A growing number of industrial OEMs are seeing value in optimising the right flash technology to ensure host architecture compatibility while meeting application workload requirements
During the design process, manufacturers of industrial products undergo long engagement processes with multiple part suppliers, the purpose of which is to ensure that each embedded part will not only work for the application, but also meet the workload and environmental requirements in the field.
However, supplier engagements can be lengthy and complex. As a result, OEMs may opt to purchase off-the-shelf parts, particularly when the part is perceived to be a ‘commodity’ item. This is often the case with flash memory, which is normally selected based on specifications such as type of flash, memory capacity and form factor.
Because flash memory is widely available in a variety of form factors for consumer electronics, many OEMs assume they can proceed without a customised solution. However, in doing so, OEMs may overlook considerations such as workload (the frequency of reading and writing large amounts of data to memory), power management issues (dirty power, power cycling, power failure) and environmental conditions (temperature, vibration).
These factors can lead to data corruption and other errors in the field, while reducing the reliability and lifespan of the flash storage. For industrial OEM products, which can have a lifecycle of 3-5 years or longer, compared to 6-18 months for consumer applications, this can cause failures in the field and reduce the overall life of their product.
“Many industrial OEMs purchase flash storage devices over the internet only to discover at the launch there were unexpected issues due to inaccurate assumptions about the environment and workload requirements,” explains Tony Diaz, Product Manager for Delkin Devices, a supplier of non-volatile flash storage solutions in a variety of SSD, card and module solutions.
This can result in severe consequences for users. In the transportation industry, for example, the unexpected failure of mission critical data may lead to the compromising of safety features that drivers rely upon to prevent accidents. In manufacturing automation, unexpected data device failures can cause machinery to malfunction, potentially leading to a costly and disruptive cessation of production.
Given the critical role in storing mission-critical data, Diaz says the majority of industrial flash storage solutions require some level of customisation to adequately meet workload requirements in real-world industrial scenarios.
Workload demands
All flash storage has a finite life, depending on how well it is managed and the workload requirements. In order to optimise and extend the life of a flash storage device, careful consideration must be given to how data is written to the device.
Writing to flash is the process of prepping the blocks of flash and then programming new data to the flash blocks. However, new data cannot be saved to flash until the old data is first erased. Due to the nature of flash storage, only a finite number of programming and erasing cycles can be performed before wear renders it unreliable to store data. In addition, some flash media is not used evenly, further reducing the life of the device.
Fortunately, there are options to extend the life of a flash device, including reducing unnecessary copying of files or downloading of data, consolidating writes, wear levelling techniques and even selecting whether the data is written sequentially or randomly.
“If an OEM misjudges or misunderstands the workload requirements, there are implications for the storage,” says Diaz, “it could be as simple as unexplained errors in the field, or it could be a situation where they are wearing out the flash memory much faster than they realize.”
An important flash storage customisation option involves mechanical ruggedness. Is the application subjected to unusual amounts of vibration? Does the typical operating environment exceed even standard industrial storage parameters?
Although industrial flash storage is designed to be rugged, different applications have different operating requirements. Customising the mechanical ruggedness of the storage can alleviate concerns about failures associated with operating conditions.
One of the best ways to ensure that a storage device will work as expected in operating conditions is to partner with a manufacturer capable of delivering testing reliability services.
These companies are able to offer design verification testing, on-going reliability testing and even accelerated lift testing to simulate long-term operating conditions.
Power issues
One of the more common real-world scenarios for industrial flash storage is power issues such as dirty power, excessive power cycling and unexpected power failures.
When power is lost during a write operation, it can cause data loss because the data that was being written to the storage was not completely saved.
Although only a small amount of data may not have been written when a power failure occurs, it can cause significant problems, including the fatal corruption of the entire system. It can also cause inefficient use of memory capacity, which can significantly shorten the lifespan of the embedded flash storage.
Taking steps to reduce external sources of power loss is important for mitigating the risk of power fails. However, power failures can still occur, so internal protections are essential for reducing the risk of data loss. For flash memory systems that handle critical data, that means built-in power loss controls, including systems for monitoring power supply and the ability to recover data after a power loss that occurs during a write operation.
Dirty power due to outages, brownouts, surges and power spikes is another concern and can be particularly problematic in transportation where DC dips below the required threshold, ultimately confusing the source and leading to errors for equipment critical to the operation of trains, automobiles or airplanes.
Excessive power cycling to conserve battery life can also become a problem. In some industries where OEM products are utilised in remote locations, the power is cycled tens of thousands of times a year to keep the battery in a sleep mode or to power it off altogether. This can also degrade the performance of the flash memory.
Operational issues
Last, but by no means least, the operational requirements refer to the manufacturer’s supply chain and how they go about sourcing parts, engaging suppliers and ensuring that the parts they source will be available throughout the product lifecycle.
It is very common for the bill of materials (BOM) of commercial grade flash storage to be updated without warning, and this is necessary for consumer OEMs because it helps maximise functionality while minimising price. For industrial OEMs, however, what is needed above all is consistency and reliability.
Diaz says there is an even higher standard that can be achieved, which is when the component parts are controlled and “locked”.
Above: A motherboard from Delkin
“This means that once qualified, the flash, controller and firmware will not change as long as the part number is active. If anything needs to be changed, the part number is changed and that essentially guarantees that the customer is notified and the BOM is updated,” explains Diaz.
In the short term, off-the-shelf flash storage may have the right specs and cost less than a customised part from a supplier, but there are always hidden costs and risks for the OEM.
Flash storage is a critical part for rugged industrial applications and more manufacturers should engage a supplier from the beginning of the design process, to ensure they get what they need for the entire lifecycle of their product.
“Industrial OEMs are often more focused on designing a high-quality product, and so do not spend much time considering flash storage,” says Diaz. “But given the critical nature of data in today’s devices, there is too much risk to take industrial flash for granted.”
