FlashBlade//S500 R2 (performance scale-out file & object for AI)
High-throughput unified file and object storage for AI and HPC pipelines.
We help you choose, configure, and deliver the right system — no obligation.
Configuration at a Glance
Tailored per engagement. Full technical overview below.
Configuration Options
Core specifications for this system. Every component is configurable to your workload — request a quote for a tailored build.
Intel Xeon Scalable CPU per blade, DDR4 DRAM
Overview
FlashBlade//S500 R2 is the performance-optimized scale-out platform for unstructured data, feeding GPU training, inference, and HPC pipelines with concurrent high-bandwidth file and object access. Nexus Compute specifies, configures, and tests each system, with Evergreen-backed support and delivery arranged through authorized channels.
Who This Solution Is For
Business Benefits
Keeps GPUs fed
High-bandwidth concurrent file and object access prevents storage from bottlenecking expensive accelerators.
Scale without rip-and-replace
Add blades and DFMs to grow performance and capacity together under one namespace.
One platform, many protocols
Native NFS, SMB, and S3 consolidate analytics, AI, and backup onto a single system.
Typical Business Use Cases
GPU training and inference data pipelines
RAG and vector data serving
HPC and genomics parallel I/O
High-throughput analytics and rapid restore
Industry Applications
Technical Overview
FlashBlade//S500 R2 uses a distributed metadata architecture across blades in a 5U chassis, each blade powered by Intel Xeon Scalable processors, DDR4 memory, and up to four DirectFlash Modules on a 100GbE data plane. The Purity//FB operating environment serves NFS, SMB, and S3 concurrently, with S3 over RDMA available via Evergreen software upgrade.
| Architecture | Scale-out blades, distributed metadata (Purity//FB) |
| Accelerator/Compute | Intel Xeon Scalable CPU per blade, DDR4 DRAM |
| Media | 24/37/48/75TB DirectFlash Modules, up to 4 DFMs per blade |
| Capacity | Up to ~3PB raw per chassis; scales out across chassis |
| Networking | 100GbE per-blade data plane; S3 over RDMA capable |
| Protocols | NFS, SMB, S3 (concurrent multiprotocol) |
| Form Factor | 5U chassis, 7 to 10 blades |
| Management | Purity//FB, Pure1; Evergreen subscription support |
Specifications are indicative and configured to each engagement. Request a quote for a configuration tailored to your requirements.
Warranty, Support & Fulfillment
Every system ships from an authorized channel, configured and tested, with the documentation enterprise buyers need — backed by warranty and a dedicated account team.
Enterprise Warranty
Full manufacturer warranty with optional on-site, next-business-day support and extended coverage.
Authorized Channel
Sourced through Tier-1 distribution and OEM partners — never grey market. Asset & warranty records included.
Lead Time & Deployment
48-hour quotes, then configured, burn-in tested, and delivered on a committed schedule.
Nationwide Fulfillment
Coordinated logistics, rack-and-stack, and delivery wherever your infrastructure lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I size FlashBlade//S for an AI training cluster?
Size by aggregate read bandwidth your GPUs require, then scale blades and DFMs to meet it; the //S500 R2 prioritizes performance per blade. We model your dataset size, epoch read patterns, and node count to right-size the chassis.
Can it serve both file and object at once?
Yes. Purity//FB presents NFS, SMB, and S3 concurrently over the same data, so training (often S3 or NFS) and downstream analytics or backup share one platform without copies.
What is the difference between //S500 R2 and //S200 R2?
//S500 R2 is tuned for maximum performance per blade, while //S200 R2 favors capacity efficiency. For GPU-bound training pipelines we typically recommend //S500 R2.
Hardware Assistance
Configure the FlashBlade//S500 R2 (performance scale-out file & object for AI) with Nexus Compute
Tell us your requirements and a hardware specialist will help you specify, configure, and quote the right system — typically within two business days. No obligation.