Distributed Storage Topology Updates via Control Plane Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Updating topologies on router nodes in service provider systems is a static, laborious, manual, and error-prone process, which is slow and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a command line interface (CLI) tool and control plane service to automate the topology update process, facilitating the creation, listing, and deletion of topologies between router and data clusters, and ensuring high availability through dynamic coordination and predefined rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual topology update process is used, then data integrity can be maintained through human review, but the update process becomes slow and laborious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidupdate speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-validation through automated checks including consistency validation, format validation, and conflict detection. The topology update service automatically verifies update packages against stored topology data and predefined rules without requiring manual review, enabling the system to maintain data integrity while operating autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms including validation results, conflict detections, and update status reporting. The consistency validation compares update packages against current topology state and returns detailed feedback on potential issues, allowing the system to automatically correct or reject problematic updates while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If automated topology update process is implemented, then update speed and efficiency improve, but error-proneness increases due to automation complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate speedVSAvoiderror-proneness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation actions before applying topology updates. The consistency validation and format validation are executed on update packages before they are committed to the topology, preventing errors from propagating. This preliminary checking mechanism ensures that only validated updates are applied, reducing error-proneness while maintaining automation speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements protective measures beforehand including backup creation, validation rule enforcement, and conflict detection mechanisms. These cushioning measures are built into the automated update process to prevent potential errors from affecting system stability, allowing fast automated updates without increasing error-proneness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If comprehensive validation and coordination mechanisms are added, then data integrity is maintained, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The validation and coordination functionality is segmented into distinct modular components: topology update service, consistency validation module, format validation module, and coordination logic. Each component has a specific responsibility and can be independently maintained and updated. This segmentation reduces system complexity by organizing validation mechanisms into manageable, loosely-coupled modules while maintaining comprehensive data integrity checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual topology configuration management is used, then flexibility in customization is maintained, but labor requirements and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The topology update service provides universal functionality that handles multiple operations including creation, deletion, and modification of topology configurations through a single automated interface. The system accepts topology update packages in standardized formats and applies them across the distributed cache system, maintaining configuration flexibility through programmable parameters while eliminating manual configuration time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250343757A1Systems and methods for streamlined topology updates for distributed data storage

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 STRIPE LLC

AI summary

A method and system for updating a topology on router nodes in a distributed storage system are described. The method can include obtaining, by a first service of a control plane service, topology information from an inventory data store by querying a second service of the control plane service that manages the inventory data store for the topology information. The method can further include generating, by the first service of the control plane service, a topology payload based on the obtained topology information. The method can also include sending, by the first service of the control plane service, a request comprising the topology payload to a router node.