Hierarchical Virtual Server Storage Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual server environments, VMs executing storage operating systems are susceptible to failure, leading to single points of failure and reduced reliability, as they perform all storage functions, which can cause failures in other functions if one fails.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hierarchical virtual server environment with multiple levels of physical servers and VMs, where each VM is assigned to perform a subset of storage functions, using a VM hierarchy module to segregate storage functions and ensure high availability by rapidly cloning and deploying VMs across physical servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a VM executes a storage operating system and performs all storage functions, then the storage system can be simplified in structure, but the reliability deteriorates because the VM is susceptible to failure and creates a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage operating system functions into multiple separate VMs, where each VM executes only a specific subset of storage functions (e.g., one VM handles file system operations, another handles disk management). This segmentation isolates failures to individual function subsets, preventing cascading failures across all storage functions while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure through virtualization.
2Device complexity
If a VM performs all storage functions, then resource allocation is simplified, but the system availability deteriorates because failure of one function causes failure of all other functions
Solution Approach 1:
Storage functions are segmented across multiple VMs, allowing independent failure isolation. If one VM fails, only its specific storage function subset is affected, while other VMs continue to provide their respective storage functions, thereby maintaining overall system availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements rapid cloning capabilities that can create backup VMs or replacement VMs quickly. When a VM fails, a cloned copy can be deployed to restore the failed storage function, improving system availability without requiring complex manual recovery procedures.
3Reliability
If storage functions are segregated into multiple VMs, then reliability improves by isolating failures, but device complexity increases due to hierarchical structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hypervisor that provides universal management capabilities across all VMs. The hypervisor handles resource allocation, VM lifecycle management, and coordination tasks, allowing individual VMs to remain simple while the overall system achieves complex reliability goals through the multi-functional hypervisor layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The hypervisor acts as an intermediary layer between the segmented VMs and the physical storage resources. It manages the complexity of inter-VM communication and resource coordination, allowing VMs to be isolated and reliable while the intermediary handles the necessary complexity of system-wide coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a storage system having hierarchical levels of storage functions. The storage system may comprise one or more hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level comprising a server pool of one or more physical servers. Each hierarchical level may be assigned to perform a particular set of storage functions. Each physical server may implement one or more VMs, each VM executing a storage operating system that provides an overall set of storage functions. Each VM is configured to perform only the set of storage functions assigned to the hierarchical level on which the VM executes. The set of storage functions assigned to a VM may comprise a sub-set of the overall storage functions of the storage operating system. In some embodiments, VMs of a first hierarchical level provide storage transaction functions and VMs of a second hierarchical level provide storage access functions.