Erasure-Coded SSD and SMR Garbage Collection Without Data Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data storage systems, including solid state drives (SSDs) and shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drives, face inefficiencies in garbage collection and defragmentation processes that consume unnecessary time, processor cycles, and energy due to mechanical-based approaches inherited from traditional disk drives.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses erasure codes to recreate data as needed, allowing zones to be returned to an 'available to overwrite' pool without copying residual data, and utilizing pre-planned EC write zones to optimize garbage collection and defragmentation, thereby reducing the need for read-modify-write operations and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional disk drive approaches are used for garbage collection and defragmentation on SSDs, then data can be managed on the storage device, but unnecessary time, processor cycles, and energy are consumed due to mechanical-based approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical-based garbage collection and defragmentation approaches with a software-based erasure code system. Instead of physically moving data blocks using mechanical read/write heads, the system uses mathematical erasure codes to recreate and reconstruct data logically, eliminating mechanical motion and associated time losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of data management from physical data movement to mathematical data reconstruction. By implementing erasure codes that allow data to be recreated from redundant information, the system transforms the garbage collection process from a time-consuming physical operation to an efficient computational process.
2Productivity
If conventional disk drive approaches are used for garbage collection and defragmentation on SSDs, then data can be managed on the storage device, but unnecessary processor cycles are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical data management operations with simpler software-based erasure code computations. The erasure code system reduces processor cycle consumption by using mathematical operations for data reconstruction instead of complex file system operations and data copying mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses erasure codes to create redundant data representations that allow original data to be recreated without physical copying. This virtual copying mechanism reduces the need for actual data movement and the associated processor overhead.
3Productivity
If conventional disk drive approaches are used for garbage collection and defragmentation on SSDs, then data can be managed on the storage device, but unnecessary energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates energy-consuming mechanical operations by replacing them with software-based erasure code computations. Since SSDs have no moving parts, the patent further optimizes by using logical data reconstruction through mathematics rather than physical data movement, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The erasure code system enables the storage device to self-manage data integrity and recovery without requiring energy-intensive external intervention. The redundant data structures allow the system to automatically reconstruct lost or deleted data using mathematical operations that consume minimal energy.
4Productivity
If conventional disk drive approaches are used for garbage collection and defragmentation on SMR drives, then data can be managed on the storage device, but inefficient bottlenecks occur that consume unnecessary time, processor cycles, and energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical data management approaches with software-based erasure code operations that are not constrained by mechanical movement speeds. This substitution eliminates the speed bottlenecks inherent in conventional disk drive approaches and enables faster garbage collection and defragmentation on SMR drives.
Solution Approach 2:
The erasure code system performs preliminary data protection by creating redundant data representations in advance. This preliminary action enables rapid data reconstruction during garbage collection without requiring time-consuming read-modify-write operations, thereby increasing operational speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Example apparatus and methods provide improved reclamation, garbage collection (GC) and defragmentation (defrag) for data storage devices including solid state drives (SSD) or shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drives. An erasure code (EC) layer that facilitates logically or physically erasing data from the SSD or SMR as a comprehensive GC or defrag is added to the SSD or SMR. Erased data may be selectively recreated from the EC layer as needed. Pre-planned EC write zones may be established to further optimize GC and defrag. Recreated data may be written to selected locations to further optimize SSD and SMR performance. Erasure code data may be distributed to co-operating devices to further improve GC or defrag. Example apparatus and methods may also facilitate writing data to an SMR drive using tape or VTL applications or processes and providing a pseudo virtual tape library on the SMR drive.