At first glance, the compact single-AIC form-factor and blazing performance may seem the most obvious advantages. However, customers should not overlook the inherit strengths of a PCIe based storage solution. Some key factors to consider are outlined below; Direct to CPU Architecture, superior queue depth & parallelism, low-latency and ultra-compact form factor. Direct to CPU Hardware Architecture: Unlike SAS/SATA based storage, NVMe drives are designed to interface directly with the system’s CPU and GPU via the PCIe host bus, essentially bypassing the traditional storage architecture that may be impeded by layers of controller and adapters. While SAS/SATA storage rely on dedicated I/O processors to enhance performance, NVMe media was designed to interface directly with the host system's powerful AMD or Intel based CPU via PCIe connectivity. Though effective, I/O processors associated with SAS/SATA solutions are only capable of delivering a small fraction of the processing power provided by a host CPU, and are simply unable to keep pace with modern NVMe media. HighPoint’s PCIe expansion Storage drives build on the inherit strength of NVMe media and deliver uncompromised transfer performance. The following article discusses several of the key advantages provided by PCIe-based storage solutions. Pushing Storage Boundaries RocketAIC series drives leverage today’s fastest and most reliable NVMe media to deliver unbeatable storage density and performance. Each drive directly hosts up to 8 NVMe SSDs, and are available with up to 60.44TB of storage capacity, and speeds up to 28GB/s; all from a single, compact AIC device! HighPoint RocketAIC NVMe expansion drives incorporate Broadcom’s industry-leading PCIe switch chipsets to reduce latency, optimize signal integrity, and maximize transfer throughput. This unique approach ensures all x16 lanes of available upstream PCIe bandwidth is never wasted; x4 lanes of bandwidth is available to each hosted NVMe SSD, at all times. Superior Queue Depth / Parallelism; Executes a Massive Number of Concurrent Tasks: NVMe storage media can execute a huge number of concurrent tasks. Queue depth, the number of I/O requests that storage device can handle at one time, of NVMe media is measured in the tens of thousands, compared to tens or hundreds for a SAS/SATA device. The difference is staggering: 64K commands with a depth of 64K vs. 32 commands and a depth of 256. NVMe media, even a single SSD in place of the system disk, enables workstations to efficiently process an immense number of tasks simultaneously, without overly stressing system resources. Specialized NVMe storage, such as a HighPoint RocketAIC drive, can be added to boost the performance and response time of critical applications, and further streamlines the capability of the workstation. More than just raw power: NVMe media’s direct to CPU architecture significantly lowers latency, which enables the entire platform to process I/O request in a much more efficient manner. Lowering latency improves response times, enables applications to load faster, and streamlines file transfer. Unsurprisingly, low-latency storage solutions are a boon for performance-hungry applications such as 3D design and rendering, media post-production, AI/ML learning, design & engineering, and scientific simulations. HighPoint’s proven RAID and Storage technology enable our SSD series NVMe RAID AICs and RocketAIC drives further optimize performance by increasing queue depth for concurrent I/O requests, which is ideal for data-intensive applications with massive workloads. Ultra-Compact Form-Factor: NVMe storage is amazingly compact. HighPoint NVMe AIC solutions bring this to an entirely new level. A single HighPoint SSD series NVMe AIC or RocketAIC drive can directly host over 60TB of storage. That’s 60+TB from a single PCIe card! E1.S and M.2 media is hosted directly by the SSD7749x series AIC – you don’t need to concern yourself with drive bays, storage racks and the related power/data cabling accessories. The cards can be easily installed into ordinary desktop workstations, and require no more resources than a modern GPU. Learn More SSD7749E – 8x E1.S PCIe 4.0 x16 NVMe RAID AIC SSD7749M – 8x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x16 NVMe RAID AIC RocketAIC PCIe NVMe Expansion Drives for PC Platforms Bootable NVMe AIC Drives RocketAIC Drive Matrix for Dell & HP Platforms Breaking Storage Barriers with NVMe Technology: Explore HighPoint’s Single-Slot 60TB NVMe Solutions

HighPoint RocketAIC PCIe expansion storage drives eliminate data transfer bottlenecks and streamline critical workflows. NVMe storage has many unique characteristics that are well suited for a professional workstation platform, such as Apple’s 2023 and 2019 Mac Pros. The compact form-factor and blazing performance seem the most obvious advantages, but customers should not overlook the inherit strengths of a PCIe-based storage solution. Some of the key factors to consider are outlined below; Low-Latency, Superior Queue Depth, and the direct to CPU hardware architecture. Ultra Low-Latency: NVMe’s advantage over conventional media is more than just brute power. NVMe’s direct to CPU architecture significantly lowers latency, which enables the entire platform to process I/O requests in a much more efficient manner. Lowering latency improves response times, enables applications to load faster, and streamlines file transfer. It is of critical importance for media applications, which the Mac Pro is ideal for. Excessive latency can introduce the risk of error into media streams and interrupt playback, which can slow and complicate the editing process. Superior Queue Depth / Parallelism: NVMe storage media can execute a huge number of concurrent tasks. Queue depth, the number of I/O requests that a storage device can handle at one time. NVMe media is measured in the tens of thousands, compared to tens or hundreds for a SAS/SATA device. The difference is staggering: 64K commands with a depth of 64K vs. 32 commands and a depth of 256. NVMe media, even a single SSD in place of the system disk, enables a Mac Pro to efficiently process an immense number of tasks simultaneously, without ever really tapping into the machine’s potential. Specialized NVMe storage, such as a HighPoint RocketAIC drive, can be added to boost the performance and response time of critical applications, and further streamlines the capability of the workstation. Direct to CPU Hardware Architecture: Unlike conventional storage media, NVMe drives are designed to interface directly with the system’s CPU and GPU’ via the PCIe host bus, essentially bypassing the conventional storage architecture that relies on layers of storage controller and adapters. Key Differences Protocol: NVMe is far more efficient than SAS/SATA, as it was designed specifically for SSD media. Connection Interface: SAS/SATA requires multiple controllers and/or adapters, while NVMe interfaces directly with the PCIe Bus. Latency: In contrast to SAS/SATA storage, NVMe media’s I/O path is short and direct, which significantly reduces latency Parallelism: NVMe handles a huge number of parallel I/O operations, and can better utilize multi-core CPUs environments. HighPoint RocketAIC NVMe expansion drives take this a step further by incorporating Broadcom’s industry-leading PCIe switch chipsets to minimize latency, maximize transfer speeds and optimize signal integrity. The technology is integrated directly into the AIC’s board architecture. This unique approach ensures available PCIe bandwidth is never wasted; x4 lanes of bandwidth is available to each hosted NVMe SSD, at all times. Learn More RocketAIC for Mac Pro Workstations

