SCSI Express combines the established SCSI protocol with PCIe to create a standardized interface for high-performance storage solutions. It aims to reduce latency, enhance reliability, and support coexistence with SAS devices, while offering flexible hardware and software architectures. The technology is targeted at enterprise environments requiring efficient storage for demanding applications such as virtualization and data warehousing.

1. Extending the SCSI Platform
of Innovation
May, 2013
www.scsita.org www.scsiexpress.org

2. SCSI Express Overview
What is SCSI Express?
 Proven SCSI protocol combined with PCIe, creating an
industry standard path to PCIe-based storage
Why do we need SCSI Express?
 Deliver proven enterprise storage for PCIe-based storage
devices in a standardized ecosystem
 Take advantage of lower latency PCIe to improve performance
 Unified management and programming interface
May, 2013 2

3. iSCSI
FC
FCoE
Parallel SCSI
SAS
SCSI:
The Most Widely Implemented Logical Storage Protocol
Operates Over Numerous Transport Layers
ATAPI (ATA, SATA)
USB
Memory sticks
Firewire
Infiniband
USB Firewire Parallel
SCSI
3
SCSI is Everywhere!
May, 2013

4. Reliability
 Proven enterprise SCSI
ecosystem
 Architected for high
availability
Performance and
Innovation
 Increased performance
through lower latency for
emerging advanced
technologies
 Enables new storage
architectures
Investment
Protection
Coexistence with SAS via
Express Bay and common
command set
Leveraging robust
middleware ecosystem
4
SCSI Express Value Proposition
May, 2013

5. Leading server
I/O interconnect
Accommodates
PCIe, SAS
and SATA drives
Flexible, high
performance
queuing layer
Packages SCSI for
a PQI queuing
layer
Storage command set
5
SCSI Express Components
May, 2013

6. Server
PCIe Root Complex
O/S and Applications
PCIExpress
SOP-PQI Driver
PCIExpress
Backplane with SFF-8639 connectors
SCSI Express SSDs
6
SCSI Express SSD in a Server
May, 2013

7. Express Bay
SFF-8639 multifunction connector
Supports multiple protocols/interfaces
PCI-SIG electrical specification
Up to 25 Watts
Objectives
Preserve the enterprise storage experience for PCI Express storage
Meet SSD performance demands
Serviceable, hot-pluggable Express Bay opens up new possibilities…
7
Express Bay Concept
May, 2013

8. SCSI
Express Drive/Device
 SOP-PQI protocol
 Connects to SFF-8639
 PCIe up to x4 interface
SCSI
Express Controllers
 Supports SOP-PQI
driver functionality on
the controller to the
target device on
the PCIe lanes
 Typically supports
SAS/SATA devices
SCSI
Express Driver
 Driver supplied by
storage OEMs, IHVs or
OSVs
 Open-source Linux
driver available
CYQ113
8
SCSI Express
Hardware/Software
May, 2013

9. SCSI Express Naming
◆ SCSI Express Drive:
SCSI Express SSD
SCSI Express HDD
(SCSIe SSD or HDD)
● A PCIe data storage device using solid-state drive technology in a 2.5” Small
Form Factor (SFF) or 3.5” Large Form Factor (LFF) that utilizes SCSI over
PCIe (SOP) and PCIe Queuing Interface (PCIe) to communicate with the
PCIe bus on the host.
◆ SCSI Express RAID Controller:
● A PCIe controller with Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) fault
tolerance capability that communicates SCSI over PCIe (SOP) and PCIe
Queuing Interface (PCIe) commands to the PCIe bus on the host.
May, 2013 9

10. SCSI Express Naming
◆ SCSI Express Card Drive:
SCSI Express SSC
SCSIe SSC
(SSC=Solid State Card)
● A PCIe data storage device using solid-state drive technology in a PCIe card
form factor that utilizes SCSI over PCIe (SOP) and PCIe Queuing Interface
(PCIe) to communicate with the PCIe bus on the host.
◆ SCSI Express M.2 Drive:
SCSI Express SSM
SCSIe SSM
(SSM=Solid State Module)
● A storage device using solid-state drive technology in a M.2 form factor that
utilizes SCSI over PCIe (SOP) and PCIe Queuing Interface (PCIe) to
communicate with the PCIe bus on the host.
www.scsita.orgMay, 2013 10

11. SCSI Express Naming
◆ SCSI Express Bridge:
● A device using that communicates SCSI over PCIe (SOP) and PCIe Queuing
Interface (PCIe) commands downstream to the PCIe bus on the host.
◆ SCSI Express Switch:
● A device which transmits SCSI over PCIe (SOP) and PCIe Queuing Interface
(PCIe) packet commands to and from a host to a SCSI Express device
connected to the switch.
May, 2013 11

12. SCSI Express Naming
◆ SCSI Express Mezzanine Drive:
SCSI Express SSM
(SCSIe SSM)
● A proprietary PCIe data storage device using solid-state drive
technology in a blade mezzanine card form factor that utilizes SCSI
over PCIe (SOP) and PCIe Queuing Interface (PCIe) to communicate
with the PCIe bus on the host.
May, 2013 12

13. CY2012 CY2013 CY2014
1H’12 2H’12 1H’13 2H’13 1H’14 2H’14
SOP proposal complete
2H 2012
SOP proposal complete
2H 2012
SCSI Express samples
1H 2013
SCSI Express samples
1H 2013
SOP/PQI Letter Ballot
SPEC stability
2H 2012
SOP/PQI Letter Ballot
SPEC stability
2H 2012
Express Bay available
2H 2012
Express Bay available
2H 2012
SCSI Express driver availability
(open source Linux/other IHV)
1H 2013
SCSI Express driver availability
(open source Linux/other IHV)
1H 2013
Plugfest #1
2H 2013
Plugfest #1
2H 2013
Plugfest #2
1H 2014
Plugfest #2
1H 2014
SCSI Express devices/
controllers available
1H 2014
SCSI Express devices/
controllers available
1H 2014
13
SCSI Express Timeline
May, 2013

14. Targeted for enterprise environments
where low latency and high performance is critical:
● Caching
● Virtualization (VDI)
● High Performance Computing (HPC)
● Complex Algorithm Processing, Simulations and Modeling
● Front-end Web Servers
● Data Warehousing
● …..And much more!!!!
Respond to increasing demands for data
14
SCSI Express Target Environments
May, 2013

15. Enterprise PCIe-based storage
Industry standards path
Increased performance through lower latency
Coexistence with SAS via Express Bay
Proven SCSI protocol
Unified management and common command set
15
SCSI Express Summary
May, 2013

16.  SCSI Express
 12Gb/s SAS, 24Gb/s SAS
 Performance and scalability
 Power Limit Control - up to 25W Devices
 Both SAS and SCSI Express
 Extended Copy Feature
 Atomic Writes
 Hinting & other NVM Features
16
SCSI – Looking to the Future
May, 2013

17. www.scsita.org
17
STA Member Companies
May, 2013
Sponsor Members:
Principal Members:
Promotional Members: