Hitachi Vantara Announces Hitachi iQ for Trusted Data Infrastructure Solutions for Modern AI Systems with NVIDIA HGX™ Platform

Press Release | November 19, 2024

Hitachi iQ certified solutions and reference architectures — built on NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI software — enhance ease of deployment, operations, and maintenance of AI systems

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – November 19, 2024 – Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced the availability of Hitachi iQ with the NVIDIA HGX^™ platform in an end-to-end solution stack of fast, scalable, and resilient infrastructure for modern AI systems. Hitachi iQ provides cost-optimized solutions, tailored to a variety of industries and use cases, including large language models, inferencing, model training, analytics, digital twins, and image processing.

For more information on Hitachi iQ, please visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/solutions/ai-analytics/hitachi-iq

Despite 97% of organizations viewing GenAI as a top-five priority, ESG Research found only slightly more than one-third (37%) believe their infrastructure and data ecosystem is well-prepared for implementing GenAI solutions, while 77% agreed that data quality issues needed to be addressed before they could adopt GenAI processes.

The latest offering from Hitachi iQ is built to directly address these challenges. Designed to maximize AI performance and reliability, Hitachi iQ saturates GPUs with data to deliver faster time to insight. Of note:

Hitachi iQ with NVIDIA HGX combines storage, networking, servers with NVIDIA H100 and H200 Tensor Core GPU s options, and the NVIDIA AI Enterprise end-to-end, cloud-native software platform for the development and deployment of generative AI applications.
Enhanced data processing of distributed file systems allows for more effective pattern identification, while access to diverse datasets helps AI models learn from a wider range of scenarios.
With NVIDIA HGX, Hitachi iQ improves the economics and sustainability of AI through a zero-copy architecture that eliminates wasteful data copying and transfer times between storage silos for different phases of AI.
The updated Hitachi Content Software for File platform with generation 5 PCIe features the latest AMD EPYC processor technology and high-performance networking with NVIDIA ConnectX®7 400Gb/s InfiniBand or Ethernet NICs. In addition, PCIe Generation 5 E3.S NVMe drive technology adds extreme performance capabilities for Hitachi iQ and other data solutions where performance is mission-critical and provides significant performance upgrades for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
High-density object storage integrated with Hitachi Content Software for File allows scaling of compute and storage independently with the flexibility to adapt to diverse and fluctuating data sizes, data types, and workloads.

“Our customers are looking for advanced solutions to meet the ever-evolving demands of AI, and the Hitachi iQ offering with NVIDIA HGX is the latest example of how we are at the forefront of AI innovation,” said Jason Hardy, chief technology officer for artificial intelligence at Hitachi Vantara. “As one of the only vendors to offer a complete, end-to-end AI infrastructure solution, we marry world-class technology with deep industry expertise for a powerful, one-stop-shop experience.”

“Pairing NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform with the deep industrial expertise of Hitachi Vantara helps address the growing demand for enterprise-grade AI infrastructure and applications, delivering high-performance computing capabilities for AI workloads to enable faster training, fine-tuning, and inferencing,” said Shar Narasimhan, director of data center GPUs and AI at NVIDIA.

“There is immense pressure to leverage AI right now but in the education space, it needs to tie directly to ROI,” said Allen Lee, managing director of Genesis Networks Pte Ltd.

“Optimized to drive industry specific results from a partner with the experience to help us make it happen, that’s what we see in Hitachi iQ.”

Hitachi iQ Portfolio Evolution

Hitachi has a long history of IT/OT domain expertise in industries such as rail, energy, and manufacturing, and is a leader for integrating IT infrastructure and business applications. Offered through multiple consumption models, Hitachi iQ provides customers with mechanisms to consume the data infrastructure they need, all while providing improved on-premises performance and allowing for a better ROI.

The Hitachi iQ portfolio of AI-ready infrastructure, solutions, and services first became available in July 2024, including a new AI Discovery Service designed to help customers identify the most valuable AI use cases, assess their data readiness, determine ROI, and create a strategic roadmap for successful AI implementation.

Hitachi iQ with the NVIDIA HGX platform and Hitachi Content Software for File are now available globally. For more information on Hitachi Vantara’s offerings in AI, please visit: hitachivantara.com.

Additional Resources

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world’s leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth. To learn more, visit www.hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the 3 business sectors of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s revenues as 3 sectors for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 31, 2024) totaled 8,564.3 billion yen, with 573 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 270,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

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Hitachi Vantara Federal Named a 2024 NVTC Tech100 Tech Company Honoree

Press Release | November 13, 2024

Hitachi Vantara Federal is honored to announce that it has been named a 2024 Tech100 Tech Company honoree by the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the National Capital Region’s technology community. These awards honor the region’s visionary companies, influential executives, and emerging innovators who are leading the way in advancing innovation, creating transformative technologies, and making substantial contributions to economic growth in Northern Virginia.

Hitachi Vantara Federal strives to be a leader in the Federal technology sector through its community engagement, product innovation, and commitment to future-focused solutions. In 2024, we actively contributed to the Northern Virginia area by supporting local initiatives, such as STEM scholarships, volunteering with Women Giving Back, and participating in veteran-focused events at Arlington National Cemetery.

