Tag: NAS

Dell AI Data Platform Advancements Unlock the Power of Enterprise Data to Accelerate AI Outcomes

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL), the world’s No. 1 provider of AI infrastructure, announces Dell AI Data Platform advancements designed to help enterprises turn distributed, siloed data into faster, more reliable AI outcomes.

Why it matters

As enterprise AI adoption surges and data grows, organizations need a platform that can securely transform distributed, siloed data into actionable insights. The Dell AI Data Platform, a critical component of the Dell AI Factory, delivers an open, modular foundation to create value from scattered data silos. By decoupling data storage from processing, it eliminates bottlenecks and provides the flexibility needed for AI workloads like training, fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) or inferencing.

The platform, integrated with the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design, is powered by four core building blocks:

  • Storage engines for smart data placement and seamless data movement
  • Data engines to turn data into actionable insights
  • Built-in cyber resiliency
  • Data management services

Together, they create a scalable, flexible foundation for customers to realize AI’s full potential.

Dell AI Data Platform storage engines deliver peak AI performance

Dell PowerScale and Dell ObjectScale, the Dell AI Data Platform’s storage engines, offer the performance, security and multi-protocol access essential for AI data.

  • Dell PowerScale delivers NAS (network-attached storage) simplicity and parallel performance for AI workloads like training, fine-tuning, inferencing and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines.
    • With new integration of NVIDIA GB200 and GB300 NVL72 and ongoing software updates, Dell PowerScale delivers reliable performance, simplified management at scale and seamless compatibility with applications and solution stacks.
    • PowerScale F710, which has achieved  NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) certification for high performance storage, delivers 16k+ GPU-scale with up to 5X less rack space, 88% fewer network switches and up to 72% lower power consumption compared to competitors. 2
  • Dell ObjectScale, the industry’s highest-performing object platform, 3 provides extremely performant, scalable S3-native object storage for massive AI workloads. ObjectScale is available as an appliance or through a new software-defined option on Dell PowerEdge servers that is up to 8 times faster than previous-generation all-flash object storage. 4 New advancements improve ObjectScale’s speed, scalability and efficiency.
    • S3 over RDMA support will soon enter tech preview. It will offer up to 230% higher throughput, 80% lower latency and 98% lower CPU usage compared to traditional S3.5
    • Small object performance and efficiency improvements for large deployments deliver up to 19% higher throughput and up to 18% lower latency for 10KB objects.6
    • Deeper AWS S3 integration and bucket-level compression gives developers and data scientists better tools to store, move and use large amounts of data.

 

Dell AI Data Platform data engines power real-time AI

Dell is also expanding its data engines, the specialized tools in the Dell AI Data Platform that organize, query and activate AI data. Dell’s data engines are built in collaboration with trusted AI leaders like NVIDIA, Elastic and Starburst.

  • The new Data Search Engine, developed in collaboration with Elastic, speeds decision-making by allowing customers to interact with data as naturally as asking a question. Designed for tasks like RAG, semantic search and generative AI pipelines, it integrates with MetadataIQ data discovery software to search billions of files on PowerScale and ObjectScale using granular metadata. Developers can build smarter RAG applications in tools like LangChain with the engine, ingesting only updated files to save compute time and keep vector databases current.

 

  • The Data Analytics Engine, developed in collaboration with Starburst, enables seamless data querying across spreadsheets, databases, cloud warehouses and lakehouses. The new Data Analytics Engine Agentic Layer transforms raw data into business-ready products in seconds, using LLMs to automate documentation, glean insights and embed AI into SQL workflows. It also unifies access to vector stores, enabling RAG and search tasks across Iceberg, Dell’s Data Search Engine, PostgreSQL + PGVector and more. Enterprise-grade AI model monitoring and governance helps teams track, audit and control AI usage. The new MCP Server for Data Analytics Engine enables multi-agent and AI application development.
  • Dell AI Data Platform integration with NVIDIA cuVS delivers the next major leap in vector search performance and turnkey deployment for enterprise AI environments. The integration brings GPU-accelerated hybrid (keyword + vector) search to Data Search Engine, delivering faster, more efficient insights with full on-prem control. Powered by NVIDIA cuVS and Dell’s secure infrastructure, IT teams can enjoy a fully integrated, turnkey solution to deploy and scale GPU-powered search out of the box.

 

“AI is transforming industries and its success depends on unlocking the full potential of enterprise data. The Dell AI Data Platform is purpose-built to simplify data complexity, unify pipelines and deliver AI-ready data at scale,” said Arthur Lewis, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies. “From real-time diagnostics in healthcare to predictive maintenance in manufacturing, Dell Technologies and trusted collaborators like NVIDIA, Elastic and Starburst are empowering industries to move from AI pilots to production faster and with reduced risk.”

