Controllerless RAID Storage With Master-Device Command Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems require a separate RAID controller to manage Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) operations, which increases complexity and increases the cost of implementation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A storage system and method that integrates a master storage device, a slave storage device, and a controller hub, allowing the master storage device to distribute RAID commands to the slave devices without a separate RAID controller, enabling peer-to-peer routing and eliminating the need for additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate RAID controller is used to manage RAID operations, then data reliability and RAID functionality are improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the RAID controller functionality into the master storage device itself. The master storage device is configured to determine RAID levels, distribute commands to slave storage devices, and manage RAID operations internally, eliminating the need for a separate RAID controller hardware component while maintaining data reliability through RAID functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate RAID controller is used to manage RAID operations, then RAID functionality is improved, but implementation cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RAID controller functions are integrated into the master storage device's control unit. The master storage device performs RAID level determination, command distribution to slave devices, and coordination of RAID operations, thereby reducing hardware component count and lowering implementation and maintenance costs while preserving full RAID functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a separate RAID controller is used, then RAID command management is improved, but the number of hardware components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master storage device integrates the command management functions previously handled by a separate RAID controller. The master storage device determines RAID levels, distributes commands to slave storage devices through the controller hub, and coordinates operations, thereby reducing the number of hardware components while maintaining effective command management capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a master storage device configured to store data based on a RAID level determined by a host, a slave storage device configured to store the data according to a command distributed from the master storage device, and a controller hub configured to couple the slave storage device to the master storage device, wherein the master storage device is further configured to transfer the command to the slave storage device through the controller hub when the master storage device receives a command processing request from the host, and transmit a complete queue (CQ) to the host when operations of the master storage device and the slave storage device are completed in response to the command processing request.