Consumers demand higher performance levels from their 4G/5G/6G devices. As the Internet of things grows, networks must evolve to stay ahead of these demands. One way to help accomplish this is by upgrading network storage. This article explores how FerriSSD® embedded storage technology from SiliconMotion enables network operators to meet modern performance expectations.
Telecom network operators, including 4G/5G and upcoming 6G mobile operators, are delivering increasingly sophisticated services to ever-growing numbers of subscribers. These demands are changing requirements placed on networks. In addition to scaling for greater capacity and reach, they are increasing compute power at the edge to perform more intensive processing close to users, handle new workloads such as machine learning, and minimize latency.
These changes are happening throughout the network, all the way back to data centers and cloud servers that host large number-crunching applications and store vast quantities of data for retrieval and analysis.
To meet these requirements, Silicon Motion has engineered high-performing and robust embedded storage solutions for cache and boot drives that meet the toughest expectations of network operators. This white paper assesses the attributes needed in a telecom-grade embedded storage portfolio.
Challenges Facing Networking and Telecom Boot Drive
Telecom and Internet services sustain the fabric of modern work and life. Without connectivity, the critical services that keep businesses working (figure 1), research institutes learning, and transport networks running would become unavailable. Connectivity also supports peoples’ everyday lives through healthcare (figure 2), mobile banking, social media and even online shopping.
Infrastructures are evolving to support a greater variety of sophisticated services. Increasingly, these rely on cutting-edge computing techniques such as artificial intelligence and machine learning which, leverag algorithms hosted in the cloud as well as platforms at the network edge. While the edge is undoubtedly becoming smarter, the cloud is supporting more services for more users, than ever before.
As greater intelligence spreads throughout today’s networks, and the demands of professional and consumer end-users continue to increase. Infrastructure equipment is evolving to deliver higher performance, greater reliability and state-of-the-art cyber security.
Figure 1: Sample scene-setting image for business/industrial
Figure 2: Sample scene-setting image for healthcare
Industrial-strength storage keeps user and program data safe while serving a critical role in ensuring the availability that end users expect with the durability and longevity operators need. It provides the key to consistent performance and must be robust, equipped to maximize data integrity, and capable of withstanding the hazards faced in harsh environments all while resisting malicious cyber-attacks.
Silicon Motion’s Ferri embedded storage solutions are designed to meet the diverse and stringent demands placed by today’s telecom networks. The FerriSSD storage family is rugged and durable with built in protection mechanisms, proprietary solutions to prolong lifetime, uniquely fine-tuned performance and security protections following the highest industry standards.
Through their combination of industry-leading and proprietary and patented features, they provide the expected performance needed to keep today’s networks functional and safe: end-to-end data protection, extended cycle life, extreme environmental ruggedness, and high-grade security.
Superior Data Protection
Data integrity is a critical requirement and storage for telecom applications needs to take this to the highest level. SSDs for less demanding applications may implement error detection only at the front-end host interface and at the back-end NAND interface. This allows errors that can occur at other locations, such as internal SRAM and DRAM transfer buffers, to go undetected. FerriSSDs contain full data-recovery engines to enhance data integrity throughout the entire Host-to-NAND-to-Host data path (figure 3). The algorithms can effectively detect any error in the SSD data path, such as hardware errors, firmware and memory errors and harder to detect issues such as soft error bits.
Figure 3. FerriSSD storage implements recovery engines for end-to-end data-path protection
FerriSSDs can also inform the host if any detected errors cannot be corrected thereby allowing the system to take appropriate action as necessary.
FerriSSDs deliver even more advantages with extra features including the NANDXtend™ ECC Engine, as well as the proprietary IntelligentScan function and DataRefresh.
NANDXtend implements efficient second-level correction, beyond conventional first-level error correction that uses NAND shift-read-retries. This includes a low-density parity check (LDPC) code and a Group page RAID algorithm (figure 4) for redundant backup. Group page RAID minimizes opportunities for uncorrectable errors and extends the SSD service life.
Figure 4. NANDXtend with special features like Group Page Raid significantly increases the cycle life beyond that of conventional NAND storage
IntelligentScan and DataRefresh (figure 5) protect against data losses that can occur in conventional NAND flash as large numbers of program/erase (P/E) cycles accumulate. Together, they automatically assess FerriSSD cell blocks and refresh or retire them as needed to prevent these data losses. The scan frequency automatically increases at higher ambient temperatures to optimize data loss prevention. A patented monitoring algorithm logs critical factors including cumulative junction temperature readings, the number of P/E cycles, SSD power-on time, and other essential reference points to dynamically select and prioritize NAND cells to DataRefresh.
Figure 5. IntelligentScan and DataRefresh continuously monitor NAND cell contents to prevent data loss and correct errors
IntelligentScan and DataRefresh also protect against data loss caused by read disturbances. Overall, their combined effect extends the retention capability before data becomes unrecoverable, effectively prolonging the service life of FerriSSDs significantly beyond typical NAND specifications.
Sudden Power Loss Protection
Robust protection against unexpected power outages is critical in telecom equipment. As well as backup power from a UPS, and ride-through circuitry inside power supplies and converters, data storage media need their own mechanisms to prevent data loss in the event of an outage. Sudden power loss protection in FerriSSDs triggers a data flush to safely store user data, utilizing power from an onboard backup power supply.