“AI finally gives enterprises a way to transform fragmented data into a strategic, scalable asset,” said Justin Boitano, vice president of enterprise AI products, NVIDIA. “Accelerated by NVIDIA AI, the Dell AI Data Platform delivers a new generation of intelligent storage that is designed to understand the meaning behind the data it holds.”

“Data holds the key to incredible breakthroughs and our collaboration with Dell Technologies makes it easier than ever to unlock that potential. By fully integrating the Elasticsearch context engineering platform into the Dell AI Data Platform, we are providing a powerful engine for search and discovery, said Ajay Nair, GM of Platform Engineering, Elastic. “This collaboration empowers organizations to accelerate everything from semantic search to complex generative AI pipelines, turning large amounts of unstructured data into critical insight.”

“Access to all of your data is the foundation for enterprise AI success,” said Justin Borgman, CEO, Starburst. “Our expanded collaboration with Dell Technologies unites Starburst’s data federation with Dell’s AI Data Platform, giving organizations the ability to unlock insights from anywhere and accelerate their path to real-world AI outcomes.”

“The collaboration between Maya HTT, Dell Technologies and NVIDIA is transforming industries by turning massive amounts of unstructured data into actionable insights. From accelerating satellite production to enabling real-time telemetry and AI-driven efficiency for marine vessels, our solutions are not only connecting unconnected worlds but also driving sustainability and safety,” said Remi Duquette, vice president, Industrial AI, Maya HTT. “With Dell PowerScale and NVIDIA AI infrastructure, we’re delivering faster, smarter and more impactful AI outcomes for our clients.”

Availability

  • Dell PowerScale NVIDIA GB200 and GB300NVL72 integration with NCP validation is available now.
  • Dell ObjectScale S3 over RDMA will be available in Tech Preview in December 2025.
  • Dell ObjectScale software updates will be available in December 2025.
  • First release of Dell Data Analytics Engine Agentic Layer will be available in February 2026.
  • MCP Server for Dell Data Analytics Engine will be available in February 2026.
  • Data Search Engine in the Dell AI Data Platform will be available in 1H 2026.
  • NVIDIA cuVS integration in the Dell AI Data Platform will be available in 1H 2026.

How Can You Simplify Storage Setup? Use the UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator

In today’s data-driven world, managing storage infrastructure efficiently has become increasingly complex for IT professionals. The challenge of configuring RAID arrays while balancing performance, capacity, and data protection often leads to time-consuming calculations and potential errors. Enter the UGOS Cloud RAID calculator – a powerful tool designed to streamline storage planning and eliminate the guesswork from RAID configurations. This innovative solution helps IT teams optimize their storage infrastructure while reducing the risk of miscalculations that could impact system reliability. Whether you’re building a new storage array or expanding existing infrastructure, this calculator empowers you to make informed decisions quickly and confidently, ensuring your storage solutions meet both current needs and future demands.

What Every IT Pro Should Know About RAID Basics

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology forms the backbone of modern storage infrastructure, offering various approaches to balance data protection and performance. At its core, RAID combines multiple physical drives into a single logical unit, with different levels serving distinct purposes. RAID 0 stripes data across drives for maximum performance but offers no redundancy, making it suitable for non-critical data requiring high speeds. RAID 1 mirrors data between drives, providing excellent redundancy but at the cost of 50% storage efficiency. RAID 5 introduces parity for fault tolerance while maintaining better storage efficiency, though write performance can be impacted.

RAID 6 adds a second parity block for enhanced protection against drive failures, particularly valuable in large arrays. RAID 10, combining striping and mirroring, delivers both high performance and redundancy, though at a higher drive cost. Understanding these configurations is crucial as each level’s capacity calculation follows different principles—a key consideration when planning efficient and reliable NAS storage systems. This foundational knowledge enables IT professionals to make informed decisions based on their specific requirements for performance, redundancy, and storage efficiency.

Common RAID Configuration Challenges

Storage administrators frequently encounter significant challenges when configuring RAID systems manually. Calculation errors can occur when determining usable capacity across different RAID levels, potentially leading to undersized storage arrays or overestimated available space. Drive compatibility issues often emerge when mixing drives of different speeds, capacities, or manufacturers within the same array, resulting in reduced performance or system instability. The complex tradeoff decisions between performance and redundancy present another crucial challenge – while RAID 0 offers maximum performance, its lack of redundancy makes it unsuitable for critical data storage.

Conversely, implementing RAID 6 provides excellent data protection but impacts write performance and requires additional drives. Disaster recovery planning becomes particularly challenging when considering rebuild times for large arrays, especially in RAID 5 configurations where the failure of a second drive during rebuild could result in complete data loss. These technical hurdles underscore the importance of careful planning and precise calculations in RAID implementation to ensure optimal system performance and data protection.

