Supporting cancer research with enhanced storage solutions

 Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute is a leading research institution dedicated to advancing our understanding of cancer and developing innovative solutions for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance research capabilities, CRUK Cambridge Institute sought to expand its unique storage infrastructure to support the ever-increasing volume of data generated in cancer research. This case study details the successful collaboration with Zstor GmbH to find a tailored solution that met CRUK Cambridge Institute's specific requirements.

CRUK Cambridge Institute faced a pressing challenge: the need to extend its storage infrastructure, specifically for its Lustre Object Storage Servers (OSSs). With the growing demand for storage capacity and data processing speed, the institute sought a solution that could not only provide high performance but also ensure data redundancy for data integrity.

To address this challenge, CRUK Cambridge Institute turned to Zstor GmbH, a renowned technology solutions provider, to find an optimal solution. Zstor GmbH recommended a comprehensive storage solution that could meet the unique requirements of CRUK Cambridge Institute.

Key Components of the Solution: The CIB224NVG4 2-Node Server, designed by Zstor, features a 2-node server configuration in a dense 2U format with 24 DapuStor NVMe Gen4 SSDs. This configuration enhances storage capacity and redundancy for CRUK Cambridge Institute, ensuring data availability even during hardware failures. In the high-performance computing (HPC) domain, this technology is well-suited for providing the Lustre OSS/OST layers. It facilitates fast NVMe switched access to the Object Storage Targets on the storage array from the two internal Object Storage Servers. These servers are accessible over a 200Gb/s InfiniBand network, optimizing data flow within the system. Zstor's selection of DapuStor Roealsen5 NVMe Gen4 SSDs aligns with the customer's requirements for speed and robust data storage. The DapuStor Roealsen5 Series, designed on DapuStor DP600 controller firmware with 3D eTLC NAND Flash, results in industry-leading SSDs. These SSDs offer high speed, superior reliability, low latency, and excellent power efficiency, contributing to an optimized total cost of ownership (TCO) for enterprise IT, cloud facilities, manufacturing, and AI applications.

The implementation of this storage solution at CRUK Cambridge Institute yielded significant results, positively impacting the institute's research capabilities and infrastructure. Key outcomes include:

Improved Research Tasks: The integration of the CIB224NVG4 server with DapuStor Roealsen5 NVMe Gen4 SSDs significantly improved data processing and storage performance. This enhancement enabled researchers at CRUK Cambridge Institute to accelerate their HPC research tasks, process larger datasets, and perform more complex analyses.

Redundancy and Data Integrity: The 2-node server configuration provided redundancy, ensuring data integrity and reducing the risk of data loss in case of hardware issues. This enhanced the reliability of their storage infrastructure.

Satisfaction with Consulting, Implementation, and Support: CRUK Cambridge Institute expressed their satisfaction with the consulting, implementation, and support services provided by Zstor GmbH & DapuStor. The collaboration and expertise offered by Zstor GmbH & DapuStor were integral to the successful implementation of the storage solution.

Quotes: Helmut Kopel, Zstor GmbH: "Collaborating with CRUK Cambridge Institute on this project was a rewarding experience. Our tailored storage solution not only met but exceeded their expectations. We are proud to contribute to the advancement of cancer research through innovative technology solutions."

Alfred Chase Hui, DapuStor: “Excited to be part of the team with Zstor in the formation of the tailored storage solution for CRUK Cambridge Institute. The unique combination of DapuStor Roealsen5 series features with high speed, superior reliability, low latency, and excellent power efficiency, bringing optimised TCO to the solution.”

By partnering with Zstor GmbH & DapuStor and implementing a high-performance, redundant storage solution, CRUK Cambridge Institute successfully addressed their storage infrastructure needs. The solution not only met these needs but also allowed for more flexible analysis and workflows to be considered due to the higher IO throughput.

This case study highlights the value of tailored technology solutions in research institutions and the positive impact such solutions can have on the efficiency and effectiveness of research activities. Collaboration with expert technology providers, like Zstor GmbH, plays a crucial role in supporting cutting-edge research initiatives.