Host Device Centralized FTL for RAID 5.0 SSD Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
RAID 5.0 storage systems require a separate flash translation layer (FTL) for each disk drive controller, increasing costs due to the need for logic-physical translation, and existing solutions do not efficiently manage parity information across multiple SSDs.
Innovation Solution
A host device with a processor that generates physical block addresses and SSD identification codes to directly access data and parity information across multiple SSDs, eliminating the need for individual FTLs and reducing costs by performing logic-physical block address translation centrally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate flash translation layer (FTL) is implemented for each disk drive controller in RAID 5.0, then logic-physical translation can be performed, but the cost of disk drives increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the FTL functionality from individual disk drive controllers into a single host device. The host device now performs logic-physical translation for all SSDs in the RAID array, eliminating the need for separate FTLs in each controller. This consolidation reduces overall system cost while maintaining data security through centralized management of the translation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The FTL function is extracted from the disk drive controllers and relocated to the host device. By removing this component from each individual controller, the patent reduces device complexity and cost while preserving the essential logic-physical translation capability needed for RAID 5.0 data security and functionality.
2Ease of operation
If each disk drive has its own controller with FTL, then data can be accessed independently, but the overall system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The host device is designed to perform universal FTL functionality for all SSDs in the array. Instead of each controller having specialized FTL capabilities, the host device provides this service to all drives, reducing redundancy and overall system cost while maintaining independent access capability through software-based translation.
3Reliability
If FTL is implemented in each controller, then logic-physical translation is performed, but storage efficiency decreases due to increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
By merging FTL functionality into the host device, the patent eliminates redundant hardware components across multiple controllers. This consolidation reduces system cost and improves storage efficiency while maintaining the logic-physical translation capability essential for RAID 5.0 data security and redundancy.
Data Source
AI summary
A host device is provided. The host device includes a processor and an interface. The processor generates a physical block address and a solid state disk (SSD) identification code according to a logical block address of an access operation. The interface is coupled to the processor. The processor indicates one of a plurality of SSDs through the interface according to the SSD identification code to access data at the physical block address.