Scale-Out Storage

Scale-Out Storage Designed Around Your Workload

Raw capacity is only one part of a storage architecture.

A cluster must also support the required throughput, IOPS, metadata activity, file sizes, client count, compute demand, protection policy and recovery behaviour. Broadberry uses these requirements to size the storage nodes, network fabric, software platform and support model as one complete system.

Broadberry engineers the complete storage environment, including storage nodes, networking, software, protection policies and lifecycle support.

Broadberry Storage Architecture Services

Broadberry evaluates workload, cluster, network and lifecycle requirements together before recommending a storage architecture.

Choose the Right Scale-Out Storage Platform

Broadberry will recommend the platform based on your workload behaviour, access protocols, performance requirements, operating model and growth.

WEKA for AI and HPC Storage

WEKA is suited to environments that require high-performance parallel file access and low-latency access to shared datasets.

Ideal for:

• AI model training
• AI data pipelines
• Checkpoint acceleration
• Scratch storage
• Shared accelerator data
• Parallel file access

Broadberry sizing considers accelerator demand, training datasets, checkpoints, metadata, client count, NVMe endurance and network fabric requirements.

VDURA Parallel Data Platform

VDURA supports demanding technical workloads that combine high throughput, metadata activity and mixed file sizes.

Ideal for:

• AI and machine learning
• HPC
• Research
• Life sciences
• EDA/CAE
• Simulation
• Mixed file workflows

Broadberry sizing considers streaming throughput, metadata pressure, file-size distribution, application concurrency and growth.

Enterprise Ceph

Ceph provides open-source block, file and object storage. Broadberry delivers the architecture, validated hardware and lifecycle support for enterprise deployments.

Enterprise Ceph can include:

• RADOS and BlueStore
• RBD block
• CephFS file
• RGW S3/Swift object
• Replicated and erasure-coded pools
• MON and MGR quorum
• MDS and RGW services
• CRUSH failure-domain
• Dashboard and monitoring
• Deployment and commissioning
• Support, optimisation and expansion

Storage and Networking Must Be Designed Together

Storage performance depends on the complete data path, including compute, storage, networking and switching. Broadberry sizes client traffic, cluster traffic and rebuild headroom together to avoid hidden bottlenecks.

How Broadberry Sizes Your Cluster

Broadberry converts application, capacity, performance and availability requirements into a complete node, fabric and support architecture. Assumptions are documented so the design can be reviewed, budgeted and expanded.

Why Broadberry for Scale-Out Storage?

Broadberry combines workload-led design, validated hardware and software, and lifecycle support to deliver storage solutions built for long-term performance and growth.

Workload-Led Design

Custom designed around your workload and environment.

Complete Cluster Engineering

Every component is selected and validated for balanced, reliable performance.

Multi-Platform Expertise

Integrated software, networking and resilient cluster design.

Deployment and Lifecycle Support

Support throughout the lifecycle and evolving requirements.

Ready to design your storage environment? Talk to a Broadberry storage expert to build a solution that fits your performance, capacity and budget goals.

Common Questions About Scale-Out Storage

What is scale-out storage?

Scale-out storage increases capacity and performance by adding storage nodes to a cluster. Data and services are distributed across multiple systems rather than being contained within a single storage appliance.

How many storage nodes does my cluster need?

There is no universal node-count formula. Broadberry considers software minimums, failure tolerance, usable capacity, node performance, service roles, maintenance margin and future growth.

How is usable storage capacity calculated?

Usable capacity is lower than headline raw capacity. Formatting, storage-engine overhead, replication or erasure coding, spare capacity, snapshots, operational reserve and growth must all be considered.

Should I choose all-flash or hybrid storage?

All-flash storage is generally suited to workloads requiring low latency, high IOPS and high throughput. Hybrid HDD and NVMe configurations are often better suited to capacity-led object storage, backup, archive and private-cloud workloads.

How do I choose between WEKA, VDURA and Ceph?

WEKA and VDURA are designed for high-performance parallel AI, HPC and technical computing workloads. Ceph provides open block, object and file storage. Workload behaviour, protocols, operating model, qualification and support requirements determine the best fit.

Can an existing cluster be expanded?

Yes. Broadberry can assess cluster health, utilisation, node generations, fault-domain balance, network headroom and software lifecycle before planning phased expansion.

Ask Broadberry to Size Your Storage Cluster

Share your applications, datasets, compute environment, current storage and growth requirements. Broadberry will help define the platform, nodes, usable capacity, network fabric, protection and support model.