Serial Cables has unveiled a new software platform, the Hydra Command Center, aimed at enhancing the testing and validation of PCIe 6.0 drives. Designed to work with the company’s HYDRA eight-bay PCIe 6.0 JBOF storage enclosure, the platform seeks to streamline the qualification process for storage, silicon, and system validation teams. This is accomplished by providing centralized management of the enclosure’s eight EDSFF bays through a built-in management MCU, eliminating the need for host drivers during critical management operations.
The Hydra Command Center supports engineers in various stages of hardware validation, from initial setup to automated testing. It features three operating interfaces: a Web UI, a REST API, and the hydractl command-line interface, all of which utilize a shared server process. This design allows seamless transitions between manual and automated workflows without the need for separate systems.
The platform offers precise control over various parameters, such as bay power, LEDs, and dual-port operation, and includes an optional Host Agent for Linux and Windows to connect host-side device data with individual bays. This integration enhances visibility into link training, error counters, and performance metrics. Additionally, the software comes with 16 testing presets tailored for PCIe 6.0, NVMe 2.x, and CXL technologies, ensuring comprehensive validation capabilities.
To boost reliability and traceability, the Hydra Command Center features NVMe validation gates that assess multiple aspects like link performance, endurance, and firmware. It provides an incomplete status for unresolved drive bays, preventing inaccurate test results. Engineers can further automate tests through REST API and CLI, with support for report exports in various formats such as JSON and CSV.
The introduction of this platform is expected to improve testing consistency and reduce problem identification time across storage systems. Additional features include timestamped audit trails, run manifests, and safeguards for potentially destructive operations. The Hydra Command Center is offered at no extra cost with any HYDRA unit and includes installation packages for supported Linux distributions and Windows 10/11 x64, along with a Python wheel for Python 3.10 or newer.
Serial Cables’ new platform also integrates with compatible Quarch modules for optional hardware fault injection and power analysis, further enhancing its utility in complex testing scenarios. With a built-in simulator, the software allows for evaluation without the need for physical hardware, requiring only the HYDRA MCU firmware v0.9.0 or later for operation.
ABOUT SERIAL CABLES:
Serial Cables, LLC, based in Englewood, Colorado, provides high-performance interconnect and validation products for PCIe, NVMe and CXL development. Its portfolio includes cables, adapters, host cards, retimers, redrivers, test fixtures and JBOF enclosures, as well as custom engineering services and Quarch power-analysis and fault-injection solutions. For more information, visit https://serialcables.com/.
Paul J Mutschler
Serial Cables
+1 303-810-5110
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