This white paper presents how the latest advances in FPGA technology support programmable state machines to support a dynamic RAID architecture using enterprise-grade flash memory. The benefits associated with programmable logic devices (PLDs)—design flexibility, modular IP integration, hardened memory controllers, and high-speed serial interfaces—provide an effective technology option in the design of flash memory array architectures. Programmable state machines provide the best performance in supporting storage subsystem requirements. The use of programmable technology as a means to support emerging and demanding memory-array architectures from prototype to volume production has proven to be very successful for innovative storage companies.

Author:  David McIntyre, Altera Corporation