Ethernet Network in Data Storage Device Controller Resource Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage devices (DSDs) face performance degradation due to increased resource consumption and data traffic as they handle maintenance operations like data recycling, which diminishes their ability to perform host commands efficiently, especially with growing storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an Ethernet network within the DSD that allows Storage Areas (SAs) to communicate directly, reducing the need for the controller to handle data recycling and garbage collection operations, thereby conserving resources and improving performance by distributing data traffic through multiple data paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage capacity of DSDs is increased, then storage capacity is improved, but controller resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the DSD into multiple independent storage areas (SA0-SA7), each with its own controller and Ethernet interface. This segmentation allows maintenance operations to be performed in parallel across different SAs, distributing the resource consumption burden and enabling increased total storage capacity without proportionally increasing central controller resource usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an Ethernet network as an intermediary communication medium between storage areas and the controller. This allows maintenance operations to be orchestrated efficiently and enables direct peer-to-peer communication between SAs for operations like data recycling, reducing the processing burden on the main controller while supporting larger storage capacities.
2Reliability
If controller performs maintenance operations, then storage media integrity is maintained, but data traffic between controller and storage areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Ethernet network acts as an intermediary that enables direct communication between storage areas for maintenance operations. Data recycling and garbage collection can occur directly between SAs over the Ethernet network, eliminating the need for data to traverse back through the controller, thus maintaining storage media integrity while significantly reducing controller-mediated data traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts maintenance operation traffic from the main controller communication path and redirects it through the Ethernet network. This separation allows the controller to focus on host commands while maintenance operations proceed independently through the network, reducing overall data traffic burden on the controller-storage area path.
3Extent of automation
If controller handles all data traffic, then centralized control is maintained, but performance of host commands diminishes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data traffic into two categories: host commands that require centralized controller control, and maintenance operations that can be handled autonomously by individual SAs or pairs of SAs communicating directly over Ethernet. This segmentation allows the controller to maintain centralized control for critical operations while offloading routine maintenance traffic, thereby improving host command performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Storage areas are equipped with their own controllers and Ethernet interfaces, enabling them to perform self-service maintenance operations like data recycling and garbage collection without requiring controller intervention. This self-service capability reduces the controller's workload and improves its ability to handle host commands, while centralized control is maintained for operations requiring coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A Data Storage Device (DSD) includes a plurality of solid-state memories for storing data and a controller configured to receive a packet from a host including a command to read or write data in a solid-state memory of the plurality of solid-state memories and a header to communicate between the host and the DSD. The header in the packet is changed into an internal header to communicate between the controller and the solid-state memory. An internal command and the internal header are sent to the solid-state memory to perform the command.