Virtualization solutions, such as an HCI (hyperconverged infrastructure) or VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) servers utilize unified software applications to replace traditional server hardware. These types of platforms are extremely costly to setup and maintain. The large-scale multi-rack server installations require considerable real estate to house, dedicated IT staff, substantial power draw, and can lead to environmental concerns (heat exhaust or water resources needed for evaporative cooling hardware). As a result, business and organizations, large and small are increasingly adopting HCI and VDI based solutions. HighPoint SSD6200 series NVMe RAID AICs are ideal for such applications. The products were designed to host multiple, bootable virtual drives for both server and client-side services and are natively supported by leading HCI and VDI suites, such as VMware vSAN and ESXi, and Microsoft’s Azure & Hyper-V. The PCIe x8 host interface is universally compatible with any PCIe Gen3 4 or 5 platform, and can deliver up to 7,000MB/s of real-world performance form just a pair of off-the-shelf M.2 SSDs. They are equipped with an impressive array of hardware and software features designed to maximize performance, reliability and serviceability. SSD6200 series AICs provide a feature set that is essential for virtualization solutions Native Driver Support – as embedded devices, SSD6200 series AICs will be automatically recognized by all major HCI, Virtualization and operating system platforms; this includes VMware ESXi, Windows/Windows Server/Hyper-V, any flavor of Linux running kernel v3.10 and later, and FreeBSD/FreeNAS. This equates to plug-and-play installation with streamlined OS updates and patching. Unlike NVMe solutions that require binary drivers, SSD6200 series AICs require no additional downtime, and any hosted SSD/array will remain online and accessible. SSD6200 Series NVMe AICs utilize the Marvel NR2241 controller IC, which is natively supported by VMware platforms. Hardware RAID – SSD6200 series NVMe AICs support RAID 1, 0 and JBOD at the hardware level. In fact, the products allow you to create the arrays using simple switches integrated directly into the AIC; you don’t even need an operating system to get everything up and running. Integrated Boot Security: Mirroring (RAID 1) Protection. Mirroring a bootable SSD will essentially create an automated backup. If the primary disk should fail, the SSD6200 AIC ensures the backup is seamlessly transitioned into its place. This will ensure that the host system remain online, and continue to operate. The redundancy delivered by mirrored configuration is essential for Virtual Machine and hosting solutions, which must remain available for client access on a continual basis. Superior Performance – As NVMe storage solutions, SSD6200 series AICs deliver a level of performance and responsiveness far superior to that of an SAS/SATA SSD. The minimized latency, massive queue depth and dedicated PCIe bandwidth for each SSD work to minimize boot times and can greatly enhance the overall performance of any system disk they are hosting. A sustained transfer speed of over 7000MB/s combined with random IOPs measures in the 100’s of thousands to millions are particularly well suited for a HCI or VDI workflow which must cater to clients with a wide-range of application and use requirements. Ultra-Compact Form Factor – easy to install in compact tower servers and 1U/2U rackmounts. The SSD6202 models in particular, are available in a Half-Height/Half-Length form factor, and directly host the NVMe media. No drive bays or supplemental cooling/power/or cabling related hardware is required. Integrated LED’s, Audible Alarm and OOB Port: These features are ideal for field-service workflows and enable even inexperienced administrators to keep tabs on hosted SSD and arrays with a simple glance. The color-coded LEDs will instantly convey the status of the media (Red – fail or alert / Green – normal/optimal). The OOB port (out-of-band) provides a secure connection to the controller to troubleshoot, diagnose and service outside of an OS. Learn More SSD6200 Series NVMe Hardware RAID AICs RocketAIC 6202 Series PCIe NVMe Expansion Drives RocketAIC 6204 Series PCIe NVMe Expansion Drives

Anyone remotely familiar with PCIe technology will recognize the terms “x1”, “x4”, “x8” and “x16”. They are typically part of a PCIe device’s name or description. The “x” value represents the device’s lane count. In many cases, this numbers represent the PCIe cards performance capabilities (electrical lanes or bandwidth). However, it is best not to take the number at face value. In some cases, “x#” can reflect the card’s physical size or PCIe slot requirement (known as PCIe length or mechanical lanes). This value may or may not correspond with its actual performance capability. Determining a PCIe device’s true electrical and mechanical lane rating is of critical importance when evaluating a high-performance PCIe card, especially an NVMe device, as it (in part) determines how well the SSDs will be able to perform. “x16” is paramount, but you will need to make sure this number isn’t just about the card’s physical requirement, and provided x16 lanes of bandwidth is available, that the card in question can make the most of it. This article attempts to shine a spotlight on the terminology associated with PCIe lanes, and examine the differences between electrical and mechanical lanes. Deciphering PCIe Terminology: Examining the difference between Electrical and Mechanical Lanes How do you determine the card’s true PCIe bandwidth capability and lane speed? As mentioned previously, “x#” of lanes doesn’t always translate directly into the card’s throughput. This article examines “x” lanes terminology; Electrical lanes (the actual PCIe host bandwidth), Mechanical Lanes (the physical size requirement of the AIC), and how the lane count influences storage performance. What is meant by Mechanical and Electrical PCIe lanes? First, let’s examine the following product title: 4x M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe 3.0 x8 / x16 Adapter Card The first part, “4x M.2 NVMe SSD” suggests the card supports up to four M.2 NVMe SSDs – pretty self-explanatory. The second part of the description “PCIe 3.0 x8 /x16” is a bit more complicated – this refers to the card’s PCIe lanes. In the above example, “PCIe 3.0 x8 / x16” can have two meanings: 1) Mechanical Lane requirement: the type of PCIe slot required by the card (physical connection, to the computer’s motherboard). “x8 / x16” suggests the card can be physically installed into a PCIe slot with x8 or x16 mechanical lanes. This means the card has a mechanical lane rating of x8. How did you determine this, you may ask? To explain, the general rule of thumb for a PCIe connector is that they are upwards compatible; that is, a PCIe card can be physically installed into any PCIe slot with the same “x#” rating, or higher. For example: · a card with x4 mechanical lanes can be physically installed into a x4, x8 or x16 slot · a card rated for x8 mechanical lanes can be installed into a x8 or x16 slot · however, a card with a mechanical lane rating of 16 can only be installed into PCIe slot with x16 mechanical lanes. There are exceptions, of course. Some computers/devices have PCIe slots that are classified as “open-end”, “slotted” or “notched” – this means there is a physical indentation in the slot that enables cards with a high x# mechanical lane rating to be installed. This PCIe x4 slot is “open-ended”. The slot, or cut on the right-hand side of the slot enables it to accept larger PCI cards. 