As artificial intelligence models continue to advance and generate massive amounts of data, the need for efficient and secure data management becomes paramount. PEAK:AIO, a leader in AI storage solutions, has recently unveiled its latest offering, PEAK:ARCHIVE, to address this growing demand. In this VMblog Q&A with Mark Klarzynski, Founder and CEO of PEAK:AIO, Klarzynski explores the features and capabilities of PEAK:ARCHIVE, shedding light on how it revolutionizes data management for AI innovators and researchers.

VMblog:  Exciting news at PEAK:AIO earlier this month!  Tell us about the launch of PEAK:ARCHIVE and how it manages data?

Mark Klarzynski:  At PEAK:AIO, our development is driven by user interaction, addressing the most common challenges like power and density. As AI models evolve, whether ChatGPT or advanced healthcare diagnostics, there's a growing need for compliance and protection to validate models and secure datasets from corruption or even ransomware. This can become a large power, and space demanding solution as it scales.

PEAK:ARCHIVE leverages the latest QLC flash technology to provide unmatched power, density, and performance for archive and recovery tasks, matching the cost of a large-scale HDD based solution without the space and power challenge.

Also, taking this one step further, we understand that AI innovators need to focus on their projects, not on managing traditional backup systems and data flows. That is why PEAK:ARCHIVE features built-in intelligence for a fully automated solution. Simply plug it in, set your policies, and forget about it until you need to recover a file or audit a model's dataset history. PEAK:ARCHIVE is designed to support the future of AI innovation, allowing its users to concentrate on breakthroughs rather than backup management.

When working in tandem with the PEAK:AIO AI Data Server, the data is managed autonomously and without any server interaction. There is no software that needs to read and write the data, which  cuts network traffic in half compared to a traditional backup.

VMblog:  Who is the target customer for PEAK:ARCHIVE?

Klarzynski:  The enterprise world has been benefiting from flash-based backup for years, however, with the cost model of PEAK:ARCHIVE, we can now deliver solutions at a price point that makes sense to a much wider range of business and new start companies. 

While of course this works within a standard IT environment which likely has backup tools in place, the design incorporates technology designed for the AI market and so is ideal for AI healthcare innovators, research institutions, and enterprises focused on AI-driven solutions. It's designed to support those who need robust, scalable, and efficient data management without the complexities of traditional storage systems and backup management.

VMblog:  What was Solidigm's contribution to this new offering?

Klarzynski:  Solidigm played a crucial role by providing advanced flash storage technology that enhances the performance and reliability of PEAK:ARCHIVE. Solidigm's cutting-edge NVMe flash ensures that our product meets the high demands of AI, HPC and IT environments, providing unparalleled speed and capacity.

VMblog:  Can you describe how PEAK:AIO attains 1.4PB of storage in a single 2U unit?  How do you do it?

Klarzynski:  Today a 2U unit can hold 24 x 61TB QLC NVMe drives, achieving 1.4PB, which sounds simple. However, leveraging advanced QLC flash technology, implementing advanced protection features tuned to QLC and optimising data placement, we ensure maximum storage efficiency and maintain the ultra-performance PEAK:AIO are known for, all while minimising power consumption and physical footprint.

VMblog:  Dell is validating the 61TB drives for PEAK:AIO. Can you provide additional insight?

Klarzynski:  PEAK:AIO is software, and we work with most vendors; however, many wish to acquire a fully supported tier one solution. Partnering with Dell, a trusted name in IT solutions, provides additional validation and assurance of the quality and engineering network. PEAK:AIO are an official Dell OEM and Dell's rigorous testing and certification processes ensure that our storage solutions meet the highest standards, offering our customers enhanced confidence in our products.

VMblog:  What are the key differentiators in terms of what is currently in the market?

Klarzynski:  Flash for backup is not new and relies on third party software to backup data and is mostly aimed and priced for the enterprise market. PEAK:ARCHIVE is priced to suit the AI market and stands out due to its intelligent data movement capabilities, unparalleled density, and performance tailored for AI workloads. Unlike traditional storage solutions, our products are designed from the ground up for AI, incorporating insights from real-life user interactions to ensure they meet the unique needs of AI innovators.

VMblog:  Can you discuss any of the AI projects with which PEAK:AIO is currently involved?

Klarzynski:  We have numerous projects already using petabytes of PEAK:ARCHIVE and one of our passions is to help AI healthcare projects flourish. We are seeing tremendous work being incubated at The AI Centre and proud to be a small part of this. These projects range from using AI for early diagnosis of diseases like breast and lung cancer, to improving cardiovascular imaging and developing personalised therapies. The work being done at The AI Centre is truly groundbreaking and has the potential to transform healthcare for generations to come.

VMblog:  What's the future for AI storage as you see it?

Klarzynski:  The future of AI storage lies in solutions that are purpose-built for AI, not simply rebadged and moving beyond traditional IT paradigms. As AI continues to evolve, so will the storage needs, requiring innovative approaches to data management, scalability, and performance. At PEAK:AIO, we are committed to leading this transformation, ensuring that our storage solutions empower AI pioneers to achieve their full potential.

The most difficult step for a storage vendor is to accept that AI is new, it is different, and it has many unknowns.  Simply because any solution excels within the large IT world, does not mean it offers the same value to the AI pioneer.  Our team has been designing Software Defined Storage for decades. It was an equally difficult pill for us to swallow, however. Once you let go and listen to the users, the roadmaps are clear, and we all simply must reset and develop for AI.