SANBlaze Announces SBExpress 8.1 NVMe Software Release

LITTLETON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SANBlaze is pleased to announce today its SBExpress Version 8.1 software release which provides NVMe SSD manufacturers the ability to test native NVMe PCIe devices as well as NVMe-oF™ (NVMe over Fabrics) devices. Version 8.1 builds on the Industry Standard SBCert (Certified by SANBlaze) NVMe qualification platform adding advanced automated testing features including:

• SBCert Automated Testing for Zoned Namespaces (ZNS)
• SBCert Automated Testing for TCG Opal Security Subsystem Class (SSC)
• Advanced clock mode testing SRIS/SRNS with Automation Test Suite
• Advanced Automated Testing for Management Interface (MI) including:
  • PCIe VDM (Vendor Defined Message) transport testing
  • SMBus transport testing
  • NVMe MI In-band testing
• Python API allowing access to all system features including:
  • Automation of power control and measurement
  • Automation of Hot Plug and Surprise Removal
  • Complete remote control of the SBCert suite
  • Complete remote control of the SBExpress testbed

The SANBlaze SBExpress V8.1 software works in conjunction with the SANBlaze SBExpress-RM4 PCIe NVMe Gen4 test system hardware to test PCIe Gen4 NVMe devices. Further, in an NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) environment, the standalone SANBlaze V8.1 software tests NVMe-oF (TCP/IP, RoCE v1 or v2, iWarp) for true end-to-end testing on all NVMe devices. In summary, SANBlaze tests NVMe over Everything.™

“The ability to test zoned namespaces (ZNS), and the support of VDM and TCG are major features of our V8.1 software,” said Vince Asbridge, Founder and President, SANBlaze. “All three features are becoming critical as NVMe devices reach maturity and begin to replace SAS devices in the enterprise. SANBlaze allows vendors to verify compliance of these state-of-the-art technologies as they evolve, ensuring enterprise users receive product that meets their rigorous compliance standards. VDM provides a transport for MI not requiring a live OS, by using the PCIe transport for message passing. TCG Opal brings standardization to drive-based encryption and security, while ZNS provides storage optimized for enterprise class performance and reliability. These features are critical for the success of NVMe in the enterprise and SANBlaze provides the first platform to integrate qualification of these critical technologies.”

SANBlaze SBExpress V8.1 provides NVMe testing through SANBlaze’s PCIe Gen4 rack mount appliance, the SBExpress-RM4. The SBExpress-RM4 provides the ability to test 16 single or dual port drives in one enclosure.

SANBlaze SBExpress V8.1 software introduces a comprehensive Python API allowing access to all capabilities for seamless integration into existing customer Python test suites, providing both Python V3 and Python V2 support. In addition to PCIe NVMe devices, SBExpress V8.1 software supports NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF), Fibre Channel, Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), iSCSI, and SAS.

For more information on SANBlaze’s latest features, you can contact SANBlaze directly or download the following white papers to learn more:

Testing NVMe-MI over PCIe VDM
Python Support for Verifying NVMe SSDs
Verification of ZNS
Verification of TCG Opal SSC

You can view all of our white papers here. Also check out our blog!