Bridge Device Buffer for NVMe Storage Rebuild
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses face challenges in implementing a rebuild process for mirroring when external storage devices access a host controller directly, as the bridge device cannot substitute as the host controller and cannot write to or read from these devices, hindering high-speed data transfer and mirroring restoration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a bridge device with a buffer to store data for the rebuild process, allowing external storage devices to write and read data from the buffer instead of the host controller, enabling data copying between devices without increasing processing load on the host controller, even when using NVMe protocol for high-speed data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If external storage devices access the host controller directly for high-speed data transfer, then data transfer speed is improved, but the bridge device cannot perform rebuild processes for mirroring restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer as an intermediary component in the bridge device. During rebuild processes, the buffer temporarily stores data being copied between external storage devices, enabling the bridge device to facilitate mirroring restoration without requiring direct host controller intervention. This resolves the contradiction by allowing high-speed direct access while restoring rebuild capability through the mediating buffer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bridge device manages data access for rebuild processes, then mirroring restoration is enabled, but processing load on the host controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rebuild process functionality from the host controller and relocates it to the bridge device. The bridge device independently manages data copying between external storage devices using its internal buffer, eliminating the need for host controller involvement in rebuild operations. This extraction enables mirroring restoration while keeping the host controller's processing load unchanged.
3Device complexity
If the bridge device directly accesses external storage devices, then rebuild process is simplified, but the bridge device cannot substitute as the host controller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functionality into two distinct parts: the bridge device handles rebuild processes by directly accessing external storage devices through its buffer, while the host controller continues to manage normal data operations. This segmentation allows the bridge device to simplify rebuild operations without needing to fully substitute the host controller, maintaining system adaptability while reducing rebuild complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus which implements a rebuild process for restoring a mirroring state even when each of a plurality of connected external storage devices is configured to input and output data to and from a host controller by accessing a storage area of the host controller. When the host controller has issued an instruction to carry out the rebuild process in which data in one of the external storage devices is copied to the other one, one of the external storage devices which is about to write data to the storage area of the host controller for the rebuild process is caused to write the data to the buffer provided in the bridge device, and the other one which is about to read data from the storage area of the host controller for the rebuild process is caused to read the data from the buffer.