An NVMe-attached storage controller node — Intel Xeon compute paired with high-density PCIe expansion, purpose-built as the compute frontend for AI storage appliances and SDS clusters.
Where the AI Storage Appliance and JBOF platforms meet the network. A dedicated storage controller node running Ceph, OpenEBS, NVMe-oF targets, or the Datafabrix storage services.
Pair one or two storage controller nodes with a JBOF or AI Storage Appliance to build a complete storage system — with active-active HA, front-end protocol services, and integrated DCIM.
The block diagram shows the Storage Controller Node fronting a JBOF pool with enterprise storage services. The controller terminates NVMe-oF or S3 requests from clients, applies metadata operations (namespaces, snapshots, RAID/EC, dedupe, compression, QoS), and streams the resulting IO down the PCIe Gen4 fabric into the underlying JBOF chassis. Result: a fully-featured enterprise storage array built from two commodity Datafabrix chassis instead of a proprietary monolithic system.
The connection diagram shows the DF-S12 controller connected to one or two DF-S03 JBOF chassis over external PCIe MCIO cables (≤3 m passive). Client traffic enters over 25/100 GbE NVMe-oF or S3 ports. A management network runs on a separate 10 GbE port. HA is achieved by twinning two controllers cross-cabled to the same JBOF pair. A+B power feeds throughout. Use this diagram to plan cluster topology, failover paths, and client-network segmentation.
| Interface | Details |
|---|---|
| Client protocols | NFS · S3 · RDMA (RoCEv2) · NVMe-oF |
| Backend | PCIe Gen4 x16 to backplane/JBOF |
| CPU | Intel Xeon (LGA) |
| Memory | 8× DDR5 DIMMs |
| Networking | 10G/25G/100G NICs |
| Management | ASPEED BMC · DCIM-native |
Software-defined storage separates the compute from the media. The media lives in a JBOF or backplane-attached array. The compute — running Ceph, OpenEBS, MinIO, or Datafabrix storage services — lives in a dedicated controller node.
The Datafabrix Storage Controller Node is that compute, built on our Intel Xeon Server Card. High memory bandwidth for caching, PCIe Gen5 slots for high-speed NICs, and PCIe Gen4 upstream to the storage array.
Deploy as a single controller for capacity workloads, or as an active-active HA pair for performance and availability. Native integration with the Datafabrix DCIM Platform for fleet-wide health and telemetry.
Scale-out Ceph or similar on Datafabrix hardware.
Serve AI clients with high-throughput protocols.
Replace aging arrays with SDS on Datafabrix.
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Form factor | 2U server |
| CPU | Intel Xeon |
| Memory | 8× DDR5 DIMMs |
| Backend PCIe | PCIe Gen4 x16 to storage |
| Networking | 10G/25G/100G NICs |
| Management | DCIM-native |
Where it fits in the rack, how it connects, and what you get after installation.
2U DF-X + DF-B4 combined storage controller front-end running Datafabrix StorageOS. The solution slots into a standard 19-inch rack alongside your existing servers, storage, and network fabric — no re-architecture required.
Target deployments: Enterprise storage teams building their own storage arrays instead of buying appliances.
Slide the DF-S12 chassis into a standard 19-inch rack slot. Rail kit included. Cable to your PDU and management network.
Install the Datafabrix PCIe host adapter in your existing server. Connect via PCIe cable to the DF-S12 backplane uplink.
Insert NVMe drives, GPUs, or accelerators into hot-plug slots. Each device trains and appears as a native PCIe endpoint on the host.
Optional: connect to Datafabrix DCIM for fleet-wide visibility. Add more chassis for horizontal scale — no host reconfiguration.
Direct rack integration alongside your existing production servers. Turnkey in a single deployment window.
Scale from a single chassis pilot to full-rack production with zero architectural change.
OEM-ready configuration for organizations building their own branded infrastructure products.
Engineering pilots, reference designs, and OEM co-design programs — we work with your team from concept to production.