Tired of Manual RAID Math? Let UGOS Cloud Handle It for You

The UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator revolutionizes storage planning by providing a comprehensive solution for IT professionals struggling with complex RAID configurations. This powerful tool seamlessly integrates with the broader UGOS Cloud ecosystem, offering real-time calculations and automated validation checks that eliminate human error. Unlike traditional manual methods that require multiple spreadsheets and complex formulas, the calculator instantly processes drive specifications and RAID level requirements, delivering accurate results in seconds. The tool excels in practical applications, from designing new storage arrays to expanding existing infrastructure, by offering dynamic visualization of capacity utilization and performance metrics.

IT teams can leverage its predictive analysis capabilities to model different RAID configurations before implementation, ensuring optimal resource allocation. The calculator proves particularly valuable during storage upgrades, allowing administrators to simulate various drive combinations and RAID levels to achieve the perfect balance between performance, redundancy, and cost-effectiveness. By streamlining the decision-making process, it enables organizations to implement storage solutions confidently while maintaining high availability and data protection standards.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator

Inputting Drive Specifications

Begin by accessing the UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator’s intuitive interface through your dashboard. In the drive specification panel, enter the total number of drives in your array. For each drive, input the capacity in TB or GB, ensuring accurate representation of your hardware. The interface allows you to specify drive parameters including rotational speed (RPM), interface type (SATA/SAS), and manufacturer details. The calculator automatically validates input consistency to prevent configuration errors.

Selecting RAID Configuration

Once drive specifications are entered, explore the RAID configuration matrix displaying available RAID levels. The calculator’s smart recommendation engine analyzes your input and highlights optimal RAID configurations based on your drive count and capacity. Each RAID level shows projected performance metrics, redundancy levels, and space efficiency. The system automatically flags incompatible configurations and explains why certain RAID levels may not be suitable for your specific drive setup.

Analyzing Results

The results dashboard presents comprehensive metrics for your selected configuration. View the total raw capacity alongside usable storage space after RAID implementation. Performance indicators display expected read/write speeds, taking into account your drive specifications and RAID level. The redundancy analysis shows fault tolerance levels, providing clear insights into how many drive failures your array can withstand. Interactive graphs visualize capacity distribution, helping you understand storage allocation across the array. The calculator also generates detailed reports including rebuild time estimates and recommended hot spare configurations for enhanced reliability.

Compatibility Considerations for Hard Drives

When implementing RAID configurations, drive compatibility plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal system performance and reliability. Storage administrators must carefully evaluate interface specifications, as mixing SATA and SAS drives within the same array can lead to communication bottlenecks and potential system instability. Drive capacity matching is essential – all drives in a RAID array should have identical capacities to prevent capacity loss and performance degradation. Speed synchronization demands equal attention, as combining drives with different rotational speeds or performance characteristics can force the entire array to operate at the speed of the slowest drive.

Many IT professionals turn to trusted manufacturers like UGREEN for their network-attached storage solutions, as they provide specific compatibility matrices for their enterprise drives, recommending matched sets for optimal RAID performance. Additionally, firmware versions should be consistent across all drives in the array to prevent unexpected behavior and ensure seamless operation. The UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator automatically validates these compatibility requirements, alerting administrators to potential issues before implementation.

Advanced Storage Management with UGOS Cloud

The UGOS Cloud platform extends beyond basic RAID calculations to provide comprehensive storage management capabilities. Through intelligent capacity planning features, administrators can model future storage growth patterns and receive proactive alerts when systems approach capacity thresholds. The platform’s performance optimization engine continuously monitors I/O patterns, suggesting configuration adjustments to maintain peak efficiency as workloads evolve. For future-proofing storage infrastructure, UGOS Cloud enables seamless integration of new storage technologies and expansion options without disrupting existing arrays.

The system’s predictive analytics help identify potential bottlenecks before they impact operations, while automated storage tiering recommendations ensure optimal data placement across different storage media. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, UGOS Cloud adapts its optimization strategies to your specific usage patterns, providing increasingly refined recommendations over time. This forward-thinking approach to storage management helps organizations maintain operational excellence while preparing for future storage demands.

Make Your Storage Setup Stronger with the Right RAID Solution

The increasing complexity of storage infrastructure management demands sophisticated tools that can eliminate human error and streamline configuration processes. The UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator addresses these challenges head-on by providing IT professionals with an intelligent, automated solution for RAID planning and implementation. By automating complex calculations, validating drive compatibility, and offering detailed performance metrics, this tool significantly reduces the risk of configuration errors while saving valuable time.

The integration with the broader UGOS Cloud ecosystem further enhances its value, offering advanced features like predictive analytics and capacity planning that help organizations stay ahead of their storage needs. For IT professionals seeking to optimize their storage infrastructure while ensuring data protection and system reliability, the UGOS Cloud RAID Calculator represents an essential tool in their technical arsenal. Take control of your storage management today by leveraging this powerful solution to build more efficient, reliable, and future-proof RAID configurations.