Cache Protected Area for Atomic Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems face inefficiencies in data access due to non-atomicity in write caches, where data in the cache is not reliable and must be read from memory before being provided to the host, prolonging processing times and reducing access efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A data storage method that includes a cache protected area providing a data protected function, where file processing requests are split into operations, written to the cache protected area, and restored upon controller failure, ensuring atomicity and direct access by the host.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is stored in write cache without atomicity protection, then data access speed is improved, but data reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cache storage into two distinct parts: a write cache for high-speed temporary storage and a protected cache area for atomicity-critical data. This segmentation allows the system to enjoy the speed benefits of caching while maintaining data integrity through the protected area that stores complete file operation information.
Solution Approach 2:
The protected cache area acts as an intermediary between the write cache and the ultimate storage destination. It stores file operation information that serves as a commitment record, enabling the system to verify atomicity before making data available to hosts, thus mediating between speed and reliability requirements.
2Productivity
If data in cache is not atomic, then cache writing is faster, but host access efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by writing file operation information to the protected cache area before the data is considered committed. This advance preparation ensures that when data needs to be accessed by hosts, the atomicity verification is already in place, eliminating delays during host access operations.
3Reliability
If data is restored from cache after controller fault, then data protection is improved, but access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protected cache area provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining a ready副本 of file operation information that can be quickly restored after controller faults. This pre-positioned data protection mechanism eliminates the need for time-consuming recovery operations, as the critical information is already available in the protected area.
Data Source
AI summary
In a backup method, a first controller of a storage system receives a file process request, and divides the file process request into a plurality of file operations. The first controller processes each of the file operations to generate multiple pieces of file operation information. And then, the first controller writes all of the multiple pieces of file operation information into a cache protected area. When the first controller fails, it stores the multiple pieces of file operation information to a disk protected area of a disk in the storage system. After the first controller is powered on again, the first controller copies the multiple pieces of file operation information from the disk protected area to the cache protected area. And then, it writes the file operation information into a write cache. At last, the first controller stores the file operation information into a disk of the storage system.