Cervoz Powerguard preserves data integrity during power outages

Challenges 

In the current world of business, almost everything relies in some way or another on electricity. Even a few hours without power can severely impact business performance, productivity and profit. No power means factory production will stop; office operations will cease; and all data transmission and storage between server and end-user device will come to a halt.

To protect against power outages, businesses use backup generators. However, in that split
second between the powers going out and the generators turning on, they need something to
make sure the ongoing data transmission and storage can safely and successfully take place.
This step is key in preserving data integrity and ensuring proper operations once power returns.

Solutions

Cervoz developed its power loss protection technology specifically for situations like this. Named the Powerguard, it provides additional power during an unexpected power outage so that the storage module can complete the flash write operation in progress and thus protect data integrity.

How this works is that Cervoz Flash products with the Powerguard have built-in tantalum capacitors storing extra power. When the module’s controller senses that the power supply is below a certain, predetermined level, it will inform the host to first and foremost stop sending more data. Although data transmission has stopped, there will be data that remain in the DRAM, so this is when the capacitors will provide the power needed to enable the remaining data to be flushed out to NAND. In doing so, the Powerguard protects both the firmware and the mapping table simultaneously, and thus data integrity is preserved.

Products

Both the Cervoz M336 and T376 product families feature the Powerguard. The former uses MLC
technology, while the latter TLC technology. Each comes in the SSD, mSATA, and M.2 2280 form
factors for a wide range of application needs. With the Powerguard storage module, customers can rest assured that they have taken care of the last step in power outage protection.