Host NIC RDMA Storage Access Offloading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing remote storage devices over a network is complex and inefficient, as existing methods require significant CPU involvement and translation by the storage server, which can lead to system inefficiencies and power consumption issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a driver program on a host computer to initiate remote direct memory access (RDMA) operations via a network interface controller (NIC) using a protocol like NVM Express, allowing storage transactions to be executed directly between the host and remote storage devices, minimizing CPU involvement and enabling efficient data access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional storage access methods over network are used, then data can be transferred between remote storage devices, but CPU involvement is significant and system efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network interface controller (NIC) as an intermediary device that enables direct storage access between remote storage devices without requiring CPU intervention. The NIC implements storage access protocols and handles data transfer operations autonomously, acting as a mediator between the storage devices and the network, thereby eliminating the need for CPU involvement in storage I/O operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage devices are enabled to communicate directly with each other over the network using standardized storage protocols, allowing them to perform self-service data transfers without external CPU control. The system implements autonomous storage access where the storage devices themselves initiate and complete data operations, reducing the burden on the host CPU.
2Reliability
If storage servers require CPU awareness for storage transactions, then data integrity can be maintained, but power consumption increases and system performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where storage devices maintain data integrity through protocol-level guarantees and checksums without requiring continuous CPU supervision. The storage access protocol includes built-in error detection and correction mechanisms that operate autonomously at the device level, ensuring data integrity while minimizing CPU power consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex translation operations are performed by storage server, then remote storage access can be enabled, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal storage access protocol that enables different types of storage devices to communicate over the network without requiring complex translation operations. The protocol is designed to be device-agnostic and can handle various storage formats and protocols natively, eliminating the need for complex translation layers and reducing processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage system includes a storage server, including non-volatile memory (NVM) and a server network interface controller (NIC), which couples the storage server to a network. A host computer includes a host central processing unit (CPU), a host memory and a host NIC, which couples the host computer to the network. The host computer runs a driver program that is configured to receive, from processes running on the host computer, commands in accordance with a protocol defined for accessing local storage devices connected to a peripheral component interface bus of the host computer, and upon receiving a storage access command in accordance with the protocol, to initiate a remote direct memory access (RDMA) operation to be performed by the host and server NICs so as to execute on the storage server, via the network, a storage transaction specified by the command.