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The CFast™ format is a ratified Compact Flash Association and SATA-IO standard offering the same dimensions as standard Compact Flash but with a SATA interface. With its small footprint and rugged shielded case design, the CFast format is an ideal fit for embedded solid state storage applications (e.g. small HDD replacement, boot module for virtualization applications, performance caching, etc.) that require a very small storage footprint, lower capacities, and high tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. Because the CFast solution is designed for fixed and removable applications, it makes an ideal solution for applications requiring frequent field updates/upgrades or any other situation where frequent handling of the storage device may occur.
Leveraging high performance industrial SSD grade controllers and flash management, the CFast design offers high-performance and high capacities resulting in a no-compromise solid state storage solution providing embedded system designers with a true plug-n-play storage device, allowing for short design cycles and fast time to market.
Flash memory has quickly become the product of choice for applications requiring high reliability and high tolerance to shock, vibration, humidity, altitude, and temperature, especially important to mobile applications. Because the CFast design uses NAND flash technology (e.g. no moving parts), it is more reliable and has much lower latency compared to a traditional hard disk drive, while consuming half the power (typically closer to one watt compared to over two watts for a typical mobile hard disk drive). STEC's CFast also adheres to the Compact Flash Associations CFast standard and as well as industry compliance and regulatory standards including SATA-IO, UL, FCC, RoHS, and ATA-7. This combined with a state-of-the-art flash memory controller supporting key flash management features including advanced wear-leveling and error checking and correction as well as drive monitoring (SMART), provides OEMs with the flexibility to address customer-specific applications with the industry's highest reliability and endurance.
Embedded system designers require not only small format, cost-effective SSD solutions that do not compromise performance or reliability but also often require more rugged solutions that are easily replaced or deployed in the field.
The STEC CFast solution offers just that. With a state-of-the-art SSD grade controller, it offers all of the performance, reliability, and data integrity of many enterprise-class SSDs but in a much smaller, more rugged format (includes shielded casing). This provides system designers with benefits of easy integration or field replacement in space-constrained system designs, especially those in more rugged environments. CFast's industry-standard design and extensive firmware support also provides high compatibility making for simplified system integration.
• Standard CFast compliant SATA connector
• Support use of SLC and MLC NAND
• Commercial and Industrial temperature support
• Integrated flash management for high endurance
• Built-in ECC engine for high data integrity
• Full RoHS 6/6 compliance
• Shielded case design for rugged environments
The STEC CFast solution utilizes true industrial grade, multi-channel SSD controller technology to provide high throughput in both removable and fixed disk environments, regardless of the NAND type used. Advanced flash management further enhances performance by effectively handling all background tasks (e.g. fragmentation mitigation, data caching, etc.) with no impact on the host.
Reliability is achieved through rigid quality standards at the hardware and design levels as well as at the flash management level, all of which is designed to ensure high data integrity. STEC's advanced flash management ensures data integrity through strong error checking and correction (ECC) as well as protection against data corruption due to unintended power loss. Advanced wear-leveling also helps to extend the life of flash by mitigating over use of individual flash blocks as well as helping to minimize inherent flash issues including read-disturb and write-amplification.
The STEC CFast solution adheres to common industry standards including CFast (ratified standard by the Compact Flash Association), which by default includes adherence to SATA-IO standards. This allows for high compatibility providing system designers with a quick integration and time-to-market path. The CFast solution also adheres to common regulatory and environmental compliance including UL, FCC, and RoHS (6/6).
CFast is a new Compact Flash standard incorporating a SATA interface. The standard was ratified by the Compact Flash Association (CFA) in mid 2008. The name "CFast" came from the combination of "CF" (Compact Flash) and "AST" (ATA Serial Transport). Designed originally as a removable storage card for higher end digital media applications (e.g. Digital SLR cameras, etc.) as well as for higher capacity industrial CF cards, the CFast design retains the same measurements as current Compact Flash cards - 36.4mm (L) x 42.8mm (W) x 3.6mm (H) or just 5,608.5 mm3. The design differs from a Compact Flash only in its SATA versus PATA interface and its connector, which is a new 24-pin SATA connector (17 pins for power, 7 pins for data). A standard CF card and new CFast card are not interchangeable.
