Shingled Magnetic Recording – SMR Models, Standardization, and Applications

Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) is a new technology that allows disk drive suppliers to extend the areal density growth curve with today’s conventional components (heads, media) as well as providing compatibility with future evolutionary technologies. While the shingled recording subsystem techniques are similar amongst SMR device types, there are a variety of solutions with respect to the drive interface and resultant host implications across the various market segments utilizing HDDs. This presentation will provide insight into the primary SMR models—Drive Managed and Zoned Block Devices; provide an update on the progress in the Interface Committee Standards (ZBC/ZAC); provide insight regarding alignment of the SMR models to a variety of applications/workload models; and provide insights regarding other industry ecosystem infrastructure support.

Learning Objectives

Gain an understanding of the 3 SMR Models—Drive Managed (Autonomous) direct access devices, and Host Aware & Host Managed Zoned Block devices
Interface Committee Standardization for Zoned Block Devices: T10 (SCSI) ZBC and T13 (SATA) ZAC: New Commands and Best Practices
Where to use Drive Managed SMR drives and where to use Zoned Block Devices
Update on the State of the Storage Stack: File systems, Device drivers, Host bus adapters and port expanders