2) Electrical Lanes (PCIe bandwidth): the card’s performance level. This corresponds with the PCIe card’s “Upstream & Downstream Bandwidth” capabilities. In this particular example, we can deduce that the card is rated at x8 electrically. Why you ask? Recall our rule for the Mechanical Lane requirement; x8 is the maximum the card can possibly deliver. In order to provide x16 lanes of bandwidth, the card would have to be equipped with a mechanical x16 connector. And, a mechanical x16 connector is simply too large to insert into a standard slot rated at x8 mechanically. As a general rule, a PCIe device can only provide x# of electrical lanes equal to or lesser than its “x#” mechanical lane rating. For example, a PCIe card rated at x16 mechanically, could potentially provide x16, x8, x4 or even x1 lanes of electrical bandwidth. However, a card with an x4 mechanical rating could only provide x4 or x1 lanes of electrical bandwidth. How do PCIe lanes influence NVMe storage performance? PCIe lanes, or PCIe bandwidth, is really referring to the AIC’s electrical lanes (the actual PCIe lane speed). As a general rule, the higher this value (from x1 to x16) the better – “more lanes” essentially means “more performance”. However, the reasons go far beyond an increasing number. Transfer Speed (Throughput): The most obvious advantage that more lanes provide is the larger performance threshold. A PCIe device rated at x16 provides 16-times the transfer bandwidth as one with an x1 rating. Naturally, x16 is optimal; it provides 16GB/s of bandwidth for PCIe Gen3, and 32 for Gen4. This translates into a real world 14,000MB/s and 28,000MB/s, respectively. This is obviously useful for large SSD configurations, as a single Gen3 SSD can deliver approximately 3,500MB/s, while a Gen4 doubles this to 7,000MB/s. The x16 threshold enables up to four NVMe SSDs to operate at full speed, concurrently. Concurrent I/O (Parallelism): The higher the threshold, the more simultaneous I/O is possible. NVMe SSDs can execute a huge number of concurrent tasks, as their Queue depth (the number of I/O requests that storage device can handle at one time) is far superior to that of an SAS/SATA SSD (tens of thousands, compared to tens or hundreds). The advantage NVMe has over convention storage is eye opening; 64K commands with a depth of 64K vs. 32 commands and a depth of 256. Unsurprisingly, a larger performance threshold (PCIe lane bandwidth) streamlines this process, as a larger number of simultaneous data streams can be sustained. Minimizes Latency: More bandwidth lowers latency. In other words, a wider lane speeds up the follow of traffic, and helps eliminate the risk of a bottleneck. Minimizing latency improves performance on multiple levels. It shortens response times, loads software applications faster, and streamlines file transfer (whether it be read or write). Avoid or Eliminate Performance Bottlenecks: The more lanes that are available to the NVMe storage media, the faster and more efficiently it can operate. NVMe media performs at its best when each SSD has access to x4 lanes. As such, reducing lane count or PCIe generation can seriously degrade performance. An NVMe AIC with insufficient bandwidth will be unable to allocate x4 lanes to each SSD; they will be forced to operate at lower speeds (x2 or even x1). Scalability: The benefits of a higher lane count isn’t exclusive to the AIC in question. A motherboard or computing platform with a larger number of PCIe lanes (both electrical and mechanical) will be able to support faster and/or more NVMe AICs, and enable each hosted SSD perform at optimal speeds. Platforms with healthy lane counts provide more flexibility to an administrator to expand or upgrade NVMe storage to keep pace with critical applications. Conclusion: x16 is ideal, but make sure that bandwidth isn’t going to waste. By now it should be clear how Electrical and Mechanical lanes are related, but different. An electrical lane rating of x16 is what you want to shoot for when evaluating PCIe NVMe AICs; it provides the maximum transfer bandwidth possible for a single PCIe slot, and will help maximize the performance potential of any NVMe configuration. And of course, an x16 bandwidth requires a card slotted for an x16 mechanical slot. However, it’s important to remember that the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. You will want an NVMe AIC that can allocate the maximum number of lanes to each hosted SSD. HighPoint NVMe AICs and PCIe AIC Drives do exactly that – x4 lanes per SSD to ensure optimal performance. Want to how this is done? Learn More Exploring the Powerhouse: A Deep Dive into PCIe Switch Chipsets for PCIe Gen3-M.2 NVMe Cards HighPoint Gen3 NVMe AICs HighPoint RocketAIC Gen3 PCIe Expansion Drives for Mac Pro HighPoint RocketAIC Gen3 PCIe Expansion Drives for Dell & HP Systems

Identifying the upstream and downstream capabilities of a PCIe device is key to determining the effectiveness of the product. This is especially true for a PCIe NVMe AIC (add-in-card). NVMe SSDs are designed to interface directly with the system CPU via the PCIe bus. Determining whether or not an NVMe AIC can fully utilize the available PCIe bandwidth, and allocate this bandwidth to where it is needed most, allows one to separate the wheat from the chaff. This article explains the functionality and architecture behind the concepts of upstream and downstream, and how they relate to an NVMe-based storage solution. Deciphering PCIe Terminology: How to identify an NVMe AIC’s Upstream & Downstream Bandwidth First, lets’ start with the basics; a brief overview of what Upstream and Downstream bandwidth refers to, and how this is related to a PCIe add-in-card (port types and bandwidth allocation): Upstream Port (USP): The PCIe Switch USP is used to interface with the host computing platform’s PCIe root complex (which serves as a sort of bridge between the CPU, memory and PCIe bus). The bandwidth allocated to this port is referred to the as the Upstream Bandwidth, and is generally denoted by an “x#” value, such as x8 or x16. Downstream Port (DSP): DSPs interface with the PCIe endpoint devices. The bandwidth allocated to the DSPs is referred to as Downstream Bandwidth. In the context of an NVMe AIC, this refers to the NVMe SSDs. Bandwidth Allocation: How the PCIe switch allocates bandwidth (X# of electrical lanes) to the NVMe devices (SSDs in the case of an NVMe AIC). In order to avoid a performance bottleneck when all devices are accessed, the total bandwidth allocated to the DSPs should not exceed what is allocated to the USP. The diagram shown above illustrates HighPoint’s SSD7104/7104F PCIe Gen3 x16 RAID AIC. It allocates x16 lanes of dedicated Upstream Bandwidth, and x4 lanes of Downstream Bandwidth to each of the four M.2 ports. This distribution is ideal; the upstream and downstream bandwidth is perfectly in sync, and x4 lanes are allocated to each SSD (which ensures the product can deliver maximum throughput). How does an AIC Distribute Bandwidth? Ok, so we now understand that the product’s Electrical Lane bandwidth should correspond with its Upstream bandwidth. How do we determine how this bandwidth is distributed Upstream to the system, and Downstream to each NVMe SSD. Identifying Upstream: In terms of an PCIe NVMe AIC, Upstream refers to the maximum electrical lanes the card can output to the system. Most AICs denote this by the “x#” value assigned to the product description, such as the forementioned SSD7105’s “Gen3 x16”. HighPoint makes this easy for customers – our products deliver exactly what is stated by the product name. For a non-HighPoint solution, this is not always the case, as they may be simply referring to the card’s mechanical requirement (type of slot it will fit into). If in doubt, check the published specifications. Identifying Downstream: As mentioned previously, in regards to an NVMe AIC, “Downstream” refers to how bandwidth is distributed to each of the AIC’s NVMe ports. Ideally, the NVMe AIC solution would be capable of allocating x4 lanes per device port. This applies to both PCIe Gen3 and Gen4 NVMe media, and enables the SSD to reach the theoretical maximum throughout. The Upstream and Downstream capabilities of a give NVMe AIC is determined by two things; the AIC’s PCIe Switch Chipset, and AIC’s hardware architecture (how it makes use of the Switch Chipset, if present). What is a switch chipset? A PCIe Switch chipset is chip or set of chips designed to allocate bandwidth (total number of PCIe lanes) to each “port”. Any true high-performance PCIe NVMe AIC will be equipped with dedicated PCIe Switch. When discussing PCIe Switch Chipsets, “port” can refer to an individual device port or the device itself (AIC in this case), as switch chipsets are employed by any number of computing