Advancing AI with High-Performance Storage

The NVIDIA AI Data Platform is designed to redefine AI infrastructure by integrating NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, BlueField DPUs, Spectrum-X networking, and AI Enterprise software with high-performance storage. WEKA’s data platform now aligns with this architecture, providing a scalable foundation for AI-driven enterprises. The partnership ensures that AI models can connect more effectively to business knowledge, achieving higher accuracy in complex reasoning tasks.

As part of this development, WEKA has achieved new certifications, including the NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) Reference Architecture with GB200 NVL72 and the NVIDIA-Certified Systems Storage designation for enterprise AI deployments. These certifications validate WEKA’s compatibility with NVIDIA best practices, ensuring optimised storage performance and cost efficiency.

Breaking the AI Memory Barrier

A key innovation unveiled by WEKA is its Augmented Memory Grid, which integrates WEKA Data Platform software with NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and networking solutions. The technology aims to significantly improve AI inference speed by increasing token efficiency and the number of tokens processed per second.

AI models require larger context windows, expanded parameters, and greater memory capacity for effective reasoning and decision-making. WEKA’s Augmented Memory Grid addresses this challenge by extending memory capacity by petabytes, significantly beyond today’s standard single-terabyte increments. Near-memory speed performance at microsecond latencies ensures faster token processing, leading to better reasoning outcomes.

Key benefits of the technology include:

• 41x Faster Time to First Token: WEKA’s solution reduces the time needed to process 105,000 tokens compared to conventional prefill recalculations.
• Improved Token Processing Efficiency: AI inference clusters can achieve higher token throughput, cutting overall token processing costs by up to 24%.

AI Innovation and New Storage Certifications

WEKA’s WEKApod Nitro Data Platform Appliances have also been certified as one of the first high-performance storage solutions for NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) deployments. These appliances support NVIDIA HGX H200, B200, and GB200 NVL72, providing enhanced infrastructure for AI developers.

Additionally, the WEKApod Nitro appliances have received NVIDIA-Certified Systems Storage designation, confirming their compliance with NVIDIA’s best practices for enterprise AI factories and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. A single 8U entry-level WEKApod configuration can support up to 1,152 GPUs, offering high-density, energy-efficient performance.

Nilesh Patel, Chief Product Officer at WEKA, said:
“WEKA Augmented Memory Grid is breaking the AI memory barrier, expanding GPU memory and optimising token efficiency. This breakthrough will enable faster AI innovation at lower costs without sacrificing performance.”

Rob Davis, Vice President of Storage Networking Technology at NVIDIA, added:
“The combination of NVIDIA and WEKA technologies will allow AI agents to process data with unprecedented speed and accuracy.”

Availability

The WEKA NCP reference architecture for NVIDIA Blackwell systems will be available later this month, while WEKA Augmented Memory Grid is set to launch in Spring 2025 for WEKA Data Platform customers.

The post WEKA and NVIDIA Boost AI Storage and Inference Speed appeared first on EMC UK.

The installation, which is visible from the A40, aims to increase awareness of The Felix Project’s mission and highlight the issue of food insecurity in London. The charity rescues high-quality surplus food from the food industry and delivers more than 104,000 nutritious meals each day to those struggling to make ends meet.

Vanguard Self Storage has a long history in the capital, and Managing Director Will McCullagh expressed his pride in the company’s partnership with The Felix Project. “As a family-run business, we are deeply committed to supporting our local communities,” McCullagh said. “We’ve worked with The Felix Project before, and we’re delighted to be able to collaborate again to raise awareness of its vital work. We hope this initiative encourages more people and food businesses to get involved and help fight hunger.”

The partnership comes at a critical time, as one in four working Londoners are regularly struggling to afford enough food, with approximately 182,000 working families living on less than £3 a day for food. Tanya Mitchell, Director of Income Generation and Marketing at The Felix Project, highlighted the importance of such community collaborations.

