Foreign Logical Unit Assimilation in Network Storage Controllers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network storage controllers face challenges in assimilating foreign logical units without making them offline, as current methods either require data overwrite or time-consuming copying, or limit storage controller-specific functionality.

Innovation Solution

A method to assimilate foreign logical units in-place, converting them to native file system format while remaining online, by progressively increasing the binding between the file system and the foreign logical unit, allowing immediate use of storage controller features like snapshotting and mirroring without data copying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If reformatting is performed on a foreign logical unit to enable storage controller functionality, then storage controller value-added functionality is available, but the logical unit becomes offline and data must be copied or overwritten

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage controller value-added functionalityVSAvoidlogical unit offline time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the assimilation process into multiple progressive stages (initial stage, prepare update stage, updatable stage, prepare assimilate stage, assimilate stage) rather than performing a single reformatting operation. This allows the logical unit to remain online throughout the process while gradually increasing the binding between the file system and logical unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by creating a native logical unit representation and establishing initial file system binding before the foreign logical unit needs to be fully assimilated. This preparatory work enables the subsequent progressive assimilation to occur without taking the logical unit offline.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If reformatting is performed on a foreign logical unit, then storage controller value-added functionality is available, but data must be overwritten or copied to intermediate storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage controller value-added functionalityVSAvoiddata loss or data copying overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of reformatting the foreign logical unit directly (which would cause data loss or require copying), the patent inverts the approach by creating a native logical unit representation that references the existing foreign logical unit data. The assimilation then progressively binds the file system to this native representation without disturbing the original data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a native logical unit representation that serves as a reference or pointer to the foreign logical unit data, rather than physically copying the data. This virtual copying approach allows the system to work with native file system structures while the actual data remains in its original location on the foreign logical unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If pass-through mode is used for foreign logical units, then data is preserved and rapidly presented, but storage controller specific functionality is limited or inaccessible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata presentation speedVSAvoidstorage controller value-added functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic assimilation process where the binding between the file system and logical unit is progressively increased through multiple stages. The system can adapt its level of integration based on the assimilation stage, allowing it to maintain fast data access while gradually enabling full storage controller functionality without requiring a complete reformatting operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9665578B2Assimilation of foreign logical units in a network storage controller

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 NETAPP INC

AI summary

A method of making a foreign law in usable in a network storage controller includes transparently converting the foreign logical unit to the native format of the file system in place, by progressively increasing the binding between the file system of the storage controller and the foreign logical unit, while the foreign logical unit remains online, without requiring copying of the foreign logical unit.