SolidFire logo

SolidFire

by NetApp · Since 1992
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ActiveAvailable globallyCloud
Quick facts
VendorNetApp
Year launched1992
StatusActive
Location3060 Olsen Dr, San Jose, California 95128, US
Countries servedGlobal
Languages10
Integrations
Free tier
Free trial
Contact salesYES

About SolidFire

SolidFire is a cloud-based storage software from NetApp that provides enterprise-grade storage solutions. It offers flexible scaling, automated management, and data protection so organizations can manage their storage needs efficiently. SolidFire supports reliable performance for various workloads and integrates with the major public cloud providers, enabling businesses to use cloud capabilities smoothly. This storage service is designed to handle high throughputs and accommodate large data sets while ensuring security and compliance. Key capabilities: flexible scaling automated management data protection cloud integration high performance Best for: enterprises that need reliable storage solutions for cloud-based applications.

SolidFire by NetApp is a high-performance data center management solution specifically engineered to deliver scalable, predictable, and automated storage services for enterprise and cloud environments. Built upon the Element software platform, SolidFire is designed to address the growing complexity of managing modern data centers by offering all-flash storage systems that provide guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS), scale-out capabilities, and seamless integration into private and hybrid cloud infrastructures. Its primary purpose is to support high-performance workloads with minimal latency while offering granular control over storage performance, making it ideal for cloud service providers and enterprises running virtualized and containerized applications. The user interface of SolidFire is streamlined and efficient, focusing on simplicity without compromising control. The web-based Element UI is clean, responsive, and designed to facilitate straightforward navigation for both novice and experienced storage administrators. Key performance indicators, volume management, cluster capacity, and node status are presented through intuitive dashboards that emphasize visibility and accessibility. The design prioritizes real-time monitoring and management, allowing users to quickly assess system health and make data-driven decisions with minimal effort.

Pros & Cons

What users like
  • +Unified & Scalable: Combines hardware into a single, easily managed storage pool.
  • +All-Flash Performance: Delivers high performance suitable for demanding workloads.
  • +Comprehensive Management: Offers UI, API, and dedicated management node for control and automation.
  • +Proactive Monitoring: Active IQ provides historical data, alerts, and health insights.
  • +Multi-tenant Ready: Designed to manage storage across diverse multi-tenant environments.
  • +High Availability: Requires a minimum of four nodes for a robust, resilient cluster.
What users flag
  • Hardware Dependent: Relies on specific NetApp SolidFire hardware, potentially limiting flexibility or integration with existing non-NetApp hardware.
  • Minimum Node Requirement: A minimum of four nodes is required, which could represent a higher initial entry cost or complexity for smaller deployments.
  • Proprietary Software: Heavily relies on NetApp Element software and Active IQ, which means vendor lock-in for certain features and management tools.

Features

Key features

Unified Cluster Storage
Combines discrete hardware components (drives and nodes) into a single pool of storage resources.
Element Software Integration
Runs NetApp Element software independently on each node to create a unified cluster.
Single System Management
The unified cluster presents as a single storage system and is managed as a single entity through the Element software UI, API, and other tools.
Performance and Capacity Monitoring
Allows users to set up and monitor SolidFire cluster storage capacity and performance.
Multi-tenant Infrastructure Management
Enables management of storage activity across multi-tenant environments.
Integrated Management Node (mNode)
A virtual machine that facilitates upgrades, system services (monitoring, telemetry), asset management, system tests, and NetApp Support access.
Proactive Monitoring with Active IQ
A web-based tool providing historical cluster data, alerts for events/thresholds/metrics, and insights into system performance, capacity, and health.

Additional features

Unified Cluster Architecture
Combines individual storage nodes and their drives into a single, cohesive pool of storage resources, simplifying management.
Element Software Driven
NetApp Element software runs independently on each node, working together to form and manage the unified storage cluster.
Single Management Plane
The entire cluster is presented and managed as one entity, accessible through the Element software user interface (UI), API, and other compatible management tools.
Intuitive UI Management
The Element software user interface allows users to easily set up, configure, and monitor the cluster's storage capacity and performance.
API for Automation
Provides an Element API, enabling programmatic control and automation of storage management tasks.
Storage Nodes
These are the physical servers within the cluster that contain the drives, providing the core storage capacity and processing power.
Fibre Channel (FC) Nodes
Dedicated nodes designed to connect Fibre Channel clients to the storage system via a Fibre Channel switch, offering high-speed connectivity.
Minimum Four-Node Cluster
A SolidFire storage system requires at least four nodes to form a functional and resilient cluster, ensuring high availability and performance.
Management Node (mNode) VM
A virtual machine that operates alongside the storage cluster, providing essential system services and management capabilities.
System Upgrade Facilitation
The mNode enables seamless upgrades of the NetApp SolidFire all-flash storage system, ensuring the latest features and security.
Monitoring and Telemetry Services
The mNode collects and provides critical monitoring data and telemetry from the cluster, offering insights into its operational state.
Cluster Asset and Setting Management
Users can manage various cluster assets and configurations directly through the mNode, centralizing administrative tasks.
System Tests and Utilities
The mNode hosts various diagnostic tests and utilities that can be run to assess cluster health and troubleshoot potential issues.
NetApp Support Access
Provides a secure pathway for NetApp Support to access the system for troubleshooting and assistance, streamlining problem resolution.
Active IQ Web Tool
A web-based platform that offers continuously updated historical views of cluster-wide performance, capacity, and health data.
Customizable Alerting
Active IQ allows users to set up alerts based on specific events, performance thresholds, or key metrics, proactively notifying them of potential issues.
Performance and Capacity Monitoring (Active IQ)
Provides detailed insights into the historical and current performance and capacity utilization of the cluster.
Cluster Health Monitoring (Active IQ)
Keeps administrators informed about the overall health and status of the SolidFire cluster.
Volume Metadata Drives
Specific drives within storage nodes dedicated to storing critical information that defines volumes and other objects within the cluster.
Block Drives for Application Data
Drives used in storage nodes to store the actual data blocks for application volumes, serving as the primary data storage.

Pricing

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Countries & Languages

Global
Countries served
10
Interface languages
8
Billing currencies

Interface languages

EnglishGermanSpanishFrenchItalianPortugueseJapaneseKoreanSimplified ChineseTraditional Chinese

Billing currencies

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