Intel unveils new ‘Ruler’ form factor for SSDs, supports up to 1 petabyte of storage

Intel today announced new memory technologies to advance data center storage solutions. Intel unveiled “Ruler”, a new form factor for SSDs enabling up to 1 petabyte of storage in a 1U server rack. Unlike the traditional 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch form factors of hard disk drives, these new “ruler” SSDs are long and skinny shaped. It also takes advantage of PCIe card slots eliminating constraints on shape and size. Intel claims that this enables the most storage capacity for a server, with the lowest required cooling and power needs.

The next-generation “ruler” form factor SSDs using Intel 3D NAND technology will enable up to 1PB in a 1U server – enough storage for 300,000 HD movies, or about 70 years of nonstop entertainment.

Intel today also announced Intel Optane technology dual port SSDs and Intel 3D NAND dual port SSDs that offer critical redundancy and failover, protecting against multiple paths to failure for mission-critical and high-availability applications. Dual port Intel SSD DC D4500, D4502 and D4600 Series will be available starting in 2017’s third quarter.

The new “ruler” form factor for Intel SSDs will be available in the near future.