QiStor, a Silicon Valley startup, is advocating for a shift away from traditional flash storage methods that are inefficient and power-hungry. They propose using key-value format for data storage, eliminating the need for block addressing and improving performance in datacentre operations.
Key-value format is a versatile way of storing data, commonly found in various programming languages and databases. QiStor believes that by directly writing and reading data in key-value format, inefficiencies in existing storage systems can be reduced.
CEO Andy Tomlin emphasized the need for a more efficient allocation and tracking of storage space to maximize performance and minimize waste. By utilizing key-value format as the foundation for storage, QiStor aims to optimize data storage processes and reduce power consumption in datacentres.
With the increasing demand for efficient data storage in the age of artificial intelligence, QiStor sees key-value format as a key solution for accelerating data processing and improving overall performance. They are focused on developing software that will offer key-value hardware acceleration via FPGA chips for cloud-based services or customer-owned infrastructures.
Overall, QiStor’s approach aims to revolutionize data storage by implementing key-value format to enhance performance, reduce waste, and meet the growing demands of modern datacentres.