurations cater to environments where advanced workloads are rapidly evolving, as customers seek scalable, dense, and flexible systems to adapt to dynamic shifts in requirements. The Rack Management Controller, which HPE claims provides intelligent liquid cooling through real-time monitoring, leak detection, and automated control, will complement these storage configurations.
This intelligent cooling system integrates with HPE Supercomputing Management Software to gather telemetry and offer control.
The Rack Management Controller and its tailored versions for different rack-scale systems will be available for HPE's Cray Supercomputing GX5000 infrastructure starting in early 2027. Support for Nvidia's NVL72 and AMD's Helion and Helios kit is expected to follow in June 2027.
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