Viking Modular Solutions Prepares SandForce-Enabled SSDs

Viking Modular Solutions, a division of Sanmina-SCI Corporation, has chosen the SandForce high-performance processors for use in its enterprise-class and industrial-grade solid state drive products. These storage solutions will be manufactured in the company's Southern California facility or one of Samina-SCI's. The product lineup will boast SSDs with both SLC (single-level cell) and MCL (multi-level cell) NAND and will use the multiple form factors.

"Today's announcement represents the results of collaboration between Viking Modular Solutions and SandForce for current and future high performance SSD products that target enterprise, storage and multiple other applications requiring superior performance and security," Hamid Shokrgozar, president of Viking Modular Solutions, stated. "This joint effort clearly highlights our commitment as an industry leader by continuing to deliver innovative products at practical costs to our customer base."

The devices will be meant as a solution for the growing demand for high-quality industrial-grade and enterprise-class storage. The solid state drives will not only work on the serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) 3Gb/s, but will also support the high-performance standard serial attached SCSI (SAS) 6Gb/s. Models will use the 2.5-inch form factor, as well as 1.8-inch and an innovative "non-HDD-like" solution. This latter offering will address the need for space efficiency and rugged application support.

"The SandForce team has delivered a truly remarkable device and this family of processors will enable Viking Modular Solutions to deliver enterprise class, ultra reliable and high performance SSD solutions," Mr. Shokrgozar added.

"Viking Modular Solutions is a trusted manufacturer of innovative NAND-based storage solutions," Thad Omura, vice president of marketing at SandForce, said. "With SandForce processors, Viking Modular Solutions' new SSD products will offer the highest reliability, performance and power efficiency."

Viking Modular Solutions already has SandForce-based SSDs available for sample shipments to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Other companies that have already adopted the SandForce SSD controller are OCZ and A-Data.