A systems administrator is selecting new storage for a database server that hosts a large data warehouse. This server's primary workload consists of running complex queries for business intelligence reports, which results in a significantly higher number of read operations than write operations. The administrator's goals are to ensure reliable performance for read operations while optimizing costs. Which of the following SSD types is the MOST appropriate choice for this server?
The correct answer is a read-intensive (RI) SSD. These SSDs are specifically designed and optimized for workloads where data is read far more frequently than it is written, such as the data warehouse described in the scenario. They offer excellent read performance at a lower cost compared to other enterprise SSD types because they have lower write endurance, measured in Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD), which is acceptable for a read-heavy workload.
Write-intensive (WI) SSDs are designed for heavy write workloads, have very high endurance (high DWPD), and are more expensive. Using them in this scenario would be unnecessary and not cost-effective.
Mixed-use (MU) SSDs provide a balance between read and write performance and endurance. While they could function, they are not as cost-optimized for a predominantly read workload as RI SSDs.
QLC (Quad-Level Cell) SSDs offer high capacity at a low cost but generally have the lowest endurance and may not provide the sustained performance required for a critical enterprise database server compared to enterprise-grade RI SSDs, which are typically based on more durable flash technology.