Host System Direct Connection to Storage Internal Fabric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage networks rely on external networks and directors for I/O operations, leading to performance issues due to dependency on external network performance and consumption of compute resources, which can impact I/O performance and security.
Innovation Solution
A storage network architecture where a host system is directly connected to the internal fabric of a storage system, allowing it to communicate with physical storage devices and global memory independently of directors, using an interface component to determine data access from cache or storage devices and offloading I/O processing to reduce director resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If host systems use external networks and directors for I/O operations, then connectivity and access to storage resources are provided, but I/O performance deteriorates due to dependency on external network performance and consumption of compute resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the host system from the traditional external network path and directly connects it to the internal switching fabric of the storage system. This removes the dependency on external networks and intermediate directors for I/O operations, allowing host systems to access storage resources through the internal fabric without consuming director compute resources, thereby resolving the performance-reliability contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The internal switching fabric serves as an intermediary that enables direct communication between host systems and storage resources. By using the internal fabric as the mediating component, the system eliminates the need for external networks and directors in the I/O path, improving performance while maintaining connectivity
2Productivity
If directors process all I/O operations, then centralized control and data management are achieved, but compute resource consumption increases impacting I/O performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts I/O processing responsibilities from the directors by enabling host systems to directly access storage resources through the internal switching fabric. This eliminates the need for directors to process all I/O operations, reducing compute resource consumption while maintaining centralized control through the internal fabric architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Host systems perform I/O operations independently by directly accessing storage resources through the internal fabric without requiring director intervention for data processing. This self-service capability reduces the computational burden on directors while maintaining system functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A host system is connected to the internal fabric of a storage system without an intervening external network or director or other component of the storage system controlling the host system's access to the internal fabric. The host system may exchange I/O communications with physical storage devices and/or global memory over an I/O path that does not include any directors, for example, over the internal fabric to which the host system is directly attached. In embodiments in which at least a portion of the global memory is considered part of a director, the host system may be configured to communicate with such global memory over the internal fabric and without use of director compute resources.