Infortrend Storage Powers AI Deep Learning at Leading Space Center

Space exploration has always been at the forefront of technological advancement, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. To enhance their capabilities, a top-five space research organization has turned to cutting-edge AI technology to analyze the vast amounts of data captured by their exploration equipment. By employing AI deep learning algorithms, the organization is able to recognize and classify objects, scenes, and activities, essential for efficient content verification and tagging, crucial for risk assessment and mission planning.

However, the sheer volume of data generated by AI-driven processes necessitated the need for high-performance storage solutions. The organization found that their outdated storage system was unable to meet the performance requirements of their AI workloads. In response to this challenge, they decided to adopt two units of Infortrend's high-performance EonStor GS 4024U U.2 NVMe hybrid flash storage, along with two expansion enclosures (JBODs) known as JB 3016.

These cutting-edge storage solutions have proven to be a game-changer for the organization. The GS 4024U appliances are designed to provide lightning-fast performance, connecting to the network switch through a 100GbE interface. With a total storage capacity of 590 TB, the system is well-equipped to handle the massive amounts of data generated during space exploration missions.

One of the key features that sets this storage system apart is its auto-tiering function, which optimizes storage efficiency by allocating data undergoing AI analysis to the high-performance SSD pool on the GS appliance, while storing analyzed data on the cost-saving HDD pool on the JBOD. This intelligent allocation ensures that data is stored in the most efficient manner, maximizing performance and minimizing costs.

The Director of the Data Visualization Group at the Earth Observation Department of the space research organization expressed their satisfaction with the new storage solution, stating, "When selecting high-performance storage, our exclusive consideration was Infortrend's system. Without it, our AI neural networks for image analysis and interpretation would not be operational." This endorsement highlights the critical role that advanced storage solutions play in enabling groundbreaking research and innovation in the field of space exploration.