NVMdurance Aviator

NVMdurance launches NVMdurance Aviator to accelerate adoption of 3D NAND


NAND flash memory is used in many applications, including SSDs, mobile phones, tablets, USB drives and memory cards. Manufacturers and users of NAND are looking to transition to a new type of flash memory, called 3D NAND, which can provide cost and performance advantages over the incumbent 2D NAND flash.

Compared to 2D NAND, 3D NAND provides higher capacities, better performance and promises lower cost per gigabyte. As a result, 3D NAND is expected to accelerate the displacement of other forms of storage, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), in many applications. However, there are many challenges for getting to market with 3D NAND solutions.

The problem

Replacing 2D NAND with 3D NAND is not a simple exercise. One of the biggest challenges has to do with the deployment of advanced ECC (Error Correction Code) that is required in order to read and correct data from the flash memory. For example, many controllers that support 3D NAND are using an advanced ECC scheme called LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check). Besides being dependent on the flash memory technology being utilized, these advanced error management methodologies also depend on the end-customer’s specific usage conditions. Many components of a robust error correction solution are very challenging to develop, for example, LLR (Log-Likelihood Ratio) tables, because they require the ability to deeply characterize the flash memory technology and translate the characterization data into application-specific solutions.

Today, 3D NAND characterization is a very manual process that requires large teams with deep flash expertise. The high-performance and high-reliability requirements of datacenter and enterprise applications compound the problem, as does the desire to deploy 3D Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND in these applications.


NVMdurance Aviator

The solution

NVMdurance Aviator uses NVMdurance’s proprietary machine learning technology to automate the process of characterizing 3D NAND and provide the critical error management building blocks that require deep flash characterization and the ability to optimize around customer usage conditions. NVMdurance Aviator can also help solution providers get to market faster and differentiate their products. NVMdurance is initially offering Aviator which works with Micron’s first generation 3D TLC NAND. More information on NVMdurance Aviator and the problems it solves can be found here.

“We developed NVMdurance Aviator to help our customers deploy Micron’s 3D NAND in the most challenging applications,” said Pearse Coyle, NVMdurance CEO. “All flash is not created equal, nor are customer deployments the same. This is only the first step in building upon our existing offering, Pathfinder and Navigator, which are proven tools to extend the endurance of flash memory. We will continue to introduce new products to provide an even richer set of tools, further enabling our customers to realize the benefits of 3D NAND.”

“The growth rate of flash memory consumption within the enterprise and datacenter segments will outpace all other market segments,” said Tom Coughlin, Coughlin Associates. “NVMdurance Aviator is the type of solution that can provide tremendous value to customers in these high-growth segments.”

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NVMdurance uses its proprietary machine learning technology to provide tools for the NAND flash ecosystem, from flash and controller suppliers to adopters of flash, including SSD and all-flash array solution providers. These tools provide our customers with a time-to-market advantage, enable optimization around customer-specific usage conditions, and allow them to differentiate their products.