devices (such as a motherboard, AIC or backplane). For the purposes of this article, “port” refers to the AIC’s Upstream Port (connection to the computer) and Downstream ports (NVMe device ports). You can determine much about the capabilities of the AIC if you can identify it’s PCIe Switch chipset. The two major players in the PCIe Switch chipset market are ASmedia and Broadcom. The following describes four of their leading PCIe Gen3 switches. ASmedia ASM2812 – this chipset can deliver 12 total lanes; a maximum of x4 lanes of upstream bandwidth, and x8 lanes of downstream bandwidth that can be distributed to as many as 12 ports in increments of x1, x2, x4 or x8. This chipset is favored by applications that prioritize maximum device support over raw throughput. For example, the x4 lane upstream bandwidth only allows a single NVMe SSD to perform optimally at any one time. It is most commonly employed by entry-level 1-2 port NVMe HBA’s and various motherboard applications. ASmedia ASM2824 – this chipset delivers total 24 lanes; a maximum of x8 lanes of upstream bandwidth, and 16 lanes of downstream bandwidth that can be distributed to as many as 12 ports in increments of x1, x2, x4 or x8. Like the ASM2812, this chipset favors maximum port count over transfer throughput, and is often used for general use NVMe HBAs (1-4 ports) and various motherboard-related PCIe solutions. The x8 upstream bandwidth only allows up to two NVMe devices to operate concurrently at optimal speeds (x4 lanes per SSD). Broadcom PEX8724 – this chipset can deliver a total of 24 lanes, which can be distributed to as many as 6 ports (1 upstream + 5 downstream), in increments of x4 or x8 .The design is flexible; x4 or x8 bandwidth can be allocated to the upstream and downstream ports. Broadcom PEX8747 - this chipset can deliver a total of 48 lanes; it supports a maximum of 5 ports (1 upstream + 4 downstream), with as much x16 lanes assigned to each port. This flexible design allocates x16 lanes to the upstream port, and x32 lanes to as many as 4 downstream ports, in increments of x8 or x16. The dedicated x16 lanes of upstream bandwidth is ideal for high-performance applications; for example, up to four NVMe SSDs can operate concurrently at optimal speeds (x4 lanes). Broadcom PEX8749 – Broadcom refers to the 48-lane, 18-port PEX8749 as a PCIe switch device designed for fan-out aggregation. It is employed by PCIe devices that require additional, more flexible ways to distribute PCIe bandwidth, and features an integrated DMA engine. The DMA engine is ideal for storage devices, as it enables the switch to offload this task from the system CPU, and optimize data transfer between any storage device hosted by its ports. The switch device boasts a huge number of ports, 18 total, which can be allocated x1 to x16 lanes of bandwidth and be assigned to serve as the upstream port, dynamically. HighPoint’s 8-Channel PCIe Gen3 NVMe AICs, such as the SSD7140A and SSD7180, utilize this switch to dynamically allocate up to x4 lanes to each SSD, as needed. Industry’s Fastest & Most Flexible PCIe/NVMe Architecture: HighPoint PCIe Gen3 NVMe solutions employ this chipset (often in combination with the PLX8749) to allocate x4 lanes of bandwidth to each device port. They can also assign lanes on the fly, to ensure nothing is wasted. For example, our SSD7140A 8-port M.2 NVMe RAID AICs, via Broadcom’s PCIe Switch and our unique board design, can allocate up to x4 lanes to each port. Unlike ordinary 8-port controllers, which do not utilize PCIe switches and statically assign bandwidth to each M.2 channel, the SSD7140A will automatically adjust lane assignment on the fly depending on the number of hosted M.2 SSDs and how they are being utilized. Say for example, only half the ports are occupied (4), the card will assign the 4 hosted SSDs x4 lanes of dedicated bandwidth. Conclusion By now, it should be clear that to truly determine the Upstream/Downstream capability of an NVMe AIC or AIC drive, you must consider the number of NVMe SSDs the target device can support, how it is able to distribute bandwidth to each of these SSDs (Downstream), and whether or not the device is able to saturate the PCIe lanes it has been allocated (Upstream). Unlike the majority of NVMe AICs, adapters and HBAs in today’s marketplace, HighPoint PCIe Gen3 NVMe solutions are engineered to take full advantage of x16 lanes of host bandwidth, and actively work to ensure none of it is wasted. Due to our unique hardware architecture, which integrates Broadcom’s leading PEX8747 and PEX8749 Switches, SSD7000 series NVMe AICs and RocketAIC 7000 series NVMe drives allocate the maximum possible host bandwidth to each NVMe device port, and deliver up to 14GB/s (14,000MB/s) of real-world transfer throughput; the maximum possible via a single PCIe 3.0 slot! Our four port models (SSD7105/SSD7104/SSD7104F/SSD7120) allocate a dedicated x4 lanes to each port at all times to fully maximize x16 lanes of bandwidth. Our high-density 8-channel models (SSD7140A, SSD7180, SDSD7184) can dynamically allocate bandwidth to each SSD as needed, to maximize storage capacity without sacrificing transfer throughput. Learn More HighPoint NVMe AIC Hardware Architecture HighPoint NVMe Products with PEX8747 Gen3 PCIe Switches

Advancements in AI, ML and EOT applications are driven by their insatiable need for more and bigger data. Housing all of this information is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive with conventional storage technology. Traditional data center models rely on hugely expensive server infrastructure with massive hardware footprints and resource requirements, and the resulting environmental concerns, are simply unsustainable. The miniaturization of technology has always been a draw, but is now becoming an absolute need. HighPoint has not shied away from this emerging reality. On the contrary, they’ve embraced it in full. HighPoint’s dual-width NVMe RAID AICs and PCIe Expansion drives have ushered in a new era for storage technology. It is now possible to host 60+ TB of blisteringly fast NVMe storage from a single PCIe AIC. One card is all you need; no server racks, no cable forests, no massive power or cooling infrastructure required. Everything you need is now enclosed directly into ultra-compact device that can be easily added into an ordinary desktop computer! Why is a single-slot 60TB Storage Solution a game changer? In the recent past, attaining this level of storage capacity from a single AIC, was impossible outside of U.2/U.3-based solutions. However, U.2/U.3 media requires dedicated cabling and 2.5” drive bays; this means you will need considerable free space inside your system chassis to even consider going this route. HighPoint’s ground-breaking double-wide NVMe AICs change everything. You can now host up to 61.44TB of blazing fast NVMe storage from a single AIC roughly the same size and shape as high-end GPU. Storage media is hosted directly by the HighPoint AIC. As such, this type of solution is far more efficient, both in terms of serviceability and space savings than the traditional U.2/U.3 model. SSD7749 RAID AICs and RocketAIC 7749x series NVMe Drives can be easily installed into any platform capable of hosting a modern dual-width graphics card, including compact tower-chassis and industrial platforms. The lack of additional hardware reduces overhead costs, minimizes point of failure, and simplifies service, repair, replacement and upgrade procedures, as everything is easily accessed forma a single point. More than just a capacity upgrade - Enterprise Class Endurance & Reliability HighPoint’s SSD7749 NVMe RAID AIC and RocketAIC 7749x series PCIe Expansion drives AICs were engineered to host DC class E1.S and 22110 M.2 NVMe media, which offer enterprise grade reliability and ultra-high endurance ratings. Endurance is measured in DWPD, with ratings between 1 and 3 (disk writes per day), as opposed to TBW (total bytes written) for client disks. This puts E1.S on par with U.2/U.3 SSDs. In addition, DC class E1S media is available with Enterprise grade reliability enhancing features, such as PLP, or power-loss protection. PLP equipped SSDs have an extra bank of capacitors that are used to flush data stored in cache directly to permanent flash memory in the event of a power failure. Future Proof The future has never looked brighter; 60TB is just the beginning! 