Device Function Driver for Managed Storage Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems lack effective mechanisms for managing device reliability, particularly in predicting and addressing failures without disrupting the operating system or requiring power downs, and for coordinating remanufacturing and reintroduction of devices in a networked cluster.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that includes a device function driver (DFD), device virtualization bus driver (DVBD), and device management service (DMS) to monitor device health, mask predicted failures from the operating system, and coordinate logical removal and reintroduction of devices, enabling remanufacturing without interrupting system operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If device failures are detected and addressed immediately, then data storage reliability is improved, but system operation is interrupted and power downs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting and masking device failures before they actually occur. The device function driver monitors device health indicators and preemptively masks failing devices from the operating system, allowing remanufacturing to be initiated before the device completely fails and causes system interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The device function driver acts as an intermediary layer between the physical storage device and the operating system. It intercepts health status information from the device, determines if failure is predicted, and masks the failure from the OS while maintaining operational access, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and continuity.
2Productivity
If failing devices are masked from the operating system, then system operation continuity is improved, but device health transparency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device function driver serves as an intelligent intermediary that selectively masks only the failure aspect from the operating system while preserving device functionality. It translates device health information into appropriate status reports, hiding predicted failures that would cause interruptions while maintaining transparency about operational device states.
Solution Approach 2:
The masking mechanism applies local quality by differentiating between types of device information. It selectively masks only the failure-prediction aspect that would harm system continuity, while preserving transparency about operational status, capacity, and performance characteristics that are useful for system operation.
3Reliability
If devices are removed for remanufacturing, then device reliability is improved, but coordination complexity in networked clusters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the device function driver communicates device health status and remanufacturing needs to the operating system and other cluster nodes. This feedback loop enables automatic coordination of device removal and reintroduction, managing the complexity through structured information exchange rather than ad-hoc procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device function driver provides universal functionality by handling multiple tasks: monitoring device health, determining failure prediction, masking failures from the OS, coordinating remanufacturing removal, and managing reintroduction. This multi-functionality consolidates coordination complexity into a single component rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each task.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided herein that can facilitate the managed reliability of data storage, including management of device remanufacturing and masking from an operating system a failure or predicted failure of a device running on a computer or a networked cluster of computers having access to the device. The systems and methods may facilitate removal of a device by coordinating among computers or controllers in a network cluster the logical removal of a device. At a later time, a coordinated logical re-introduction of the device to the systems or computers from which the device was logically removed can be performed. This can be accomplished via a virtualization system that may include a device function driver (DFD), a device virtualization bus driver (DVBD), and a device management service (DMS).