Hybrid array

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title: "Hybrid array" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["data-management", "solid-state-caching", "memory-management-software"] topic_path: "technology/operating-systems" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_array" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

A hybrid array is a form of hierarchical storage management that combines hard disk drives (HDDs) with solid-state drives (SSDs) for I/O speed improvements.

Hybrid storage arrays aim to mitigate the ever increasing price-performance gap between HDDs and DRAM by adding a non-volatile flash level to the memory hierarchy. Hybrid arrays thus aim to lower the cost per I/O, compared to using only SSDs for storage. Hybrid architectures can be as simple as involving a single SSD cache for desktop or laptop computers, or can be more complex as configurations for data centers and cloud computing.

Implementations

Some commercial products for building hybrid arrays include:

Adaptec demonstrated the MaxIQ series in 2009.
Apple's Fusion Drive
Linux software includes bcache, dm-cache, and Flashcache (and its fork EnhanceIO).
Condusive's ExpressCache is marketed for laptops.
EMC Corporation VFcache was announced in 2012.
Fusion-io acquired ioTurbine in 2011, and the product line it acquired by buying NexGen in 2013.
Hitachi Accelerated Flash Storage (HAFS) used together with the Hitachi Dynamic Tiering software
IBM Flash Cache Storage Accelerator (FCSA) server software
Intel's Smart Response Technology for desktop
Intel's Cache Acceleration Software for servers and workstations
LSI CacheCade software for their controllers
Marvell's HyperDuo controllers
Microsoft's Automated Tiering (since Windows 2012 R2)
NetApp's Flash Cache, Flash Pool, Flash Accel
Oracle Corporation markets products such as Exadata Smart Cache Flash, and the FS1 flash storage system.
Microsoft ReadyBoost allows personal computers to use USB flash drives (or any solid-state media) as cache.
Nvelo DataPlex SSD caching software was announced in 2011, and was acquired by Samsung in 2012.
SanDisk FlashSoft for Windows, Linux, and vSphere
Products are offered by vendors like AMI StorTrends, Tegile Systems, Reduxio, and Tintri.
ZFS using hybrid storage pools, are used for example in some Oracle Corporation products.

References

(2012). "Inside Solid State Drives (SSDs)". Springer.
Charlie Demerjian. (September 9, 2009). "Adaptec's MaxIQ caches RAIDs with SSDs". SemiAccurate.
Larry Dignan. (February 5, 2012). "EMC unveils VFCache, targets Fusion-io". ZDNet.
Chris Mellor. (March 5, 2013). "One day later: EMC declares war on all-flash array, server flash card rivals: Rolls out XtremIO array, renamed VFCache". The Register.
"Fusion-io spins up ioTurbine, enhances server flash caching". The Register.
"Fusion-io buys NexGen". theregister.co.uk.
(September 2013). "Big storage turns the tide in the hybrid flash array market". [[Computer Weekly]].
The SSD Guy. (2013-08-20). "IBM Adds Server-Side Caching". The SSD Guy.
"LSI MegaRAID CacheCade Pro 2.0 Review". storagereview.com.
"Hands-on with the Marvell HyperDuo hybrid storage controller". CBS Interactive.
"NetApp: Flash as a STORAGE tier? You must be joking". theregister.co.uk.
Chris Mellor. (September 30, 2014). "Oracle crashes all-flash bash: Behold, our hybrid FS1 arrays: Mutant flash/disk box a pillar of storage: It's axiomatic". The Register.
Les Tokar. (December 4, 2011). "NVELO Dataplex SSD Caching Software Review - Seven mSATA SSDs Prove An Amazing Concept". The SSD Review.
Kristian Vättö. (December 16, 2012). "Samsung Acquires SSD Caching Company NVELO". AnandTech.
Ian Barker. (2014-01-27). "AMI StorTrends 3500i offers high performance storage for smaller enterprises". BetaNews.
"Mutant array upstarts feast on EMC, NetApp's leavings". The Register.
(3 April 2013). "Oracle's Flash-Friendly Sun ZFS Storage Is Ready for New SPARCs". enterprisestorageforum.com.

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