SanDisk Collaborates with NetApp to Deliver Server-Based Caching for Enterprise Applications

FlashSoft Software from SanDisk Validated to Provide Enhanced Performance with NetApp Data ONTAP

MILPITAS, Calif., – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced that its FlashSoft™ software has been validated by NetApp as compatible with NetApp® Data ONTAP® enterprise storage and data management technologies.

FlashSoft enables solid state drives (SSDs) housed inside servers to act as a caching resource to significantly accelerate performance in enterprise computing environments. It reduces the input-output (I/O) bottlenecks between servers and storage systems to improve server and storage performance and deliver a highly efficient virtual computing experience.

“We’re pleased to have been selected by NetApp as one of the first partners whose software is fully tested and validated for the NetApp platform,” said Tom Shea, vice president and general manager, Software Solutions, SanDisk. “The NetApp and FlashSoft joint solution adds new, high performance capabilities to reliable storage and data management for enterprise customers and extends the value of NetApp to the server.”

Used with VMware vSphere®, FlashSoft extends the performance of NetApp unified storage by enabling SSDs to function as a cache for frequently accessed data. By caching this “hot” data for rapid access (measured in microseconds), FlashSoft software reduces I/O latency that can slow application performance. This enables customers to rapidly process data, while ensuring consistent and reliable performance of their critical applications.

“Including SanDisk’s FlashSoft software in NetApp’s Interoperability Matrix will allow our customers to enhance the performance of their servers by deploying a tested and validated solution,” said Tim Russell, vice president, Data Lifecycle Ecosystem Group, NetApp. “We manage our customers’ most important asset – their data. With our compatible server caching partners, we know that they can target performance enhancement to specific servers and virtual machines.”

With FlashSoft, NetApp customers will be able to:

-Confidently run key applications in virtual environments;
-Improve application performance by three to five times1 or more;
-Target performance enhancement to specific servers and virtual machines;
-Reduce I/O overhead on storage systems to balance utilization of server and storage resources; and,
-Deliver new levels of I/O performance without disruption to existing storage systems or data protection implementations.



FlashSoft reduces storage I/O latency and helps primary storage systems to run faster and more efficiently. This also allows previously idle computing resources to be used more fully. As server processor and memory utilization increases, performance and virtual memory density targets are achieved, while overall performance is enhanced to better meet expectations regarding return on investment. FlashSoft is available for Windows Server®, Linux, and VMware vSphere platforms.

SanDisk works with NetApp data management and data protection solutions so that FlashSoft may be deployed without disruption to existing storage infrastructure and policies. To learn more about joint solutions from SanDisk and NetApp, and for more information about FlashSoft software from SanDisk please visit www.sandisk.com/products/flashsoft.

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) is a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, from research and development, product design and manufacturing to branding and distribution for OEM and retail channels. Since 1988, SanDisk’s innovations in flash memory and storage system technologies have provided customers with new and transformational digital experiences. SanDisk’s diverse product portfolio includes flash memory cards and embedded solutions used in smart phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, digital media players and other consumer electronic devices, as well as USB flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) for the computing market. SanDisk’s products are used by consumers and enterprise customers around the world.

SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.


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1 Based on internal testing. Results from an OLTP workload test. System under test: Dell R720. Performance numbers are tpmC scores. Complete test report available.

© 2013 SanDisk Corporation. All rights reserved. SanDisk is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. FlashSoft is a trademark of SanDisk Enterprise IP LLC. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for markets and customers that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: the market demand for our products may grow more slowly than our expectations or our products may not be available in the capacities that we expect or perform as expected, or the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.