Choosing Between Snapshots and Backups? Use Both
Let's settle the old debate: snapshots or backups for data protection? The answer is you need both, working together. The Problem VMware snapshots are great for quick rollbacks, but they create redo logs that strain storage IO and need eventual consolidation. During active snapshots, your storage reads multiple files simultaneously, potentially impacting production. Storage snapshots like Pure's are instantaneous and lightweight, but they capture entire volumes at once, are only crash-consistent, and require full restores or manual workarounds to extract specific data. Neither alone covers every recovery scenario you'll face. The Solution Integrate VMware, Pure Storage, and Veeam into a cohesive platform: Leverage Pure snapshots for fast, efficient data capture without production impact Use Veeam to orchestrate application-consistent backups and enable granular restores Keep snapshots close to the source for quick recovery Maintain backup files for long-term retention Replicate everything to DR sites with the same capabilities The Payoff One integrated solution gives you flexibility for any situation: ransomware recovery from immutable snapshots, granular file restores, site failovers, or long-term archive retrieval. All without impacting production. Modern data protection isn't about picking sides. It's about making your storage, hypervisor, and backup solution work together intelligently. Hear more here on Pure360 Pure Storage and Veeam- Why Architecture MattersAnnouncing the General Availability of Purity//FA 6.9.2
We are happy to announce the general availability of 6.9.2, the third release of the 6.9 Long-Life Release (LLR) line and the thirteenth release based on the code line from 6.8! This LLR line provides long-term maintenance of the complete feature set introduced in the 6.8 Feature Release Line, including Fusion, with consistency in capabilities, user experience, and interoperability. This release includes support for R5 Controllers for FlashArray //X and //C, bringing performance, density, and data protection improvements to the 6.9 LLR line. For more detailed information about bug fixes and security updates included in each release, see the release notes. UPGRADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND EOL SCHEDULE Customers who are looking for long-term maintenance of the complete 6.8 feature set are encouraged to upgrade to the 6.9 LLR. Customers who are looking for continued delivery of all the newest capabilities as soon as they are available should upgrade to the 6.10 Feature Release line. When possible, customers should make use of Self-Service Upgrades (SSU) to ease the process of planning and executing non-disruptive Purity upgrades for their fleet. The 6.9 LLR line is planned for development through June 2028. HARDWARE SUPPORT This release is supported on the following FlashArray Platforms: FA//X (R3, R4, R5), FA//C (R3, R4, R5), FA//XL (R1, R5), FA//E, FA//RC20, and Pure Storage Cloud Dedicated (PSCD) for Azure and AWS. The PSCD release may take up to a week to be available on the AWS Marketplace and Azure Marketplace. Note, DFS software version 2.2.5 is recommended with this release. LINKS AND REFERENCES Purity//FA 6.9 Release Notes Self-Service Upgrades Purity//FA Release and End-of-Life Schedule FlashArray Hardware and End-of-Support DirectFlash Shelf Software Compatibility Matrix FlashArray Capacity and Feature Limits FlashArray Feature Interoperability MatrixPure Report Podcast: Databases!!!
Catch up with Anthony Nocentino on the latest episode of the Pure Report podcast where we dive into trends in database operations and the impact of AI on DBA roles - plus how new Pure platform announcements and Fusion drive better efficiency and performance for SQL Server and Oracle. Anthony tackles the pressing challenges faced by database environments today, including fragmented storage infrastructure, manual provisioning, and the complexities of compliance, disaster recovery, and hybrid cloud strategies. He sheds light on how these issues contribute to real-world burnout among DBAs and infra team members. The discussion will also cover the evolving roles of these professionals as they increasingly become platform performance engineers, cloud strategists, and data ops troubleshooters in a world of multiple database engines and unpredictable resource needs driven by AI workloads.
Pure Report Podcast: Unified Data Plane Launch Announcements
Catch up with the latest FlashArray and Platform announcements from our recent launch in New York at Accelerate NYC. Join us as we take a deep dive into Pure Storage's Intelligent Control Plane (ICP), a set of groundbreaking innovations redefining IT operations and enabling users to realize the Enterprise Data Cloud. We're thrilled to host Chadd Kenney, VP of Product Management, who helps us unpack how the ICP tackles data silos, operational complexity, and productivity bottlenecks, transforming hundreds of systems into what feels like one virtual cloud of data with Pure Fusion. Discover how Fusion Presets streamline policy-driven deployments, how intelligence extends to modern apps with Portworx native integration, and the exciting possibilities of AI-Copilot and Data Intelligence. In this episode, Chadd will share insights on how these innovations continue Pure Storage's core hallmark of simplicity in operations, delivering Evergreen architecture at a fleet-wide level. We'll explore how the ICP empowers operators with real-time awareness and workflow orchestration, as demonstrated at Accelerate in Las Vegas and New York, enabling full-stack, application-level outcomes. Plus, Chadd offers his "hot takes" on industry trends, common misconceptions about infrastructure automation, and the evolving role of the IT operator in the next five years. Tune in to understand how the Intelligent Control Plane and Pure Fusion are setting a new standard for data management. https://youtu.be/29-Ws8Gc9mQ?si=p0pjjnCnVEpxyb1j
It's Purity Upgrade Tuesdays!!! Get Excited!
