A groundbreaking solid-state drive (SSD) is here, aiming to fill the performance gap between high-capacity hard drives (HDDs) and the fastest SSDs. The newly introduced E2 flash form factor can potentially reach an incredible 1 petabyte (1 million GB) in a single device, according to a report by StorageReview. Developed as a joint project between the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) and the Open Compute Project (OCP), this form factor is specifically designed to manage "warm" data — the kind of data that’s accessed more frequently than archival content but doesn’t require lightning-fast speeds.

Filling the Gap Between Speed and Scale

Traditional storage has long been split between blazing-fast SSDs and high-volume, slower HDDs. E2 is positioned in between — ideal for "warm" storage needs that demand higher capacity at a lower cost. This makes it especially useful for cloud providers, data centers, and companies handling massive datasets that don't need constant high-speed access but also can’t be archived away.

Built from the ground up, these SSDs are optimized for 2U servers, offering dense storage configurations that were previously unthinkable. A single E2 SSD offers up to 1PB of QLC flash, enabling up to 40PB per server when stacked together.

Compact but Powerful Design

The E2 form factor follows the Enterprise and Data Center Standard Form Factor (EDSFF), known informally as the “Ruler” SSD format. It measures 200mm long, 76mm high, and 9.5mm thick. This design cleverly reuses existing components from both E1 and E3 formats, including the connector and LED placements. That means manufacturers won’t need a complete infrastructure overhaul to adopt it.

Each SSD uses PCIe 6.0 x4 or better to communicate via NVMe, offering a solid performance baseline. Although the drive is power-hungry, drawing up to 80 watts, typical usage is expected to remain in the 20–30 watt range. However, even at those levels, thermal management becomes a key issue — one that may require advanced cooling beyond traditional air systems.

Speed vs. Storage: What E2 Prioritizes

The transfer speed per terabyte is expected to be around 8–10 MB/s, which far surpasses standard HDDs but doesn’t compete with top-tier SSDs. That’s by design. The E2 isn’t built for maximum performance but maximum density. It's a strategic trade-off — prioritize storage capacity without inflating costs by chasing ultra-high read/write speeds.

Industry Adoption and the Road Ahead

Micron is one of the major players behind E2’s development, and others in the Open Compute Project are working to iron out the final technical hurdles. Recently, Pure Storage unveiled a 300TB E2 prototype, showing progress even if it hasn’t reached the full 1PB capacity yet.

The consensus: E2 offers a practical, flash-based solution to an industry hungry for mid-tier storage options. But before it becomes mainstream, challenges like heat dissipation and power consumption must be tackled. Despite these obstacles, E2 signals an important shift — one where storage is no longer just about speed or capacity, but a balance of both for the evolving demands of data.