FlashArray//C is the most cost-effective solution for this use case. It is specifically designed as a capacity-optimized all-flash array, utilizing higher-density QLC NAND flash to offer flash-level performance and reliability at a cost competitive with hybrid or HDD-based systems. For a video archive workload, where capacity and cost-effectiveness are prioritized over the extreme low-latency performance of Tier 1 applications, FlashArray//C provides the ideal balance. It allows the customer to modernize their multi-rack HDD environment into a smaller, more efficient all-flash footprint without the premium cost associated with performance-optimized arrays.

A. FlashArray//X: This is a performance-optimized array for Tier 1 workloads. It would be unnecessarily expensive and over-provisioned for a capacity-centric video archive, making it not the most cost-effective solution.

B. FlashArray//XL: This is the highest-performance model in the FlashArray family, designed for the most demanding Tier 0/1 applications. It is the least cost-effective option for an archive workload.

1. Pure Storage FlashArray//C™ Data Sheet: "FlashArray//C is the industry’s first capacity-optimized AFA, designed to bring consistent all-flash performance to tier-2 production and workload consolidation applications... It provides a cost-effective, capacity-oriented solution for use cases that don’t demand the extreme performance of FlashArray//X." (Page 1, "Product Overview"). This document explicitly positions FlashArray//C for Tier 2 applications like archives as a cost-effective alternative.

2. Pure Storage FlashArray Family Data Sheet: This document compares the product lines. It positions FlashArray//X and //XL for "Performance-sensitive workloads" and "Mission-critical applications," respectively. In contrast, it positions FlashArray//C for "Capacity-oriented workloads" and "Workload consolidation," directly aligning with the customer's video archive requirement. (Page 2, "FlashArray Models" table).

3. Pure Storage White Paper, "The Pure Storage Guide to Modern Data Protection": While focused on data protection, this paper discusses workload tiers. It describes the need for a "flash-to-flash-to-cloud" architecture where capacity-optimized flash (like FlashArray//C) serves as a tier for less active data, backups, and archives, replacing slower disk-based systems. (Section: "Modernize Your Data Protection").