NVMe updates add SSD virtualization and post-quantum security features

The NVM Express consortium announced comprehensive updates to its entire NVMe specification family, adding features aimed at virtualized data-center environments. Central to the changes is PCIe Exported NVM Subsystem Migration, which virtualizes locally attached PCIe SSDs so that virtual machines can migrate between servers without altering storage configurations. Samsung senior director Mike Allison, also a board member of the consortium, highlighted that hosts will interact with exported identifiers rather than physical controllers, ensuring seamless continuity during migration.

The revisions also incorporate support for NIST-approved post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, controller-level rate limiting for quality-of-service management, voltage monitoring for device health, and a factory-reset capability for troubleshooting. Updated documents include NVMe 2.4, Management Interface 2.2, Boot 1.4, and transport specifications for PCIe, RDMA, and TCP. All specifications can be downloaded from the NVM Express website.