FlashCore Module (FCM)

A FlashCore Module (FCM) is a purpose-built NVMe drive IBM designs for its FlashSystem and Storage Virtualize based storage arrays. Unlike a commodity NVMe SSD, a FlashCore Module performs compression and encryption inside its own drive controller rather than relying on the storage system's general-purpose processors. IBM has released five FlashCore Module generations to date (FCM1 through FCM5). FCM1 through FCM4 share the same U.2 NVMe drive bay and a 4.8 TB to 38.4 TB capacity range; FCM5 moved to the EDSFF form factor, is exclusive to the current FlashSystem 5600, 7600, and 9600, and does not fit any earlier array. Buyers comparing enterprise flash storage resellers should ask which FlashCore Module generation a quoted FlashSystem array uses, since older and newer generations are not always interchangeable within the same array.