VAST Data has announced two significant updates to its AI data platform: the addition of native block storage capabilities and the introduction of the VAST Event Broker, a Kafka-compatible event streaming engine. Both features expand the platform’s multiprotocol support and aim to streamline real-time data access across various workloads.
Native Block Storage for Unified Workloads
The inclusion of block storage allows VAST’s platform to support file, object, block, table, and streaming data within a single system. This integration is designed to consolidate infrastructure and provide enterprise features such as snapshots, quality of service (QoS), and multi-tenancy. The block storage also supports virtualized environments like VMware, as well as containerized workloads on Kubernetes, providing persistent storage and centralized management for hybrid environments.
Event Streaming for Real-Time Data
The VAST Event Broker, scheduled for general availability in March, brings event streaming into the unified platform. The addition aims to simplify real-time data processing by integrating transactional, analytical, and streaming workloads. The event broker offers linear scaling, compatibility with Kafka APIs, and is positioned as a means to reduce infrastructure sprawl and operational overhead.
Single Platform Strategy
With these updates, VAST’s platform now supports a broad spectrum of workloads under one system. The company is targeting use cases that require a mix of real-time event processing, transactional data management, and analytical processing, offering a unified approach rather than separate systems for each data type.
