What is the speed of the Ethernet ports to connect a FlashArray //E to a DFS?

The Pure Storage FlashArray//E model is designed to connect to DirectFlash Shelves (DFS) using a dedicated high-speed internal fabric. This fabric utilizes 25GbE RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) ports on the controllers. These ports provide the necessary low-latency, high-bandwidth communication path between the FlashArray//E controllers and the NVMe media housed within the DirectFlash Shelves, which is a core component of the DirectFlash architecture.

A. 40G: While 40GbE is a standard networking speed, it is not the specification used for the internal fabric connecting a FlashArray//E controller to its DirectFlash Shelves.

C. 100G: 100GbE ports are available on FlashArray models for high-speed host connectivity or replication, but the specific interconnect for //E to DFS communication is engineered at 25GbE.

1. Pure Storage, Inc. (2023). FlashArray//E™ Hardware Installation and Upgrade Guide (Purity//FA 6.6.x). In the section "Controller Rear Panel Components," the diagram and corresponding table identify the specific ports for this function. Item 10 is explicitly labeled as "25GbE RoCE ports (for DirectFlash Shelf connectivity)." (Page 13).

2. Pure Storage, Inc. (2023). FlashArray™ Hardware Guide: DirectFlash Shelf. This guide details the components of the DirectFlash Shelf, including its Network Module Cards (NMCs). The specifications for the NMCs used with FlashArray//E confirm the use of 25Gb/s ports for connecting to the array controllers. (Section: "Network Module Card," Page 10).