Host Storage System Interface for Direct Fabric Access
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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 determinism and security.
Innovation Solution
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 a Storage System Interface (SSI) that offloads I/O processing and enhances security through validation and encryption logic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a host system uses external networks and directors for I/O operations, then connectivity and data services are provided, but I/O performance determinism deteriorates due to dependency on external network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the I/O processing functionality from the external network and directors by implementing a Storage System Interface (SSI) that enables hosts to directly access the storage system's internal fabric. This removes the dependency on external network infrastructure for I/O operations, allowing hosts to communicate directly with physical storage devices and global memory through the internal fabric, thereby improving I/O performance determinism.
Solution Approach 2:
The SSI acts as an intermediary component that bridges the host system and the storage system's internal fabric. It provides validation and encryption logic while enabling direct access to storage resources without requiring external network directors. The SSI validates I/O requests and encrypts data before placing it on the internal fabric, serving as a secure mediator between the host and storage resources.
2Productivity
If directors process all I/O operations, then data services are provided, but compute resource consumption increases impacting I/O performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling host systems to directly access and process I/O operations with storage devices without requiring director intervention. The SSI on the host system validates requests and encrypts data locally before placing it on the internal fabric, allowing I/O operations to proceed independently of director compute resources. This reduces the compute burden on storage system directors and improves overall I/O performance.
3Reliability
If hosts connect through external networks, then connectivity is provided, but security is reduced due to lack of validation and encryption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing validation and encryption logic in the SSI before data is placed on the internal fabric. The SSI validates I/O requests from hosts and encrypts data before it traverses the internal fabric, ensuring security measures are in place beforehand rather than as an afterthought. This preliminary security processing protects data while it moves through the storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The SSI serves as a security intermediary between hosts and the internal fabric. It validates I/O requests and encrypts data before placing it on the internal fabric, acting as a protective mediator that ensures security without requiring complex external network security infrastructure. The SSI's validation and encryption functions provide security while simplifying the connection architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A host system may include metadata mapping logical storage devices and logical addresses therein to physical storage devices and physical addresses therein. For a read operation, the host system, if it is determined that the data is not in cache on the storage system, the host system may determine, from the device-mapping metadata, the physical storage device and physical location (e.g., address range) therein of the data to be read. The data then may be read from the physical storage device over the internal fabric of the storage system without use of a director. Data may be read from the physical storage device to the host system using RDMA communications that do not involve use of any CPU resources on the host system or the storage system.