FlashCore Module (FCM)
IBM's custom NVMe drive used in FlashSystem storage arrays, performing inline compression and encryption in the drive controller itself.
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, which is why IBM markets FlashCore Modules as a density and performance advantage over standard NVMe media. IBM has released four FlashCore Module generations to date (FCM1 through FCM4), each cataloged across a capacity range from 4.8 TB to 38.4 TB usable, with its own IBM part numbers and feature codes per generation and capacity. FlashCore Modules are not installed directly in an IBM Power server; they live inside external FlashSystem arrays that attach to Power hardware over SAN, the same way any external SAN storage attaches to an AS400/IBM i partition.