Introduction
NVM Express, Inc. has announced the release of three new specifications and eight updated specifications for NVMe technology. This significant update builds upon the existing strengths of previous NVMe specifications and introduces features aimed at modern computing environments, while also streamlining development and reducing time to market.
Evolution of NVMe Technology
What started as a single PCIe SSD specification has evolved into nearly a dozen specifications, including multiple command sets that provide vital support across all major transports. According to Peter Onufryk, NVM Express Technical Workgroup Chair, the adoption of NVMe technology continues to grow, unifying storage solutions for clients, cloud, AI, and enterprise architectures. Onufryk also highlighted the ongoing development with 75 new authorized technical proposals underway.
New and Updated Specifications
The latest NVMe specifications are designed to enable faster and simpler development of the NVMe architecture. The three new specifications are:
- NVMe Boot Specification
- Subsystem Local Memory Command Set
- Computational Programs Command Set
The updated specifications include:
- NVMe 2.1 Base Specification
- Command Set Specifications (NVM Command Set, ZNS Command Set, Key Value Command Set)
- Transport Specifications (PCIe Transport, Fibre Channel Transport, RDMA Transport, and TCP Transport)
- NVMe Management Interface Specification
Key New Capabilities
The new NVMe specifications introduce critical capabilities, such as:
- Live migration of PCIe NVMe controllers between NVM subsystems
- Host-directed data placement for SSDs, enhancing compatibility with previous NVMe specifications
- Offloading host processing to NVMe storage devices
- A network boot mechanism for NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)
- Support for NVMe over Fabrics zoning
- Host management of encryption keys and granular encryption capabilities
- Enhanced security features, including support for TLS 1.3 and centralized authentication verification
- Management advancements, such as high availability out-of-band management and dynamic creation of exported NVM subsystems from underlying physical resources
Conclusion
The future of NVMe technology appears bright with continuous enhancements and a growing list of specifications aimed at unifying various storage solutions. NVM Express, Inc. remains at the forefront of these developments, ensuring that NVMe technology keeps pace with the demands of modern computing environments.
