- Huawei is developing SSD tape hybrid for hot and cold data storage
- The MED system provides efficient storage at NAND speeds
- The first generation has a storage capacity of 72 TB and uses 10% of the power that disk drives require
It’s no secret that Chinese companies are becoming increasingly inventive when it comes to circumventing the challenges posed by U.S. export restrictions that hinder access to advanced semiconductor technology and critical components.
Huawei in particular is leading the way here as it looks to become China’s answer to Nvidia, and was recently reported to be courting Chinese hyperscalers to use its new Ascend AI chip in place of Nvidia’s H100.
Blocks and files reports that Huawei has developed an SSD-tape hybrid that combines Magneto-Electric Disk (MED) archive storage with a Huawei-developed tape drive. This hybrid enables the provision of hot and cold data storage in one solution.
Expected arrival next year
This development was first reported in March 2024, but Blocks and files now has a presentation image and more details about the MED.
The site writes: “The MED is a sealed unit that provides a disk-like, block storage interface to the outside world, and not a streaming tape interface. Inside the housing are two separate storage media: a solid-state drive with NAND and a tape system, including a tape motor for moving the tape ribbon, a read-write head and tape reels.”
Unlike traditional tape cartridges with a single long reel, the MED has a compact design with a tape reel half the length of an LTO tape and an additional empty reel for used tape. This arrangement allows the MED to handle data storage more efficiently while integrating both solid-state and tape storage technologies.
The system functions as a dual purpose solution: it acts as an archive for cold data and as a nearline storage for hot data. Hot data can be quickly accessed via the NAND-speed SSD, making it ideal for frequently used information. Cold data stored on tape takes longer to retrieve (up to two minutes) because the system must locate the data and move the tape ribbon to the correct reading position.
The first generation of the MED, expected to hit the market next year, is said to hold 72 TB of data (it’s unclear whether this is raw or compressed capacity) and consumes just 10% of the power required by disk drives. According to Huawei, a MED rack will deliver 8GBps, hold more than 10PB, and require less than 2 kW of electricity. A second-generation model could follow in 2026 or 2027.