60+ TB from a single card is a massive development. However, don’t be surprised if this number doubles or even triples in the near future. It’s clear from product roadmaps from NVMe storage manufactures that E1.S media is expected to replace 2.5” form-factor devices in the coming years. 15 TB SSDs are before the end of the year (2023), with talk of 30+ TB models for 2024. HighPoint’s dual-width E1.S NVMe solutions effectively future proof modern server or workstation platforms. The tech is fully upwards compatible; administrators are free scale NVMe storage as needed and integrate newer, more advanced E1.S SSDs into existing workflows. HighPoint NVMe Technology is Set to Reshape the Storage Landscape HighPoint’s dual-wide NVMe AICs will change the way companies address their storage needs. Adding high-density storage suitable for today’s most demanding applications to the platform of your choice has never been easier. SSD7749 series E1.S AICs and RocketAIC 7749 series drives enable administrators to quickly add 60TB of class leasing, enterprise-grade storage to any PC platform with a single dual-wide PCIe x16 slot. Learn More SSD7749E - 8x E1.S NVMe RAID AIC SSD7749M - 8x M.2 NVMe RAID AIC RocketAIC 7749EM – NVMe PCIe AIC Drive

Customers that are looking for high-density storage solution capable of sustaining an around-the-clock working schedule should consider our RocketAIC 7749EM series PCIe NVMe expansion drives, which are equipped with Solidigm’s Datacenter Class D7-P5520 Series E1.S SSDs. RocketAIC 7749EM drives are available with over 60TB of robust, enterprise-grade NVMe storage, and have been tuned to deliver maximum sustained transfer performance over extended periods of time; ideal for performance hungry, media, scientific and AI driven workflows. The Rocket 7749EM’s datacenter class E1.S NVMe media and unique hardware design provide a variety of advanced features designed to enhance the integrity of storage configurations, protect critical data assets, and streamline serviceability. The NVMe AIC Drive is built for 2023 Mac Pro Workstations. The Unique Dual-Wide PCIe Hardware Architecture enables the E1.S media to be arranged vertically, to ensure all sides of storage media exposed to the cool air ingested by the pair of powerful, low-decibel cooling fans. The cool air is then condensed and circulated throughout the AIC, before being expelled from the rear of the PCIe bracket, away from sensitive NVMe media and the host Mac platform. This innovative cooling solution enables the RocketAIC 7749EM to deliver 27GB/s of sustained transfer throughput. PLP (Power Loss Protection) – PLP is associated with Enterprise grade storage solutions, and was designed to help reduce the risk of data loss during a power outage. SSDs that support PLP utilize a bank of capacitors to flush data stored in the cache-NAND to permanent flash memory when the host system suddenly loses power. Enterprise Class Reliability & Endurance Rating – RocketAIC 7749EM drives have a durability rating measures in DWPD (disk writes per day), as opposed to the standard TBW (total bytes written). The E1.S media employed by the drive is certified for datacenter applications, and are designed for prolonged sessions of heavy I/O. Learn More about HighPoint’s Class-Leading RocketAIC 7749EM series of Enterprise Grade PCIe NVMe Expansion Drives

HighPoint Rocket AIC PCIe expansion storage drives eliminate data transfer bottlenecks and streamline critical workflows. NVMe media is ideal for high-performance media post production and content creation workflows, breaking traditional storage performance bottlenecks. Not only does it deliver blisteringly fast transfer throughput, NVMe drives are considerably more efficient than conventional SAS/SATA SSD storage, and boast of much lower-latency, a massive queue depth, and superior random I/O performance in addition to the blistering sequential performance. This is largely due to HighPoint’s proven NVMe architecture; RocketAIC NVMe drives have a direct pipeline to the system’s CPU and GPUs, and our field-proven hardware design and robust driver package work to ensure that pipeline remains straight as an arrow and completely free of obstruction. Direct to CPU Architecture, Massive Queue Depth, and Superior Transfer Bandwidth Unlike conventional storage media, NVMe drives are designed to interface directly with the system’s PCIe host bus and are always first in line, rather than having to thread their way through the crowd. One could think of it in terms of traffic on an interstate; our NVMe drives have immediate access to the highway’s Express lane, with the added bonus of never having to jostle for position when entering or leaving that lane (instant access and transmission). Other drives simply are simply along for the ride, so to speak. Travel for this type of media is essentially relegated to the slow lane and plagued with potential bottlenecks; transfer speed is variable as the physical drive media cannot keep pace with the faster traffic (NVMe) and will have to wait their turn. Some specialized PCIe adapter cards can help streamline pathways for SAS/SATA devices, but speeds will still be hampered by the architecture of this type of media; the fastest 12G enterprise SAS drive, at best, is still only 1/3 as fast as your basic client-class Gen3 M.2 SSD. All of this translates into one seriously streamlined workflow. Unlike SAS/SATA media, NVMe storage’s chief advantages; the ultra-low-latency, minimized access times and superior transfer speed, remain remarkably consistent, end to end (direct from the drive to the application’s doorstep, and back again). It’s no wonder why modern performance-hungry applications such as media post production, 3D animation, rendering and design, and a slew of AI, ML, and AV applications increasingly rely on NVMe storage to get the job done. HighPoint RocketAIC drives have been engineered to ensure each hosted NVMe SSD is allocated x4 lanes of host bandwidth at all times; up to 3,500MB/s for PCIe Gen3 connections, and 7,000MB/s of bandwidth for Gen4 drives. This bandwidth is not theoretical – it is always on tap. Future Proof storage Solutions; as PCI-based media, RocketAIC PCIe expansion drives are highly scalable and versatile storage solutions. They can be easily moved between different platforms so long as the target system has a PCIe slot that can physically accept the AIC drive. This is why many PCIe devices, including all HighPoint NVMe solutions, are described as fully upwards/backwards compatible. A RocketAIC drive with an x16 interface (such as our RocketAIC 7500x and 7700x models), can be installed into any PCIe slot with x16 mechanical lanes. The same is true for our x8 models, such as the RocketAIC 6200 series – these can be installed into any slot capable of supporting a mechanical x8 or x16 device. For example, customers still working with a PCIe Gen3 Mac Pro 2019 platform can invest in PCIe Gen4 storage solutions, such as the RocketAIC 7540HM, RocketAIC 7505HM and RocketAIC 7502HW; these drives can be easily moved directly to a 2023 platform. The drive will remain intact, fully accessible, and will be able to take full advantage of the superior bandwidth; no reconfiguration is required. Learn More RocketAIC for Mac Pro Workstations HighPoint’s Alternative for 2.5” NVMe Drive in the 2023 Mac Pro

