HBA Card Startup Optimization via Type-Based Disk Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices with numerous storage apparatuses connected via HBA cards experience prolonged startup times due to the need to scan multiple disks, affecting user experience and device performance.
Innovation Solution
Acquire type information on HBA cards to differentiate between internal and external cards, preventing the scanning of disks connected to external cards, thereby reducing the number of storage apparatuses that need to be scanned before starting the operating system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all storage apparatuses are scanned during device startup, then the system can discover the system disk and load the operating system, but the device starting time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments HBA cards into two distinct groups: internal HBA cards (connected to system disk) and external HBA cards (connected to storage apparatuses). By acquiring type information from HBA card firmware, the system selectively scans only internal HBA cards during startup, excluding external ones. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable system disk discovery through targeted scanning while dramatically reducing startup time by avoiding scans of numerous external storage devices.
2Quantity of substance
If a large number of HBA cards and disks are connected to meet high storage requirements, then storage capacity increases, but the number of storage apparatuses to be scanned increases, prolonging startup time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by acquiring type information from HBA card firmware before the scanning process begins. This pre-acquired information identifies which HBA cards are internal (system disk connected) versus external (storage apparatus connected). During startup, the system uses this pre-established classification to immediately determine which devices require scanning, eliminating the need to scan all connected storage apparatuses and thus resolving the startup time issue while maintaining full storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for starting a computing device, a computing device, and a program product. The method includes: acquiring type information on a plurality of host bus adapter (HBA) cards of the computing device; determining a first group of HBA cards in the plurality of HBA cards based on the type information; and starting an operating system of the computing device by preventing scanning of disks connected to the first group of HBA cards. In this way, the number of storage apparatuses that need to be scanned before starting the operating system is reduced, and the starting of the operating system of the computing device is accelerated.