Environmental Ruggedness
With the migration of intelligence into the network edge, smart infrastructure is deployed increasingly in outdoor environments that face hazards including extreme temperatures and humidity as well as environmental pollutants. In addition to dust and moisture, infrastructure equipment can be exposed to carbon particles, acidic and sulfurous compounds. Environmental pollutants are particularly hazardous if installed close to highways (figure 6) or industrial areas where the concentration of exhaust emissions and other chemicals can be especially high.
Figure 6. Sample image to illustrate outdoor deployment near highway.
FerriSSD modules are built using components that feature anti-sulfur terminal metallization to guard against corrosion. The module substrate is treated with conformal coating to ensure water and acid resistance. In addition, hard electroplated gold fingers maximize the durability of module-to-motherboard connections.
Each FerriSSD has a temperature sensor that allows the host processor to slow read and write operations when a module is close to its maximum temperature threshold. This helps avoid the risk of damage or failure due to over-temperature.
In addition, FerriSSD’s SMART SSD health log leverages built-in remote telemetry to enable operators to monitor the system and thus fully understand the SSD status. The telemetry data can help determine when to perform scheduled device maintenance and identify their location. Firmware upgrades can also be applied through this remote connection.
SSD security
Communication infrastructures face numerous cyber threats, ranging from opportunistic and nuisance hacking to organized cyber warfare that may have financial or strategic objectives.
It is vital that equipment can withstand such attacks, which typically aim to steal data and intercept or even disable communications. FerriSSD incorporates multiple protection mechanisms that leverage known industry best practices and state-of-the-art encryption. Together, these measures help protect privacy and intellectual property as well as to protect network operators against revenue losses and liabilities due to breaches and network outages.
Firmware Protection
To prevent attempts to take over or sabotage equipment, every FerriSSD storage device implements authenticated firmware protection. Known attacks include attempts to spoof the system by over-writing firmware with malicious code that loads when the system boots up allowing rogue agents to take control. They may try to force the disk to decrypt the stored content, expose sensitive data, or activate ransomware. The reference signature is stored in the FerriSSD using a built-in electronic fuse (eFuse) that is inaccessible from outside. If the firmware signature fails to match this reference, it will not load and the system will not run. The secure digital signature also allows firmware updates to be applied remotely to FerriSSD units.
Spoofing emergency maintenance is another known form of attack. A FerriSSD will always send an alert to the host processor when it detects this type of activity.
Protecting User Data
To prevent unauthorized access to user data, FerriSSD products implement full disk encryption using industry-standard 256-bit AES cryptography. AES-256 cryptography takes millions of computing hours to crack by brute force and is trusted by government agencies, financial institutions and the military to protect sensitive data. The encryption is implemented in conformance with the latest Trusted Computing Group (TCG) standard, Opal 2.0, which helps ensure the drives are as secure as possible against unauthorized attempts to access the data stored on the disk.
In addition, the small size of FerriSSD products effectively discourages some kinds of physical attacks, such as probing and power analysis. FerriSSDs have up to 960GB storage capacity yet are delivered in a 16mm x 20mm surface-mount BGA package that can be mounted alongside the host processor inside the main enclosure of the device (table 1). This offers greater protection against physical tampering than a discrete, external SSD located separately from the motherboard.
All FerriSSDs support a Secured Quick Erase function, which can instantly delete all data if interference is detected. A hardware pin is also provided to trigger a data-flush sequence that safely stores user data during an unexpected event such as a sudden power failure.
| Product series | PCIe FerriSSD | SATA FerriSSD |
| Package type | BGA | BGA |
| Host Interface | PCIe 3x2 (4) PCIe 4x2 (4) |
SATA 6Gb/s SATA 3Gb/s |
| Dimensions | 20x16mm | 20x16mm |
| Capacity range | 4~960*GB | 4~960*GB |
| NAND type | SLCmode TLCmode |
SLCmode TLCmode |
| DRAM | HMB support | Built in DRAM |
Table 1: Ferri embedded storage basic specifications
Superior Product Quality Assurance
As a high-quality industrial-grade data-storage product, FerriSSDs are supported through consistent manufacturing and testing processes with associated documentation that attests to conformity. FerriSSDs always use the same part number as the qualified part. Each full part number means same fixed BOM (Build of Materials) and fixed firmware version. The consistent, high standard of traceability is applied to all materials used in each module and they are tested using an identical and consistent screening routine.
Conclusion
Today’s telecom infrastructures facilitate so many more activities in modern life than the telephone networks of past eras. The advanced digital services delivered, including messaging, social media, mapping and location services, streaming entertainment, and many more are regarded as essentials by users that demand easy access, fast response, and high availability. Network operators need to rely on extremely high system performance, ruggedness in indoor and outdoor environments, and resistance to cyber-attacks.
Silicon Motion’s FerriSSD storage incorporates industry-standard and proprietary features to provide the qualities expected of infrastructure equipment: exemplary data integrity, resistance to harsh environments, extended cycle life, and resistance to unauthorized access and tampering. Through these means, they are ready to fulfill boot drive applications in today’s networking and telecom industries.