NVM Express, Inc. today announced the pending availability of the NVMe Management Interface (NVMe-MI) specification, which defines a standard for NVMe enclosure management and more.

The NVMe-MI 1.1 release standardizes NVMe enclosure management, provides the ability to access NVMe-MI functionality in-band and delivers new management features for multiple NVMe subsystem solid-state drive (SSD) deployments.

NVM Express Inc., offering an open collection of NVM Express (NVMe) specifications and resources on the benefits of non-volatile memory, completed technical work on NVMe-MI 1.1 and the specification is in the ratification process with wide availability anticipated in 60 days. The new management features offer NVMe end-users and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) more control and flexibility.

The in-band NVMe-MI feature allows operating systems and applications to tunnel NVMe-MI Commands through an NVMe driver. The primary use for in-band NVMe-MI is to allow operating systems and applications to achieve parity with the management capabilities that are available out-of-band with a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC).

“NVMe-MI 1.1 furthers the management capabilities for NVM Express devices by enabling enclosure management for NVMe storage arrays (like JBOFs) and provides unified management for multi-NVMe device subsystems, like multiple M.2 NVMe SSDs on a PCIe carrier add-in-card,” said Jonmichael Hands, Product Manager, Intel Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group, NVM Express, Inc. Marketing Co-Chair.