Kioxia has officially unveiled its first Solid State Drive (SSD) in the EDSFF E1.L form factor, the LD4 series. This new drive utilizes Kioxia’s eighth-generation (218-layer) BiCS FLASH QLC NAND flash memory, targeting high-density server environments and read-intensive storage applications.
Designed for Hyperscale and Scale-Out
The Kioxia LD4 series is specifically engineered for the demanding needs of hyperscale data centers and scale-out infrastructures. Its “ruler” E1.L form factor is ideal for high-density 1U servers, maximizing storage capacity within a compact space. This design makes it a compelling choice for workloads that require significant storage density and performance, particularly those focused on reading data.
Advanced Technology and Specifications
Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the LD4 SSDs are equipped with a PCIe Gen5 x4 interface, ensuring high-speed data transfer rates. They adhere to the NVMe 2.0e specifications and the OCP Datacenter NVMe SSD 2.6 standard, underscoring their compatibility with modern data center infrastructure.
The initial release of the LD4 series offers two capacities: 15.36TB and 30.72TB. Kioxia has also indicated plans to expand the series further, with future scalability up to an impressive 122.88TB, catering to the ever-growing storage demands of large-scale deployments.
Availability and Demonstration
Kioxia has already begun delivering samples of the LD4 series SSDs to select customers. Tech enthusiasts and industry professionals will have the opportunity to see the new drive in action at the upcoming 2026 OCP Global Summit, scheduled for mid-month. This exhibition will likely showcase the performance and capabilities of these advanced storage solutions in a real-world context.
The introduction of the Kioxia LD4 SSD marks a significant step in providing high-capacity, high-performance storage solutions for the most demanding data center environments. Its adherence to industry standards and innovative use of QLC NAND technology positions it as a key player in the evolving landscape of enterprise storage.
