Adaptive Parity Group Storage to Reduce SSD Write Amplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In storage systems like SSDs, the redirection on write mechanism leads to increased write amplification and extra space overheads due to zero padding when data is insufficient to fully fill a stripe, affecting performance and service life.

Innovation Solution

A data storage method that dynamically adjusts parity groups based on system load, using small parity groups during low load to avoid zero padding and large parity groups during high load to improve disk utilization, reducing write amplification and overheads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If zero padding is performed to fill a complete stripe when data is insufficient, then disk utilization is improved, but write amplification increases and extra space overheads are caused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisk utilizationVSAvoidwrite amplification
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the stripe size based on system load conditions. When load is low, smaller stripes are used to avoid zero padding and reduce write amplification. When load is high, larger stripes are used to improve disk utilization. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the stripe size to current operational conditions rather than using a fixed size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of stripe size based on system load. By monitoring load conditions and adjusting stripe size accordingly, the system optimizes between disk utilization and write amplification. This parameter change allows the system to switch between small stripes (low load) and large stripes (high load) to resolve the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If zero padding is performed to fill a complete stripe, then data storage capacity is improved, but service life is reduced due to increased write operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage capacityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic stripe size adjustment reduces unnecessary write operations by avoiding zero padding when load is low, thereby extending the service life of the storage medium while maintaining adequate storage capacity through larger stripes when load is high.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the stripe size parameter based on load conditions, the system minimizes write operations to extend service life while still providing sufficient storage capacity through adaptive stripe selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If a fixed large stripe size is used, then disk utilization is improved, but performance deteriorates when data is insufficient to fill the stripe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisk utilizationVSAvoidperformance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the stripe size dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the system to switch between small and large stripes based on load conditions. This resolves the contradiction by using small stripes when data is insufficient (maintaining performance) and large stripes when data is abundant (improving disk utilization).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stripe size parameter is changed based on system load, enabling the system to optimize performance during low-load conditions with small stripes and maximize disk utilization during high-load conditions with large stripes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4715559A1Data storage method and related apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4715559A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4715559A1 patent drawingFigure 1c~3
  • EP4715559A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

This application discloses a data storage method and a related apparatus, and may be applied to the field of storage technologies. The method includes: when a load of a storage system is low, storing, in a manner of a small parity group, data received by the storage system, where the small parity group includes a data block and a parity block; and when a load of the storage system is high, storing, in a manner of a large parity group, data received by the storage system, where the large parity group includes a data block and a parity block, and a quantity of data blocks in the large parity group is greater than a quantity of data blocks in the small parity group. This avoids extra overheads caused by performing zero padding when the data is insufficient to fully fill a stripe, reduces write amplification, and improves performance and a service life of a disk.