It’s no surprise that NVMe media is ideal for RAID applications. NAND, flash media is exponentially faster and far more reliable than platter-based storage media, and HighPoint’s proven NVMe RAID stack was developed to build on these strengths. Customers can employ our RAID technology to exploit the full potential of their NVMe storage investments, and fine-tune RAID configurations to deliver mind-blowing transfer performance! HighPoint’s NVMe RAID technology was engineered to fully leverage the Broadcom PCIe Switch technology employed by our NVMe RAID AICs and Enclosures to maximize the performance and reliability of NVMe storage configurations for x86 Intel/AMD computing platforms. The technology is unique to our SSD7xxx product lines (RAID AICs and Enclosures), and requires that a HighPoint RAID Stack solution be installed for the host operating system. Core NVMe RAID Technology & Solutions HighPoint’s NVMe RAID Stack solution is available for a wide range of hardware platforms and operating systems, and is comprised of our RAID and Storage technology, Product Specific Host & Device driver, and RAID Storage management and monitoring suite. Our NVMe RAID stack was designed to leverage Broadcom’s industry leading PCIe Switch chipsets to optimize x16 lanes of upstream bandwidth, minimize latency, maximize port density, and allocate a dedicated x4 lanes of downstream bandwidth to each device channel at all times. These characteristics are ideal for industrial and business applications that require storage solutions capable of maximizing I/O transfer performance. Boot-RAID and Data-RAID HighPoint uses the terms “Data RAID” and Boot-RAID” to describe the primary function of a RAID array. All SSDxxx series NVMe RAID AICs and Enclosures support Data-RAID configurations. Those with boot capability (SSD7500 series, SSD7202, SSD7105, etc.) also support Boot-RAID configurations. A Data-RAID array is only used to store or process data. An operating system will recognize a Data-RAID array as single physical drive, which can then be formatted/partitioned as needed. A Boot-RAID array can function as a system disk (bootable drive or volume). In most cases, a Boot-RAID is configured as a redundant RAID array (RAID 1, 10), as it adds a layer of data security to the OS. Boot-RAID volumes must be created before an OS can be installed; a bootable drive cannot be converted into a RAID array. Depending on the product in use, administrators can configure the array using the controller’s UEFI or UEFI HII utility. Supported NVMe RAID Levels SSD7xxx series NVMe solutions powered by our RAID stack are capable of supporting one or more RAID 0, 1, or 10 arrays, single-disks, and Boot-RAID or Data-RAID storage configurations. RAID 10: It represents the “best of both worlds”, as it can dramatically boost Read and Write I/O performance while adding a layer of data redundancy. RAID 10 is capable of delivering read performance on par with RAID 0, and is superior to RAID 5 for NVMe applications. Unlike RAID 5, RAID 10 doesn’t necessitate additional parity-related write operations, which can impact the life span of NVMe SSD’s. RAID 10 requires a minimum of 4 NVMe SSD’s and is comprised of a stripe between two RAID 1 arrays. RAID 0: Also known as a “stripe” array, this type of array optimizes both performance and capacity, and requires a minimum of 2 NVMe SSDs. Data is distributed evenly across all members of the array (members = individual SSDs). Striping arrays improve both read and write performance as the I/O requests are spread across multiple SSDs simultaneously. Ideally, RAID 0 arrays are comprised of identical SSDs (same capacity, model, speed rating, etc.). Capacity is calculated by multiplying the “smallest” SSD (capacity wise) by the total number of SSDs in the array. RAID 1 (Security): It protects data against a single drive failure, and is ideal for bootable volumes, as the system will remain in operation if the source boot disk should fail. RAID 1 is often referred to as “mirroring”, and creates a hidden duplicate of the target SSD. A RAID 1 array is comprised of two SSDs (and only two SSDs). HighPoint Storage Accelerator Engine: HighPoint can integrate MCU’s into our NVMe RAID products to enhance the functionality, performance, and reliability of the target solution, and promote the seamless integration of the device into the host system. Performance Optimization Solutions HighPoint NVMe RAID products are highly customizable, and can be fine-tuned to excel in a specific working environment, hardware/software platform or target application. We have developed several performance-tuning applications are available for SSD7xxx series AICs and Enclosures. HPT-Optimize Multi-CPU/Core Performance Optimizer: This innovative utility can simplify the tuning process for any Multi-Core platforms by intelligently allocating system resources to ensure the target application utilizes the full potential of the NVMe media. HPT-Optimize intuitively maps the most Efficient I/O processing route to minimize the risk of latency & eliminate performance bottlenecks. HPT-Optimize ensures that the target application is directly linked to the CPU core associated with the SSD7xxx series AIC’s or Enclosure’s host PCIe slot; establishing this link will maximize transfer throughput and minimize latency. HPT-Optimize can be used with any RAID level or single SSD configurations, and is available for both Linux and Windows platforms. Cross-Sync RAID Technology: HighPoint’s revolutionary Cross-Sync RAID technology takes an outside-the-box approach to NVMe storage applications; it enables customers to eliminate the performance and capacity bottlenecks imposed by the single PCIe slot constraints of a conventional AIC solution. Cross-Sync enabled RAID solutions employ multiple AICs to optimize storage performance by scaling bus bandwidth up to 32 lanes and deliver up to 55,000MB/s of transfer throughput! Intuitive RAID Management & Monitoring Suite HighPoint SSD7xxx/SSD6200 Series NVMe RAID AICs and Enclosures include a comprehensive suite of pre-OS and OS-Level NVMe Storage and RAID Management and Monitoring tools. These software utilities have been actively developed and perfected over many years, and are available for Linux, Windows and macOS platforms. This “suite” of utilities provides administrators with full manual control over almost all aspects of the storage solution, from monitoring drives and SSDs in real time, recovering or rebuilding a storage configuration in an emergency situation, to configuring an automated maintenance schedule to proactively ward off the threat of downtime imposed by a potential hardware failure. Pre-OS Tools “Pre-OS” refers to an application that can operates before an operating system is booted, or in some cases, in the absence of the operating system. HighPoint has developed several utilities for our NVMe RAID AIC’s that can operate at the Pre-OS level. UEFI Tool: The UEFI Tool is a non-graphical command line utility designed for use at the pre-OS level, and can be used to configure arrays prior to OS installation. UEFI HII (human interface infrastructure): The SD6200 UEFI HII utility is natively supported by a wide range of server class motherboards and computing platforms. It enables an SSD6200 series AIC to inject RAID creation and maintenance options into the motherboard’s standard UEFI BIOS menu. OOB Monitoring: SSD6200 series AICs also provide OOB monitoring capability (out-of-band). Administrators can interface directly with the card via a USB-C port (say for example, via a laptop), and check the status of hosted NVMe media and RAID configurations using simple console commands. OS-Level Tools “OS-Level” refers to an application that is designed to operate while the OS is up and running. The HighPoint OS Level RAID Management toolset is comprised of our WebGUI and CLI, which are now packaged together in a single download available for all major operating systems. WebGUI (Web-Based Graphical Management Interface): The WebGUI is an intuitive graphical user interface designed to work with all modern Web Browsers. It’s the easiest interface to master, as many of the features, especially those related to RAID creation, have default settings that let you breeze through everything with a few simple clicks. However, the WebGUI also has many advanced features that are essential for maintaining a successful NVMe storage