NetApp 7.68TB NVME U.2 PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 RI SFF 2.5" SSD Kioxia CM5-R Series KCM5DRUG7T68 X4013A X90-4013A

NetApp 7.68TB NVMe U.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 RI SFF 2.5" SSD Kioxia CM5-R Series KCM5DRUG7T68 X4013A X90-4013A

The NetApp X4013A is the NetApp-branded version of the Kioxia CM5-R (KCM5DRUG7T68) enterprise NVMe SSD. While the hardware is identical to the standard Kioxia model, this version includes NetApp-specific firmware optimized for AFF and FAS storage arrays, ensuring full compatibility, performance tuning, and system-level integration.

Related Part Numbers

X4013A, X90-4013A, 108-00858+D3, KCM5DRUG7T68, SDFME43NHB01

Core Technical Specifications

• Capacity: 7.68TB
• Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 (NVMe 1.3a)
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch U.2 (SFF-8639)
• Z-Height: 15mm
• NAND Type: 64-layer BiCS FLASH™ 3D TLC
• Dual Port: Yes (High Availability support)

Performance

• Sequential Read: Up to 3,350 MB/s
• Sequential Write: Up to 3,040 MB/s
• Random Read (4KB): Up to 770,000 IOPS
• Random Write (4KB): Up to 80,000 IOPS

Endurance & Reliability

• Workload Type: Read Intensive (RI)
• Endurance: 1 DWPD (Drive Write Per Day for 5 years)
• Enterprise Reliability: Designed for continuous 24/7 operation

Key Features

• Dual-Port NVMe Design:
  Enables simultaneous access from two controllers—critical for high-availability (HA) enterprise storage environments
• NetApp Optimized Firmware:
  Ensures seamless integration with NetApp AFF and FAS systems
• Efficient Gen3 Performance:
  Balanced performance and power efficiency for read-heavy workloads
• Advanced NAND Technology:
  Built with Kioxia BiCS FLASH™ for durability and consistent performance

Compatibility

• Primary Platform: NetApp storage systems
• Native Use Case:
  • NetApp NS224 NVMe Drive Shelf
  • AFF A400, A700, A800 controllers
• General Server Compatibility:
  • Physically compatible with standard U.2 NVMe bays
  • Requires NVMe-enabled backplane (not SAS/SATA)

Important Notes

• Sector Format Warning:
  NetApp firmware often uses 520-byte sectors instead of standard 512-byte.
  → Reformatting (e.g., using sg_format) may be required for use in non-NetApp servers
• Dual-Port Usage:
  Full functionality is typically only utilized in enterprise storage arrays
• Performance Comparison:
  • Slower than PCIe Gen4 drives (e.g., Samsung PM1733)
  • Still highly efficient for Gen3-based infrastructures

Use Case Guidance

• Ideal For:
  • Data warehousing
  • Web servers
  • Read-heavy analytics workloads
• Not Ideal For:
  • Heavy write workloads (consider Mixed Use / MU drives like CM5-V instead)

Summary

The NetApp X4013A (Kioxia CM5-R 7.68TB) is a reliable, enterprise-grade NVMe SSD tailored for NetApp environments. With dual-port capability, solid Gen3 performance, and optimized firmware, it is an excellent choice for high-availability, read-intensive storage applications.