“Partnerships like this one with Vanguard Self Storage show the power of community support,” Mitchell said. “At a time when many families are struggling, this visible display of support will help to amplify our efforts and hopefully encourage more people to contribute to the fight against hunger.”

The Felix Project works by rescuing surplus food from food suppliers, retailers, and wholesalers. The charity then redistributes the food to over 1,000 community groups and charities across London, ensuring that those who need it most receive healthy and nutritious meals. The partnership with Vanguard Self Storage is expected to increase public awareness and attract more supporters to the cause.

The installation will remain on the rooftop until early Spring, aiming to make a significant impact during the colder months when food insecurity often becomes more pronounced. With the rising cost of living and inflation, food banks and charities like The Felix Project are facing increasing demand for their services, making partnerships like this one even more important.

For those interested in supporting The Felix Project, donations, volunteering, and fundraising opportunities are available through the charity’s website. Similarly, Vanguard Self Storage continues to encourage local businesses and individuals to get involved and contribute to community-driven efforts to tackle hunger in London.

The collaboration is just one example of how businesses and charities can come together to address pressing social issues in the city, as they continue to work towards alleviating food poverty and reducing food waste.

For more details on Vanguard Self Storage, visit www.vanguardstorage.co.uk, and for information on how to support The Felix Project, visit their website.

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Expanding Finish Options

The Memory RI collection now features a diverse palette of 15 new finishes, including Terra Grey, Walnut, Tundra, Stone, Sand, Lava, Umbra, Retroblau, Carbon, White, Magnolia, Kashmir, Daylight Grey, Clay Dark, and Beach Grey. This expanded selection builds on Rotpunkt’s previous options of four wood finishes and a ready-to-paint choice, providing homeowners with an array of customisation possibilities.

Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt, commented, “With increasing demand for tactile materials and distinctive finishes in modern kitchen designs, our expanded range for Memory RI allows homeowners to infuse their spaces with a personal touch. The latest trend for fluted and reeded furniture is well represented in our new finishes.”

Terra Grey: A Sophisticated Addition

One of the standout new finishes is Terra Grey, a mid-grey colour with subtle beige undertones. This versatile hue complements a variety of contrasting materials, including raw stone, warm woods, and glass textures. Featured prominently on the Memory RI furniture, Terra Grey showcases the collection’s deep vertical grooves, emphasising hand-painted finishes and distinctive design elements. The new finish is applied to a series of tall top units and extra-tall 750mm wide cabinets, designed to accommodate larger built-in appliances and offer enhanced storage capacity.

To complete the Terra Grey look, the kitchen features long bar handles in Matt Black, which mirror the vertical lines of the Memory RI cabinets and create a cohesive contrast between the light and dark elements of the design.

Titanio: A Sleek New Finish

Rotpunkt has also introduced Titanio, an extreme matt acrylic finish available in the Class VM range. This new dark grey option is smooth to the touch and designed to mimic the appearance of real glass. Titanio’s handleless surface is not only scratch-resistant and anti-fingerprint but also shatter-resistant and writable with chalk, adding an interactive element to the kitchen.

The Titanio finish is showcased across XTend H910mm base units, which offer a more ergonomic working height. The series includes standard 650mm wide units and new 750mm wide cabinets, ideal for a coffee station with extra-deep 650mm worktops in matching Carbon. The design is completed with an Industrial Style K wall cabinet featuring Chimney Glass doors and integrated LED smart lighting, providing both practical storage and subtle illumination.

Sustainable Design

In line with its commitment to sustainability, Rotpunkt’s new kitchen designs are crafted from Greenline BioBoard Gen2, a sustainable alternative to traditional chipboard made from up to 90% recycled wood. Prices for a climate-friendly Memory RI and Class VM kitchen in Terra Grey and Titanio start from £17,500 plus VAT.

Rotpunkt’s latest innovations not only enhance functionality and aesthetic appeal but also reinforce the company’s dedication to environmentally friendly practices. With these new finishes and designs, Rotpunkt continues to lead the way in climate-conscious kitchen solutions.

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