Performance Triumph

In May, we unveiled the NetApp AFF A-series - our cutting-edge all-flash, unified data storage solution. This was NetApp’s “rise to the modern data storage moment” and marked a significant leap forward in modern data storage. In our launch of the A-Series, we not only highlighted our commitment to innovation with advanced data management, but we also introduced substantial enhancements to NetApp ONTAP performance and throughput. With these enhancements, NetApp recently took the top spot in the EDA benchmark SPECstorage Solution 2020, showcasing our solution's superior performance and reliability.

When it comes to electronic design automation (EDA), performance and efficiency are key. I’m excited to share some remarkable updates from the ONTAP performance engineering team that are set to reshape how our customers leverage our solutions.

Updated SPECstorage Solution 2020_EDA_BLENDED benchmark data reveals a significant 28% improvement over previous tests. With enhanced, consistently high-performance and better scaling with low latency, NetApp has the #1 spot in the benchmark with the highest ranked solution leaving our competition behind.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the details of how we won the number 1 position and what it means for your business.

Benchmarking plays a critical role in evaluating the performance and reliability of storage solutions in EDA environments. With rapidly increasing workload demands and the complexity of chip design and production, having a robust, performant, and cost-efficient storage system is paramount.

The SPECstorage Solution 2020_EDA_BLENDED benchmark is a comprehensive tool used to measure the performance of storage solutions in various EDA workflows. It simulates real-world scenarios, providing an accurate assessment of how well a storage environment can handle concurrent job sets and large-scale data operations. SPEC^® refers to the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation, a nonprofit organization that upholds and validates a standard set of benchmarks for high-performance computers and infrastructure. Furthermore, the EDA benchmark tracks additional details like overall response time (ORT), IOPS, latency, and throughput.

Our latest result, published on the SPEC website, represents a revolution in cost efficiency compared with previous generation SPECstorage Solution 2020 EDA_BLENDED results.

• Compared with the NetApp AFF A900 result from 2023, the A90-based storage stack uses 60% less rack space to deliver 28% more jobs.
• Compared with the next leading competitor's latest result, the A90-based storage stack uses 80% fewer dedicated storage nodes to deliver 28% more jobs.

• Enhanced performance: Our latest benchmarking results show a 28% improvement in performance over our previous results, making ONTAP one of the most reliable and cost-efficient storage solutions for EDA applications.
• Consistent high performance: ONTAP delivers predictable and consistent high performance, allowing more concurrent job sets than any other vendor. This means you can handle more complex simulations and designs without experiencing bottlenecks (Details: The AFF A90 system achieved 8100 jobs with an overall response time of 1.17 ms compared to the AFF A900, which had 6300 jobs with an overall response time of 1.39 ms, as of July 2024.).
• Better scaling and low latency: Our solutions continue to provide low latency even as demands increase. This ensures that your design processes are smooth and efficient, enabling quicker iterations and better outcomes.

ONTAP enables more concurrent EDA job sets than any other vendor

NetApp A90 is a high-performance all-flash storage system designed to provide fast and reliable storage solutions for enterprise applications. It offers scalability, efficiency, and advanced data management features to meet the demands of modern data-intensive workloads. We think it is important to note that the AFF A90 is not NetApp's highest performing system; however, it does offer an exceptional price to performance ratio and a rack dense form factor that EDA customers will find appealing.

• Unmatched performance: The NetApp AFF A-Series offers unparalleled performance enhancements, setting new standards for speed and reliability in EDA operations.
• Scalability redefined: With the NetApp AFF A-Series, scalability reaches new heights, empowering users to handle complex simulations and designs with ease.
• Advanced latency management: Experience seamless design processes with low latency, ensuring swift iterations and optimal outcomes.
• Tailored solutions: The NetApp AFF A90 provides tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of EDA environments, from high-performance flash storage to flexible NAS options.

The future of EDA is bright with ONTAP. Our continuous improvements and innovations help you stay ahead of the curve and make the most of your resources. From enhanced performance to better scalability, our solutions are designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. ONTAP software provides a rock-solid foundation for data management on the broadest range of deployments, from on-prem to the cloud - ONTAP is ready to support EDA workloads wherever you are.

NetApp AFF A-Series systems easily power your most demanding workloads. Learn more about the new NetApp AFF A90 here

Contact us to learn more about how NetApp can help you enable modern, high-performance workflows for EDA.