Dynamic Backup Storage with Rapid Restore Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-performance computing systems face challenges in maintaining data integrity during power failures, as existing backup solutions are either inefficient or consume significant space, and there is a need for a dynamic backup storage system with rapid restore capabilities to protect critical data.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic backup storage system comprising high-speed memory with a first rank memory device and subsequent ranks, non-volatile memory for data saving, and a control logic unit that controls access, allowing the central processing unit to restore the first rank memory device before subsequent ranks, ensuring rapid data recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery back-up structure is used to preserve data during power failure, then data integrity is improved, but system space consumption increases and the solution is only short-term
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is divided into multiple ranks, with the first rank being restorable from non-volatile memory and subsequent ranks being restorable from either non-volatile memory or the first rank. This segmentation allows progressive data recovery without requiring complete system shutdown or large battery capacity, resolving the contradiction between data integrity and space consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Data is pre-copied to non-volatile memory before power failure occurs. When power is restored, the system can immediately begin restoring data from non-volatile memory to the first rank without waiting for battery power or external intervention, achieving long-term data protection without consuming significant system space.
2Reliability
If all memory ranks are restored before CPU access is enabled, then data completeness is improved, but system recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary restoration of the first rank memory from non-volatile memory before enabling CPU access. This allows critical data to be available immediately when power is restored, while subsequent ranks can be restored in the background without blocking CPU operation, thus reducing overall recovery time while maintaining data completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically enables CPU access after the first rank is restored, allowing operations to proceed with partially restored memory. The restoration of subsequent ranks continues dynamically in the background, balancing data completeness with minimal operational delay.
3Speed
If high-speed memory is used for critical data storage, then access speed is improved, but vulnerability to power failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Non-volatile memory serves as an intermediary between the high-speed volatile memory and permanent storage. It acts as a buffer that can supply data to the first rank of high-speed memory during power restoration, allowing the system to maintain fast access speeds while protecting against power failure through the intermediary non-volatile storage layer.
Solution Approach 2:
Data is preliminarily stored in non-volatile memory before being transferred to high-speed memory. This preliminary action ensures that even if power fails before data is written to high-speed memory, the data can be restored from non-volatile memory, thus protecting critical data while maintaining fast access when available.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a dynamic back-up storage system includes: providing a high speed memory including a first rank memory device and subsequent ranks of memory devices; providing a non-volatile memory for saving data from the high speed memory; and providing a control logic unit for controlling access, of a central processing unit that executes a program, from the high speed memory including restoring the subsequent ranks of memory devices while the central processing unit is executing the program from the first rank memory device.