FlashCore Module (FCM)
Also known as: FCM, IBM FlashCore Module
A FlashCore Module (FCM) is a purpose-built NVMe drive IBM designs for its FlashSystem and Storage Virtualize based storage arrays. Unlike a commodity NVMe SSD, a FlashCore Module performs compression and encryption inside its own drive controller rather than relying on the storage system's general-purpose processors. IBM has released five FlashCore Module generations to date (FCM1 through FCM5). FCM1 through FCM4 share the same U.2 NVMe drive bay and a 4.8 TB to 38.4 TB capacity range. FCM5 broke that compatibility.
- It moved to the EDSFF form factor
- It is exclusive to the current FlashSystem 5600, 7600 and 9600
- It does not fit any earlier array
That generation break is the single most common reason a FlashSystem media order comes back wrong. Buyers comparing enterprise flash storage resellers should ask which FlashCore Module generation a quoted FlashSystem array uses, since older and newer generations are not always interchangeable within the same array.