configuration. Of particular, note, is the SHI solution (Storage Health Inspector), which is particularly useful for NVMe media, as it provides real-time temperature monitoring with configurable thresholds (this allows you to change settings to match the specs of each NVMe SSD you are working with), and a way to keep tabs on disk endurance; total bytes written (TBW) or disk writes per day (DWPD). CLI (Command Line Interface): The HighPoint CLI (Command Line Interface) is ideal for seasoned administrators and platforms that do not utilize graphical operating systems. For many Linux veterans, it is the tool of choice, as it runs from a terminal window, is universal for any distribution, and does not require a graphical OS. Streamlines Field Service and Upgrades HighPoint has developed a range of specialized monitoring and configuration toolsets designed to simplify upgrade, expansion and service workflows. UEFI HII (BIOS interface): RAID AICs with this feature set can “inject” RAID configuration functions into the motherboard’s BIOS interface via Human Interface Infrastructure Support (HII). Note, the target motherboard must be HII capable. HighPoint SafeStorage (SED):The SafeStorage solution was developed to work in conjunction with the state-of-the-art SED technology employed by all classes of modern NVMe media, and is based on the OPAL SSC TCG specifications. It is designed to protect data assets when physical drives are misplaced or stolen by preventing unauthorized access to stored data. SafeStorage can be applied to both single-disk and RAID configurations, and is activated via a service known as Disk Security, which can be administered via our WebGUI and CLI utilities. SHI (Storage Health Inspector) Temperature Thresholds & Email Notification: SHI provides wealth of information about NVMe media, and enables administrators to instantly asses the temperature, endurance rating, and operational status of each hosted SSD. SHI enables experienced administrators to adjust the temperature warning thresholds, which can be customized for each hosted SSD. These determine how and when the interface will notify you if one or more SSDs is running too hot, and adjust fan speed accordingly. It can also be tied into the AIC’s (or enclosure’s) audible alarm (beeper) and the WebGUI/CLI’s Event Log and Email notification system. This tool is essential for maintaining high data-throughput in high-stress workloads, and as it is another way to keep the threat of thermal throttling under control. Online Array Roaming: The SSD7xxx series’ Online Array Roaming capability simplifies upgrade and replacement procedures, as customers can migrate SSDs from one controller to another, without having to start from scratch or recover an array. HighPoint NVMe RAID AICs are also capable of recognizing arrays created with other SSD7000, SSD7500, or SSD7749 series controllers, even if the SSDs are moved to different ports. 1-Click Self Diagnostic Logging Service: The WebGUI includes an automated diagnostic tool designed to streamline the troubleshooting process, even for novice administrators. The Diagnostic tab enables the interface to gather information about the corresponding hardware, software and storage configurations and compile it into a single file which can be submitted to our Support Department. Note, this software does not collect user-data (actual data stored to the storage devices), and poses no threat to security or privacy. Hot-Plug & Hot-Swap: Hot-Plug & Hot-Swap features allows administrators to add or remove one or more NVMe SSDs on the fly, as necessity demands, without powering down or rebooting the host platform. HighPoint manufactures several NVMe RAID solutions that provide Hot-Swap and Hot-Plug capability. Learn More: How to hot-swap NVMe SSDs on the SSD7580B NVMe Storage Performance Technology

For nearly 3 decades, HighPoint Technologies, Inc. has been driving force in the Storage and Connectivity Industry. Throughout the years, HighPoint has continuously released cutting-edge products that push these industries forward. Though we offer an extensive selection of products and solutions for all major storage and connectivity interfaces, we specialize in all things NVMe. NVMe Storage and Connectivity Expertise It’s no secret that HighPoint builds the industry’s fastest NVMe RAID controllers. Our game changing NVMe hardware architecture and Cross-Sync RAID technology enables administrators to link dual SSD7xxx controllers to support upwards of 120TB of storage at speeds of up to, and even beyond, 55,000MB/s! And recently, we’ve expanded our NVMe portfolio to include a complete range of HBA solutions, which are perfectly suited for applications that employ Software-Defined Storage solutions such as Vmware vSAS, Microsoft S2D and Linux CEPH. While our industry proven RAID technology and expert driver development capabilities perfectly illustrate our storage expertise, one may be tempted to overlook the fact that HighPoint has a long and storied history as a hardware engineering firm and manufacturer. We cut our teeth in the early days of the IDE/ATA era, and were the first to design and manufacture RAID capable ATA33 and ATA controller chips (yes, HighPoint used to design and manufacture chipsets!) that could be integrated into commercially available mainboards. We shipped millions of these solutions to major motherboard manufactures, and later entered the marketplace as a stand-alone solutions provider, with the debut of our RocketRAID series of PCIe controllers. Our hardware engineering expertise, combined with our industry proven RAID engine and software solutions. Built for Speed Unlike most competing products, HighPoint NVMe solutions are capable of fully saturating x16 lanes of PCIe Gen3 (3.0) or Gen4 (4.0) host bandwidth. This is due to our highly flexible, performance focused PCB architecture, which was designed in-house and is unique to our hardware solutions. Our hardware engineering expertise enable SSD7xxx NVMe RAID AICs and Rocket 1500/1000 Series HBA to incorporate and fully exploit the capabilities of high-performance PCIe Switch technology. SSD7500 and Rocket 1500 Series SSD7000 and Rocket 1000 Series These PCIe Switch Chipsets provide as many as 32 dedicated PCIe lanes, while supporting as many as 48 independent devices. Most consider this type of technology as overkill for a single-card solution. However, HighPoint is no stranger to this design philosophy – we simply saw it as a way to enhance an already superior solution. Our NVMe hardware architecture enables each controller card to operate independent of the host hardware platform, and allocate as much as x4 lanes per NVMe device port; this ensures that all x8 or x16 lanes worth of bandwidth are available at all times, even if multiple ports are not in use. This is a key advantage of HighPoint’s PCB design; bandwidth is assigned automatically, and can be adjusted on the fly. This ability lends credence to the “Intelligent” moniker that is associated with these AICs. To further illustrate the advantages of this architecture, consider the current state of your average NVMe PCIe controller. In truth, the vast majority of NVMe PCIe controllers are essentially just adapter cards – most are only PCIe x8 devices, and either distribute lanes equally across all ports, or defer to the system mainboard for PCIe allocation (this requirement is known as Bifurcation). In either case, performance bandwidth is squandered unless all channels/ports are occupied and in use. If you want to push your system to the max, and ensure that power gets channeled to your target application, don’t waste your time with a simple adapter solution. And don’t simply shop around for a Switch Chipset based solution either – just because it has the chipset, doesn’t mean it was designed to use the switch component. HighPoint SSD7xxx Series RAID AICs and Rocket 1500/1000 Series HBAs don’t take shortcuts – they were designed to take full advantage of each hardware component and deliver max throughput, regardless of platform.

