A next-generation SSD form factor is aiming to redefine high-density storage for data centers. Dubbed E2, the new flash-based SSD format is being developed through a joint effort by the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) and the Open Compute Project (OCP) to fill the performance and capacity gap between traditional hard drives and high-end solid-state drives.
Differences With SSDs
Unlike standard SSDs that focus heavily on speed, E2 drives are built for “warm” data—information that is accessed less frequently than hot data but still needs faster access than what conventional hard drives can offer. That middle ground includes application data, logs, analytics, and backups that demand both space and responsiveness.
According to reports by Tom’s Hardware and StorageReview, the E2 form factor is capable of scaling up to 1 petabyte (1,000,000 GB) per drive. For perspective, that’s enough capacity to store over 11,000 4K movies.
Specifications..Thus Far
The physical design adheres to the Enterprise and Data Center Standard Form Factor (EDSFF) “Ruler” specification, measuring 200mm in length, 76mm in height, and 9.5mm in thickness. In practice, a standard 2U rack server could house 40 E2 drives, offering an astonishing 40 PB of total storage in a single node—an attractive proposition for hyperscale data centers.
Despite its immense capacity, the E2 isn’t pushing performance as its primary metric. Target throughput is reportedly 8–10MB/s per terabyte, meaning a 1 PB drive could reach 8–10GB/s. It uses a PCIe 6.0 x4 interface with NVMe protocol, ensuring compatibility with next-gen server platforms.
However, the leap in density comes with thermal trade-offs. Each E2 drive could draw up to 80W under load, though typical power draw is expected to range between 20W and 30W. These requirements present new challenges in server thermal management, likely requiring more than just air cooling.
To Be Expected
Manufacturers are already exploring practical deployments. Micron is among the major contributors to E2’s design, and Pure Storage recently showcased a 300TB prototype, positioning the form factor as a scalable alternative to high-capacity HDD arrays. With open standards and strong support from the OCP ecosystem, E2 could emerge as the go-to solution for warm-tier workloads, combining flash density with data center-friendly cost structures.
The E2 form factor is still undergoing standardization under the SFF-TA-1042 specification. Still, its ambition is clear: deliver flash-level performance at HDD-like densities, with enough flexibility to evolve alongside the needs of modern cloud, AI, and hyperscale infrastructures.
