Cache Acceleration Software Explained

The Intel Cache Acceleration Software (CAS) is a computer data storage product for solid-state drive (SSD) caching.

Description

CAS manages using the SSD storage as a cache layer for slower storage data (e.g. spinning hard drives). A cached copy of recently used data from slower storage is kept in faster SSD storage to improve I/O performance.[1] CAS entered Intel's product line as the result of Intel's August 2012 acquisition of a Canadian start-up company Nevex Virtual Technologies; Intel re-branded Nevex CacheWorks product to CAS with the release of version 2.0 in December 2012.[2] Versions of Intel CAS are available for Windows Enterprise, Windows Workstation, and Linux.[3] [4]

CAS for Windows is an application-aware file-based cache, which can be tuned by system administrators. Additionally, it integrates with the operating system's buffer cache, creating a multi-tier cache architecture.[5] [6] CAS is also aware of some virtualization technologies like vMotion, maintaining a hot SSD cache during a VM migration.

CAS works with the enterprise-class Intel SSD products, such as the DC S3700 SATA drives and the DC P3700 NVMe PCI Express devices.[3] It also works with cache devices across SANs. Intel CAS for Linux consists of a GPL'd source loadable kernel module paired with a closed source user-space admin configuration tool. The CAS for Linux version supports CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.[7] The Windows Enterprise version currently runs only on the 64-bit flavors of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2012 R2; 32-bit versions are not currently supported.[8] The Windows Workstation version currently runs on only the 64-bit flavors of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10; 32-bit versions are not currently supported.

The current version of CAS for Linux supports write-through, write-back, and write-around caching. The Windows versions of CAS support write-through and write-back caching.[9]

A workstation version, called CAS-W, was announced in September 2013 by Dell; Dell's announcement states an exclusive agreement with Intel to offer CAS-W only for Dell Precision workstations.[10] [11]

Operating System and File System Support

Intel CAS for Linux

CAS VersionRelease DateRHELCentOSSLESUbuntuOracle LinuxOther Distros
2.0Feb 20135.6, 6.111 SP1
2.1May 2013
2.5Aug 2013
2.6Dec 20135.6, 5.9, 6.1, 6.411 SP1, SP2
2.6.1Apr 2014
2.7Aug 20145.6-5.10, 6.1-6.56.5 (custom)11 SP1, SP2
2.7.1Oct 2014
2.8Dec 20145.6-5.11, 6.1-6.5, 7.06.5 (custom)11 SP1-SP3
2.9Jun 20155.11, 6.6, 7.06.611 SP1-SP3Yes
3.0Dec 20156.6, 7.0, 7.16.6, 7.0, 7.111 SP3Yes
3.1July 20166.6, 6.7, 7.0-7.26.6, 6.7, 7.0-7.211 SP414.04.36.6, 6.7Yes

Intel CAS for Windows Enterprise

CAS VersionRelease DateWindows Server
2.0Dec 20122008 R2
2.0.1Apr 2013
2.5Oct 20132003 R2 SP2, 2008 R2 SP1, 2012
2.5.1Apr 2014
2.5.3Jul 2014
2.6Oct 20142008 R2 SP1, 2012 R2
2.6.1Dec 2014
2.7Feb 2015
2.7.1May 2015
3.0.1Mar 2016

Intel CAS for Windows Workstation

CAS VersionRelease DateWindows Version
2.5Dec 2013Windows 7 x64
2.5.1Mar 2014Windows 7 x64, Windows 8 x64
2.5.3Jun 2014Windows 7 x64, Windows 8.1 x64
2.6Oct 2014
2.6.1Dec 2014
2.7Feb 2015
2.7.1May 2015
3.0Nov 2015Windows 7 x64, Windows 8.1 x64, Windows 10 x64
3.0.1Mar 2016

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IntelĀ® Cache Acceleration Software Explained Simply . intel.com . 2019-01-25.
  2. Web site: Intel Cache Acceleration Software (Intel CAS) Version 2.0 for Windows . intel.com . 2013-12-20.
  3. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236698/Intel_releases_SSD_cache_acceleration_software_for_Linux_servers Intel releases SSD cache acceleration software for Linux servers - Computerworld
  4. Web site: Intel serves flashy speed to penguins after eating Nevex's cache . theregister.co.uk . 2013-12-20.
  5. Web site: Nevex reverses cache rules to accelerate apps . theregister.co.uk . 2013-12-20.
  6. http://www.informationweek.com/nevex-speeds-apps-with-caching-system/d/d-id/1100699 Nevex Speeds Apps With Caching System - InformationWeek
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1-jD2EnZc Intel Cache Acceleration Software - YouTube
  8. Web site: Support for IntelĀ® Cache Acceleration Software.
  9. http://www.intel.com/support/ssdc/cache/cas/sb/CS-033973.htm?wapkw=cas Intel Cache Acceleration Software: FAQ Configuration and Use
  10. http://en.community.dell.com/dell-blogs/direct2dell/b/direct2dell/archive/2013/09/09/new-intel-cas-w-accelerating-software-application-performance.aspx New Intel CAS-W: Accelerating Software Application Performance - Direct2Dell - Direct2Dell - Dell Community
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=morrP4kN2hc Intel Cache Acceleration Software with Dell and Autodesk - YouTube