Fabric Network Power Management via Dynamic Bandwidth Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems using fabric networks, the power consumption of storage devices is high due to a mismatch between the bandwidths of internal and external interfaces, leading to inefficient power usage without compromising I/O performance.
Innovation Solution
A power management method and system that monitors the status of external and internal interfaces, calculates aggregate bandwidth information, and adjusts internal interface bandwidths to maintain required I/O performance while reducing power consumption by aligning internal bandwidths with external interface bandwidths within a threshold range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bandwidth of internal interfaces is increased to match the higher bandwidth of external interfaces, then I/O performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth adjustment for internal interfaces based on real-time monitoring of external interface bandwidth usage. The controller continuously monitors the bandwidth utilization of external interfaces and dynamically adjusts the bandwidth allocation of internal interfaces to match actual demand, rather than maintaining a fixed high bandwidth configuration. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve high I/O performance when needed while reducing power consumption during periods of lower activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bandwidth parameter of internal interfaces based on monitored external interface usage patterns. By adjusting the bandwidth parameter dynamically according to actual external interface utilization, the system optimizes the balance between performance and power consumption. The controller modifies internal interface bandwidth parameters in response to external conditions, ensuring that power is not wasted on maintaining unnecessarily high bandwidth capacity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the bandwidth of internal interfaces is decreased to reduce power consumption, then power usage is optimized, but I/O performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors the bandwidth utilization of external interfaces and uses this information to adjust internal interface bandwidth allocation. The monitoring component provides real-time feedback on external interface usage, and the controller responds by adjusting internal interface bandwidth to maintain adequate I/O performance while optimizing power consumption. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that performance requirements are met while avoiding unnecessary power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary monitoring of external interface bandwidth usage before making bandwidth allocation decisions for internal interfaces. By advance monitoring of external interface utilization patterns, the system can proactively adjust internal interface bandwidth to prevent performance degradation while avoiding premature bandwidth increases that would waste power. The preliminary action of monitoring allows the system to prepare optimal bandwidth configurations based on anticipated demand.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management method includes monitoring a status of an external interface of external interfaces between the fabric network and at least one host, and a status of an internal interface of internal interfaces between the fabric network and at least one storage device of a plurality of storage devices. The power management method further includes calculating aggregate information of bandwidths of internal interfaces of the plurality of storage devices based on the monitoring, the at least one storage device connected to the at least one host. The method further includes adjusting the bandwidths of the internal interfaces such that the aggregate information of the bandwidths of the internal interfaces is within a threshold range, the threshold range based on a bandwidth of the external interface connected to the at least one host.