“2024 has been a year of tremendous growth for our region’s technology hub, thanks to the dynamic companies and individuals who are innovating and making a positive impact in the world. Their contributions are the reason our region is one of the leading tech hubs in the nation,” said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. “NVTC congratulates Hitachi Vantara Federal for going above and beyond within their company and in their respective industries.”

Hitachi Vantara Federal’s vision to empower data-rich Federal agencies to become data-driven organizations reflects its balanced focus on technological advancement, community impact, and corporate responsibility.

You can read more about the awards and the honorees here.

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Hitachi Vantara Expands Hybrid Cloud Storage Platform with Object Storage, All-QLC Flash and Advancing Cloud Integration

Press Release | November 12, 2024

Virtual Storage Platform One integrates object storage with block and file, expands dense capacity with QLC flash, and extends software-defined cloud integration to provide reduced cost, improved management of unstructured data, and unmatched energy efficiency.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – November 12, 2024 – Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced the launch of new solutions available through its Virtual Storage Platform One data platform. Designed to redefine storage and data management for AI and analytics workloads, the new suite includes an all-new quad-level cell (QLC) flash storage array with public cloud replication and an object storage appliance. Together, these solutions deliver simplicity, security, and sustainable scalability to help organizations optimize data management, ensuring they stay agile in an increasingly data-centric world.

For more information about Hitachi Vantara’s Virtual Storage Platform One, visit. www.hitachivantara.com/products/storage-platforms/data-platform

As enterprises face mounting challenges in managing the costs and complexities of rapidly expanding hybrid and multi-cloud environments, the exponential growth of data continues to reshape the technological landscape. Many organizations are overwhelmed with finding ways to scale their data infrastructure and modernize applications, all while managing carbon footprints and IT budgets. A recent survey found the larger the volumes of data a company works with, the more compute power it needs, and the higher the associated costs, and in data analytics processes, for example, more than two-thirds of the organizations surveyed experienced “bill shock” at least quarterly or more frequently.

The addition of an all-QLC flash storage array is significant as this technology is easily scalable and reduces the cost per gigabyte compared to other flash types, making it a more economical choice for large-scale data storage needs without sacrificing performance. Hitachi Vantara engineering has focused on uptime and reliability, offering dual port QLC media to deliver data access if a hardware failure occurs. QLC flash storage offers higher density and lower power consumption compared to traditional storage solutions. This efficiency means that organizations can reduce their energy use, leading to lower carbon footprints. Additionally, the new object storage appliance is designed to easily scale to accommodate vast amounts of unstructured data that is prevalent in fueling numerous AI use cases, and each object is stored with rich metadata, which allows for easier categorization, searchability, and data lifecycle management, helping organizations quickly find and retrieve the data they need.

“Enterprises today are navigating an incredibly complex data landscape, with hybrid and multi-cloud environments and the growing influence of GenAI transforming how they operate,” said Octavian Tanase, chief product officer, Hitachi Vantara. “Our latest Virtual Storage Platform One solutions are designed to address these challenges head-on, providing customers with the advanced tools they need to harness their data, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable growth. By simplifying infrastructure and enhancing scalability, we are empowering businesses to unlock the full potential of their data in ways that were previously unimaginable.”

The new suite delivers powerful solutions tailored to meet evolving needs. These latest offerings include:

Virtual Storage Platform One Block – The all-QLC flash storage array with public cloud replication provides a new storage solution to harness QLC flash technology and deliver high-density, cost-effective storage ideal for large-capacity needs. With integrated public cloud replication, users can seamlessly backup and replicate data to the cloud for enhanced disaster recovery and data availability.
Virtual Storage Platform One Object – The object storage appliance is engineered for scalability and provides a robust solution for managing massive volumes of unstructured data driven by AI workloads. It combines durability and reliability, with multi-node configurations that ensure data availability and integrity, making it ideal for industries like media, healthcare, and finance. As a result, customers can optimize costs and significantly reduce rack space, power consumption, and CO2 emissions.

The new offerings complement Virtual Storage Platform One SDS Cloud, which is designed to protect critical data with zero impact on performance. This scalable, asynchronous solution also enables seamless replication from on-premises to the cloud (AWS), using snapshots to deliver real-time data for application development and testing in non-production environments. With support for multiple availability zones, bolsters operational resilience while simplifying database expansion, ensuring continuous protection and uninterrupted performance.

The all-QLC flash storage array addition to the platform affirms Hitachi Vantara’s commitment to energy-efficient technology, as recognized by ENERGY STAR^®, which ranked Virtual Storage Platform One in the top three best storage solutions for performance in energy efficiency. The comprehensive suite of integrated solutions provides an end-to-end data management experience, which seamlessly integrates storage and cloud, to create a unified and adaptable environment.

“The addition of all-QLC flash and object storage appliance provides a compelling solution for organizations looking to manage large-scale data environments efficiently,” said, Scott Sinclair, practice director for cloud, infrastructure and DevOps at Enterprise Strategy Group. “Hitachi Vantara continues to address the pressing needs of modern IT infrastructure, which helps businesses stay competitive in an era defined by data-driven innovation.”

For more information about Virtual Storage Platform One and its suite of solutions, please visit https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/products/storage-platforms/data-platform.