Padu has introduced a new SSD technology aimed at reducing data processing bottlenecks in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The key innovation involves transferring file processing functions from the server's central processing unit (CPU) to the SSD itself, allowing accelerators like graphics processing units (GPUs) to access storage directly.
Padu announced the unveiling of its 'File-Semantic SSD (FS-SSD)' at the 2026 OCP Global Summit held in San Jose, California, claiming to be the first in the world to develop this type of SSD.
Unlike traditional SSDs that handle data block addresses, the FS-SSD is designed to recognize and manage files themselves. By integrating file processing firmware into Padu's 6th generation SSD controller, tasks such as file searching, access permission verification, and file-to-address conversions are processed internally within the SSD.
This advancement allows GPUs and data processing units (DPUs) to access the SSD directly, bypassing the CPU and host file system. As the demand for large-scale data retrieval in generative AI training and inference increases, this new structure aims to alleviate the bottlenecks caused by the traditional CPU-based data processing.
This year's OCP Global Summit also highlighted the need for improvements in storage architecture tailored for AI computations, focusing on AI-optimized SSD architectures, KV caching, LLM prompt caching, and DPUs.
Padu plans to further develop the FS-SSD into hostless storage servers based on DPUs and scalable file storage solutions. The company will also provide related reference designs to server manufacturers and design firms.
During the event, Padu showcased its 6th generation SSD controller, the 'FC6161,' which reportedly offers up to 2.5 times the performance of existing 5th generation products based on a 16TB SSD. The power consumption of the complete SSD is less than 28W for sequential writing and under 5W in standby mode.
Nam Ihyun, CEO of Padu, stated, "AI data centers require various elements such as power efficiency, stable latency, power management, and cooling. We aim to expand our AI storage solutions business, including the FS-SSD, based on our controller technology."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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