Inside FlashArray//RC20: Engineered Reuse, Trusted Architecture, Transparent Lifecycle

FlashArray//RC20 brings the trusted architecture and support model to a broader audience by using engineered reuse and full-lifecycle support to make enterprise-grade storage more accessible than ever.

Much like aerospace companies making tremendous leaps by designing reusable boosters, RC20 systems apply that same principle to enterprise storage with renewed controllers re-engineered for their second mission.

Designed to Serve Again: What Makes RC20 Different

RC20 is built using high-value storage controllers returned to us via Evergreen upgrades. These controllers return from the field in peak condition and are re-engineered for a second mission – rebuilt, upgraded, and tested for full lifecycle deployment.

Each controller is rigorously validated, upgraded with more DRAM, and paired with brand-new chassis, media, fans, power supplies, boot drives, and PCIe cards when configured.

The result: an enterprise-grade array that’s Evergreen Ready, supporting modular upgrades and NDU, but is intentionally not part of Evergreen//Forever. This allows us to meet cost-sensitive needs without the complexity of lifetime commitments

Engineered for Reliability: What We Upgrade

DRAM:

DRAM defines the personality of a controller, and for RC20 systems, we expand it to meet a new mission. Each controller is upgraded by replacing some of the original DIMMS with new and larger capacity DIMMs, more on this later in this blog. This additional memory allows RC20 systems to handle larger metadata sets, deliver higher throughput for capacity-oriented workloads, and handle unified block and file protocols. The increase is validated through stress testing and thermal validation to ensure system integrity under modern demands.

M.2 Boot Drives:

Boot drives carry the OS and manage system logs for Purity. Due to their high write load and the wear characteristics of flash, we replace every boot drive in RC20 systems with a new unit. These drives are installed under torque-controlled conditions and validated through BIOS and post-boot diagnostics. This step improves system reliability and mitigates one of the most common sources of field failure in aged gear.

Fans:

Each controller receives six new fans. These mechanical components are sensitive to wear, vibration, and environmental conditions like dust and heat. We replace them in every RC20 system to stabilize airflow, ensure consistent acoustics, and extend the lifespan of surrounding electronics. Matching vendors and RPM profiles guarantees that the system meets our stringent thermal specifications from the first boot forward.

Power Supplies (1600W Titanium) + PDB:

RC20 systems include new Titanium-rated power supplies and new Power Distribution Boards. These PSUs offer up to 96% efficiency (best in class), reduce thermal stress, and enhance overall system reliability. High-efficiency power delivery directly supports uptime targets and helps reduce data center operating costs.

Coin Cell Battery:

To support Real Time Clock (RTC) functionality and clean startup behavior, we replace the coin cell battery in every RC20 controller. This preempts field issues related to BIOS warnings or incorrect timestamps, and aligns with our preventive maintenance philosophy.

Chassis, Media, Adapter Cards, and Cosmetics:

RC20  systems are delivered in a new chassis with a newly designed bezel, rail kit, new Network Interface Cards (NICs) and Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), and new DirectFlash modules. The visual and mechanical integrity of the system meets the shipping standards of Pure Storage for enterprise-grade arrays. This approach maintains consistency across customer environments and supports a seamless handoff to production.

Not every component needs to be replaced. Some parts remain rock solid and we know this from years of real-world operation.

Proven and Trusted: What Stays in Place

CPU and Motherboard: these are solid-state components with very low failure rates. Extensively validated through extensive testing and telemetry snapshotting.

High Quality DRAM Modules: We expand each RC20 system’s DRAM by replacing six of the DIMMs with higher density modules, enabling greater scalability and improved performance for capacity-optimized workloads. Remaining DIMMs are retained only if they pass our robust advanced memory tests during remanufacturing  and diagnostic tests.  

//Renewed with Confidence

RC20 is a first-class product, renewed to the same standards as our flagship arrays.

Each FlashArray//RC20 controller is relabeled with updated part and serial number identifiers, revalidated through Rework Validation Testing (RVT), and processed under documented ISO 9001-aligned procedures. Every array is tested through the same manufacturing workflows and quality gates as our new FlashArray systems.

Each array is also fully integrated into our Purity roadmap, Pure1 telemetry, and support SLAs on par with our flagship FlashArray//X and FlashArray//C platforms

Our remanufacturing strategy is built around a full support lifecycle – from launch to last upgrade opportunity.

Built with a Plan: Lifecycle from Day One

Every RC20 system includes:

• A 5-year standard support lifecycle, fully aligned with Pure1, Evergreen, and our NDU planning matrix
• Optional upgrade to extend support to 8 years with a controller refresh
• A path to Evergreen//Forever if customers choose to upgrade to //C50
• Lifecycle and software release planning integrated from day one

Pure Storage owns the break-fix cost during the lifecycle. It’s in our mutual best interest, customer and vendor, to avoid failures. That alignment of incentives drives our engineering discipline. Pure Storage designs products to last for a decade or more in the field. We’ve planned the RC20 lifecycle around statistical wear patterns modeled from millions of telemetry hours, then added proactive replacement of age and wear related components to improve reliability beyond the Weibull analysis expected curve.

This model is proven through years of operational telemetry and customer experience. We’ve been running //R controllers in live environments for years, and RC20 systems build directly on that success

Proven in the Field: Where Our Confidence Comes From

Pure has operated renewed controllers at scale for years through our Evergreen//One subscription offering. These systems deliver 99.9999% uptime that is part of the SLAs of the Evergreen//One service. The //R controllers used underneath the Evergreen//One service are backed by full telemetry, service automation, and integrated support to deliver a level of operational resiliency that sets the standard in enterprise storage.

Over the years we have built real-world data, including millions of telemetry hours, from thousands of these Evergreen//One arrays that use //R controllers. We’ve refined our process for validating, tracking, and supporting //R controllers through continuous learning from this fleet. Every replacement, every service call, and every availability report feeds back into how we manage lifecycle and reuse.

With RC20, we’ve taken that proven foundation and turned it into a fully productized offering. It brings the same rigor, QA discipline, and support framework we use in Evergreen//One. The controllers have already demonstrated their resilience; we elevate them further by replacing known high-wear components and revalidating them into a new lifecycle.

This is platform-level confidence, engineered into a scalable, sustainable product line.

Bringing It All Together

We’re proud of how we built RC20 because it’s designed smart, with the customer at the center. It reflects the values of Pure Storage as engineers, as a platform company, and as a partner you can trust.

FlashArray//RC20 gives customers a storage experience that is:

• Fully tested and validated
• Sustainably built from proven components
• Architecturally aligned with the FlashArray platform
• Backed by structured support and flexible upgrade options

RC20 systems reflect the full engineering lifecycle – designed from the ground up for supportability, upgradeability, and long-term reliability.

FlashArray//RC20 is built to serve today and architected for a better tomorrow  

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