HighPoint’s RocketAIC 7749EM Brings Enterprise Grade AIC Form-Factor Storage Drives to the 2023 Mac Pro In the recent past, if you need a truly high-density, enterprise-grade NVMe storage solution for a tower workstation platform, (something in excess of 16TB), your only realistic option was to install a U.2/U.3 based-solution. U.2/U.3 media are available in very large capacities, and generally provide enterprise class features and endurance ratings. Unfortunately, U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs aren’t ideal for the Mac Pro - they were designed with rack mount storage servers in mind. While the U.2/U.3 PCIe add in cards are compact and can be easily installed into most modern Mac Pro workstations, these platforms were simply not designed to host 2.5” storage media. Customers looking to add NVMe drives in a Mac Pro are likely very familiar with both of these concerns. While it’s true that both 2023 and 2019 Mac Pro’s provide plenty of PCIe slots, only 2023 platforms are likely to have enough free interior space to host the cabling accessories. Unfortunately, this platform is not equipped with internal drive bays. So, suddenly, you are back to ground-zero…. While it is true that there are third-party drive-bay solutions out there, few if any support more than a pair of drives. That may provide more storage than your average M.2 solution, but in truth, it’s barely outside the realm of a modern high-port-count M2 solution. You can always opt for 30+TB U.2 drives, but it’ll cost you. On average, you can expect to shell out 3000USD per SSD; that’s $100 per TB of storage! Thankfully, there are alternatives. HighPoint’s RocketAIC 7749EM expansion drives can offer you the best of both worlds; a compact M.2-sized storage solution capable of delivering enterprise storage capacity, performance and reliability, without the massive price tag of U.2/U.3 media. HighPoint RocketAIC 7749EM series NVMe drives are equipped with eight datacenter class E1.S NVMe SSDs, and are capable of providing over 60TB of storage at speeds up to 27,000MB/s. RocketAIC 7749EM drives also provide enterprise-grade reliability, with high-endurance DWPD (disk writes per day) ratings and advanced features such as power-loss-protection (PLP). PLP can help reduce the risk of data loss during a sudden power outage by flushing data that was stored in the cache to the drive’s permanent flash memory. Learn More: RocketAIC 7749EM PCIe Expansion Drives (32 to 64TB of pre-configured storage) Other Solution for the Mac Pro: HighPoint SSD series NVMe RAID AICs: SSD7749E 8x E1.S NVMe RAID AIC SSD7540 8x M.2 NVMe RAID AIC SSD7505 4x M.2 NVMe RAID AIC SSD7502 2x M.2 NVMe RAID AIC

NVMe storage and connectivity solutions are frequently deployed to satisfy the stringent performance and reliability requirements of industrial, media and AI applications designed to process large volumes of sensitive data. Securing this data from prying eyes, while protecting the privacy of end users and corporate customers alike is of critical importance. As such, disk encryption technology is quickly become an essential component of storage solutions designed to address these workflows. HighPoint’s SafeStorage solution was developed to work in conjunction with the state-of-the-art SED technology employed by all classes (Client, Datacenter and Enterprise) of modern NVMe media, and is based on the OPAL SSC TCG specifications. It is designed to protect data assets when physical drives are misplaced or stolen by preventing unauthorized access to stored data. First introduced with our PCIe Gen4 SSD7580C 8-Channel U.2/U.3 NVMe RAID HBA, SafeStorage can be applied to both single-disk and RAID configurations, and is activated via a service known as Disk Security, which can be administered via our software management and monitoring suites. Designed for RAID or Independent Drive Configurations Unlike many competing solutions, HighPoint SafeStorage was developed to accommodate storage configurations comprised of both large-scale RAID arrays and individually configured drives. Disk Security for RAID volumes is enabled at the time of creation, and will automatically activate each disk member’s self-encryption capabilities. Securely Lockdown Crucial Data from Unauthorized Access When Disk Security is enabled, your data is automatically locked down whenever the disk media is removed from the HighPoint storage or connectivity device. HighPoint SafeStorage assigns unique identifiers, known as “Keys”, in the form of Passwords, to the HighPoint device and each hosted disk. The Keys are automatically created when the Disk Security feature is activated and can be configured/modified by the administrator as required. This system ensures your data cannot be accessed unless the keys match. Keys/Passwords are securely stored by the HighPoint device and can be managed using the WebGUI and CLI management suites (and in the near future, our UEFI RAID utility). Unless an Administrator changes a Key, disks/arrays can be accessed normally. However, Lockdown mode is enabled as soon as the disk is removed. Stolen disks cannot be simply moved to a separate HighPoint/Non-HighPoint Adapter or Enclosure for access. The “thief” would need to link the disk/array to the new HighPoint device, and would need to enter the original Keys to do so. Cryptographic Erasure Changing or deleting encryption keys for SED capable disks will render all encrypted data indecipherable and thus, unrecoverable. SafeStorage allows administrators to delete and regenerate Keys (aka Passwords) as needed to ensure your encrypted data is always under lock and key. A few simple commands enable authorized administrators to immediately prep storage for resale, retirement or reuse. The Cryptographic Erase command replaces the encryption Key inside each drive; this makes it impossible to ever decrypt data stored on these devices. When executed, data is rendered inaccessible and considered cryptographically erased. The drives can then be reset to an unowned state and reused once a new encryption key is generated. In addition, upon disabling the Disk Security feature, SafeStorage will automatically initiate the cryptographic erase command. The process is automated and takes only seconds to complete. Disk Security can be easily disabled at any time, using HighPoint’s WebGUI and CLI utilities. Server Integration / Hot-Swap & Hot-Plug Workflows: SSD7580C The SSD7580C is HighPoint’s 3rd generation Hot-Plug/Hot-Swap capable PCIe 4.0 U.2/U.3 NVMe RAID AIC. It can host up to eight 2.5” form factor NVMe SSDs of capacity and performance level, via a range of cabling options for industry standard rackmount and mobile rack chassis. The integrated Hot-Swap/Hot-Plug technology is ideal for field service and upgrade workflows, and enables administrators to add or remove individual NVMe SSDs, or even an entire RAID array, on the fly, without having to power down the host platform or reboot the operating system. SafeStorage is ideal for workflows that depend on Hot-Swap capability. Customers can rest assured that their data assets will be automatically locked down anytime a drive is physically removed from the host platform, for whatever reason. Server Intergrated & Compact Form Factor: SSD7749E/M HighPoint’s revolutionary SSD7749 series of Dual-Width PCIe 4.0 x16 8-Channel NVMe controllers were designed for demanding Industrial and AI applications that require a high-density NVMe storage solution with blazing fast PCIe Gen4 x16 performance and Datacenter class reliability. SSD7749 series AICs are ideal for compact platforms that do not have space for internal drive bays. The AICs directly host the NVMe media within a fully enclosed aluminum casing, which incorporates a tool-less SSD loading system and powerful NVMe cooling system capable of accommodating E1.S or M.2 SSDs of any form factor and thickness, including high-density dual-sided models equipped with heatsinks or heat spreaders. This rugged, all-in-one design makes moving NVMe storage a snap. Though the double-width form fact makes them a bit larger than standard NVMe controller cards, SSD7749 series AICs are roughly the same size and shape as a high-end GPU, and can be just as readily moved from system to system – just unplug the card from one platform and install it into another. No additional cooling or cabling apparatus is needed. SafeStorage is an ideal match for this type of solution. Your data will remain under lock and key, even if the card is misplaced or stolen. Unless you have the required Security Keys, the data can never be accessed. Learn More: SSD7580C 8-port U.2/U.3 Gen4 NVMe RAID Controller (Coming Soon) SSD7749E 8-port E1.S PCIe Gen4 NVMe RAID Controller SSD7749M 8-port M.2 PCIe Gen4 NVMe RAID Controller HighPoint SafeStorage (TCG OPAL SSC)