External RAID Controller Merging Drives for Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems lack redundancy in non-volatile memory, requiring additional drives or external connections for redundancy, which increases space and power consumption, and Cluster File Systems cannot boot or operate independently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a redundant array of inexpensive drives (RAID) using an external hardware RAID controller to configure a RAID array with hard disk drives from separate computers, allowing data storage and enabling independent operation without affecting the RAID array's functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If more hard disk drives are added to the system to gain redundancy, then data redundancy is improved, but space consumption and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hard disk drives from separate computers are merged into a single RAID array managed by an external RAID controller, creating a unified storage system that provides redundancy while sharing resources across multiple systems
Solution Approach 2:
The external RAID controller enables hard disk drives to serve dual purposes: they remain part of their original computers while simultaneously functioning as redundant storage in the RAID array, allowing one component to perform multiple functions
2Reliability
If external drives are connected for redundancy, then data redundancy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An external RAID controller acts as an intermediary device that manages the RAID array and coordinates data operations between multiple computers and their hard disk drives, simplifying the complexity by providing a centralized management point
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is segmented into independent hard disk drives from separate computers that are logically organized into a RAID array, allowing each drive to maintain its physical independence while achieving functional redundancy through the RAID configuration
3Reliability
If a Cluster File System is used for redundancy, then data redundancy is improved, but independence of computer operation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into independent hard disk drives from separate computers that are logically organized into a RAID array, allowing each drive to maintain its physical independence while achieving functional redundancy through the RAID configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Data is copied and distributed across multiple hard disk drives in the RAID array, creating redundant copies that can be accessed by different computers independently, eliminating the need for a centralized file system while maintaining redundancy
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for implementing a redundant array of inexpensive drives (‘RAID’) with an external RAID controller and hard disk drives from separate computers, including configuring by the external RAID controller a RAID array, the RAID array comprising hard disk drives from the separate computers, the external RAID controller comprising a hardware RAID controller installed externally with respect to the separate computers, and storing, by one or more of the separate computers through the external RAID controller, computer data on the RAID array.