Linux Kernel 6.13 Integrates Support for SDUC Standard, Enabling Up to 128TB Storage Cards

Storage repositories remain extremely popular in digital cameras, single-board computers, and IoT devices, especially as technological advancements continuously increase the demand for storage capacity.

To accommodate higher capacities and faster read/write speeds, the SD 7.0 specification introduced in 2018 added the SDUC standard. This standard incorporates the new SD Express bus, based on the PCIe 3.1×1 bus and NVMe protocol, supporting storage capacities of up to 128TB and offering full-duplex transfer speeds of up to 985MB/s.

With the latest MMC core updates, Linux Kernel 6.13 now supports the SDUC standard, meaning subsequent Linux systems will be able to support 128TB storage cards and higher transfer speeds.

Western Digital and SanDisk launched the world's first 4TB and 8TB storage cards in August, providing substantial storage support for specific working environments, such as digital photography and video recording.

These ultra-high-capacity storage cards are expected to hit the market starting next year. With Linux Kernel already offering support, it's anticipated that Raspberry Pi will also accommodate them, though it's uncertain whether Raspberry Pi hardware can achieve the 985MB/s transfer speed.

It's noteworthy that the SD 8.0 specification further extends the SD Express bus, offering solutions based on PCIe 3.2×1, PCIe 4.0×1, and PCIe 4.0×2, with the PCIe 4.0×2 solution reaching maximum transfer speeds of up to 3938MB/s.