OK - maybe I made that special event Tuesday thing up, but you have to admit it's catchy in a way every terrible social media feed ad grabs your eye 😀. And with that, it does lead to a great question: Are you on the latest version of Purity? As you may or may not know, we had some recent Purity releases over the summer...we've been busy: Purity 6.9.1 for FlashArray: This is the latest Long Life Release (LLR) Purity 6.10 for FlashArray: This is the latest Feature Release (FR) Purity 4.5.12 for FlashBlade: This is the latest LLR Purity 4.6.2 for FlashBlade: This is the latest FR Click here for a quick reminder on what their difference is in a blog from my buddy Ben Casey, the wisest Puritan I know. 💪 And with that being said - how did your latest upgrade go? Did you use Pure1 or the support white glove service we offer? Give us your stories - good and bad...we are all in learning mode and listening! Just don't expect me to send special Hallmark cards to mark Tuesdays as a special day 😀. Happy upgrading! DPA Platform for the Future
So, I’ve been at Pure Storage for a few seasons now. Hint: when I joined, the “//M” generation of FlashArray was still a little wet behind the ears, and was then styled as a lowercase “//m” (bonus points if you can guess the year I joined in your reply!). One of the things that has always impressed me the most about Pure, is how purposeful and thoughtful our development and engineering teams are. Most of us here had realized for years that Pure isn’t a collection of disparate products and features–it’s a real, integrated, intelligent storage platform! One OS (Purity). One flash architecture (DirectFlash). A universal NDU architecture, both software and hardware (Evergreen). Last year, we launched the Pure Storage Platform to make that engineering vision official. Today's announcements mark another huge milestone in the evolution of the Pure Storage Platform. We’ve unified operations across distributed infrastructures, maximized efficiency for AI, and embedded cyber resilience at every layer. Our engineers have outdone themselves once again. It all works together, so your organization can master its data, while you get more done. Pure Storage is helping enterprises turn data into a true business advantage. From edge to core to cloud, the message is clear: data should be unified, efficient, and resilient — so organizations like yours can innovate without compromise. Find out more about what we announced today in our blog. And let us know what you think below!Why You Should Make Adopting Current Long-Life Releases a Habit
Hey everyone — At Pure Storage, we see many customers who still think about storage upgrades like old-school firmware: “set it and forget it” until it’s forced to change. But FlashArray isn’t firmware it’s modern, continually improved, and designed for an agile, secure, predictable data platform. That means it’s time to make adopting recent Long-Life Releases (LLRs) a regular habit not just something you reluctantly do, "when you have to". LLRs should be your standard practice: ✅ Fresh Features, Mature Code Each LLR is built on code that’s been running in production for at least 8 months before it branches. That means you get the innovations from recent Feature Releases — tested, stabilized, and production-proven. You avoid missing out on valuable improvements while still benefiting from enterprise-grade predictability. ✅ Consistent Security and Compliance Aging too far behind, even on an LLR, can expose you to security vulnerabilities and unsupported configurations. By habitually adopting recent LLRs, you ensure you’re in the supported window for critical patches and compliance audits and avoiding fire drills later. ✅ Reduce Technical Debt Getting stuck on very old LLRs can build up technical debt. Skipping multiple versions makes your next upgrade harder, riskier, and more time-consuming. Keeping up with recent LLRs means smoother transitions, less operational friction, and easier adoption of the next improvements. ✅ Keep Innovation Flowing The idea that an LLR is “old code” is a myth. Recent LLRs contain carefully chosen, well-hardened feature improvements. If you wait too long, you lock yourself out of meaningful performance, efficiency, and capability gains that your peers are already using. ✅ Break the Firmware Mentality FlashArray is software-driven, and has a rapid but reliable development model. Treating it like outdated firmware, and you miss the true value. The LLR program is designed precisely to let you safely adopt modern features and maintain enterprise-grade stability and maintain a predictable cadence. Bottom line? Adopting recent Long-Life Releases, habitually, is the best way to get modern features, maintain security, reduce upgrade risk, and keep your environment aligned with Pure’s best practices. You deserve innovation and peace of mind. Don’t settle for less by sticking with outdated code. If you want help reviewing which LLR is right for you, or understanding the timelines, just reach out — we’re here to help you stay current, secure, and ahead of the game.
Top 10 Reasons to Love Purity 6.9
(Because 6.7 is so 2024) 10. 🏋️♂️ Long-Life Release means it’s supported until June 2028 — which is about three years longer than that gym membership you swore you’d use. 9. 🌐 Works with all the latest FlashArray platforms, AWS, Azure… pretty much everything except your toaster (for now). 8. 🕵️♂️ Security updates so strong, even your data will feel like it’s in the witness protection program. 7. 🚀 Turn on File Services without downtime or approval from Pure product management — finally, a software update you don’t have to schedule for “that one weekend in Q4 when no one’s looking.” 6. 🙌 Encourages Self-Service Upgrades. Translation: fewer support tickets, more “Look, Mom, I did it myself!” moments. 5. 🔑 Default password warning. Yes, “pureuser” is adorable… until it becomes a resume-generating event. 4. 🍍 VMware improvements so good, your virtual machines just sent a fruit basket. 3. 🎛️ Fusion, Fusion, Fusion! Which is like having a universal remote for your data… without the panic of losing it between the couch cushions. 2. 📜 REST API 2.x release notes so thorough, they make War and Peace look like a sticky note. 🏆 You get to tell your boss you're on a "Long-Life Release," which sounds much more impressive than "I'm not doing an upgrade for a while." Check out the release notes for more! https://support.purestorage.com/bundle/m_flasharray_release/page/FlashArray/FlashArray_Release/01_Purity_FA_Release_Notes/topics/concept/c_purityfa_69x_release_notes.html
