HMB in DRAM-less NVMe SSDs: Their usage and effects on performance.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) that do not have internal dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) are being widely spread for client SSD and embedded SSD markets in recent years because they are cheap and consume less power. Obviously, their performance is lower than conventional SSDs because they cannot exploit advantages of DRAM in the controller. However, this problem can be alleviated by using host memory buffer (HMB) feature of Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe), which allows SSDs to utilize the DRAM of host. In this paper, we show that commercial DRAM-less SSDs clearly exhibit worse I/O performance than SSDs with internal DRAM, but this can be improved by using the HMB feature. We also present methods that reveal how the host memory buffer is used in commercial DRAM-less SSDs to improve I/O performance. Through extensive experiments, we conclude that DRAM-less SSDs evaluated in this study mainly exploit the host memory buffer as an address mapping table cache rather than a read cache or write buffer to improve I/O performance.

Evolving spiking networks with variable resistive memories.

Neuromorphic computing is a brainlike information processing paradigm that requires adaptive learning mechanisms. A spiking neuro-evolutionary system is used for this purpose; plastic resistive memories are implemented as synapses in spiking neural networks. The evolutionary design process exploits parameter self-adaptation and allows the topology and synaptic weights to be evolved for each network in an autonomous manner. Variable resistive memories are the focus of this research; each synapse has its own conductance profile which modifies the plastic behaviour of the device and may be altered during evolution. These variable resistive networks are evaluated on a noisy robotic dynamic-reward scenario against two static resistive memories and a system containing standard connections only. The results indicate that the extra behavioural degrees of freedom available to the networks incorporating variable resistive memories enable them to outperform the comparative synapse types.

Perspectives for 10 terabits/in2 magnetic recording.

Magnetic recording technology has come a long way, since the introduction of the first hard disk drives (HDD) in 1956. The areal density has grown by a factor of 200 million times and the HDD has stayed as a main candidate for mass storage of information. In order to maintain its lead over other competing technologies, HDD industry continues to invent several technologies. Having introduced perpendicular recording technology in the last 5 years, the industry is looking at introducing bit-patterned media or heat-assisted magnetic recording in the next five years. The researchers--looking at a longer term--are investigating 10 Tbits/in2 as the next major milestone. The issues and probable candidates for 10 Tbits/in2 magnetic recording technology are described from a material perspective.

Saying goodbye to optical storage technology.

The days of using optical disk based mass storage devices for high volume applications like health care document imaging are coming to an end. The price/performance curve for redundant magnetic disks, known as RAID, is now more positive than for optical disks. All types of application systems, across many sectors of the marketplace are using these newer magnetic technologies, including insurance, banking, aerospace, as well as health care. The main components of these new storage technologies are RAID and SAN. SAN refers to storage area network, which is a complex mechanism of switches and connections that allow multiple systems to store huge amounts of data securely and safely.

Digital image in cardiology now and for the future.

Siemens has a logical stepwise approach and employs proven technology. Siemens historically remains focused on efficiently handling image data in the cardiac cath lab as evidenced by: the 1990 introduction of HICOR and timely introduction of ACOM in 1995 together with the extension of the DICOM 3 standard by ACC/NEMA. Today and into the future Siemens is building the strength with the powerful synergy developed between our medical division and computer division (Siemens Nixdorf) to assure even greater success with tomorrow's ACOM.net (Figure 3). Siemens statement: All HICORs can be upgraded with ACOM. All ACOMs can be interfaced to the ACOM net.

The digital cardiac network: today and the future.

Cine replacement or cineless angiography is now a serious consideration for any new cardiac catheterization laboratory installation. Standards have been set by the Dicom committee, and CD's are rapidly appearing instead of angiogram film. Core labs. are geared to perform CD interpretation as well as film during this transition phase. Attempts are made to network multiple labs. and maintain the same kind of flow encountered in an analog lab. Labour and material costs seem to be cheaper for cineless labs. The future will see faster and deeper storage and commercially available means to network hospitals. This technology may be the forerunner of the digital patient record.