Aggregator Device for iSCSI Out-of-Band Storage Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaches to managing multiple data storage arrays are burdensome, requiring manual reconfiguration of iSCSI clients and can lead to bottlenecks in data throughput due to the inline operation of Intelligent Switches, limiting scalability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An aggregator device manages communications between iSCSI clients and data storage systems, operating outside the data path in an out-of-band manner, presenting multiple data storage systems as a single aggregated network array, allowing direct out-of-band access and eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an Intelligent Switch is used to present multiple data storage arrays as a single array, then the iSCSI clients can access multiple arrays without manual reconfiguration, but the Inline Switch becomes a bottleneck that limits data throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the management function from the data path by introducing a separate out-of-band management network. The Intelligent Switch is removed from the data path, and management operations are handled through a dedicated management interface, allowing data traffic to bypass the switch entirely and achieve maximum throughput while maintaining simplified array management.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple Intelligent Switches are added to increase storage capacity, then more data storage arrays can be connected, but each client must be manually reconfigured to communicate with multiple arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into two independent parts: a management network for handling iSCSI commands and a data network for handling data traffic. This segmentation allows the management plane to remain simple and centralized while the data plane can scale independently with multiple storage arrays without requiring client reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary management interface that acts as a mediator between clients and storage arrays. This intermediary handles the complexity of managing multiple arrays centrally, allowing clients to access storage capacity without direct configuration complexity.
3Ease of operation
If an Intelligent Switch operates in-line between clients and storage arrays, then array management is simplified, but latency increases due to the switch processing all data traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts data traffic from the management path by removing the Intelligent Switch from the data path. Data traffic flows directly between clients and storage arrays through the data network, eliminating the latency introduced by switch processing while management operations continue through the separate management network.
Data Source
AI summary
An aggregator device provides an iSCSI client with a list of storage areas which are offered by a single aggregated network array. The storage areas on the list are provided by multiple data storage systems and are accessible by the client using data paths which are out-of-band with the aggregator device. The aggregator device further receives an iSCSI login request from the client. The iSCSI login request identifies a particular storage area on the list of storage areas. The aggregator device further generates and sends an iSCSI login response to the client in response to the iSCSI login request. The iSCSI login response includes a network address of a particular data storage system of the multiple data storage systems which provides the particular storage area to enable the client to directly access the particular storage area using a data path which is out-of-band with the aggregator device.