Hybrid FCoE Adapter Host-Device Workload Split

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network systems face inefficiencies in processing storage packets, such as Fibre Channel frames, and network packets, as they typically require separate NICs and HBAs, leading to complex software code and high costs, with existing solutions like Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCOE) either being expensive or resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid approach using a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCOE) adapter that splits workload between a host driver and the adapter, where the host performs intelligent I/O control block operations and the adapter handles packetization, avoiding the need for expensive full offload adapters and host-executed Fibre Channel stacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate NICs and HBAs are used to handle network and storage traffic, then protocol-specific performance is optimized, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol-specific performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the network interface card (NIC) and host bus adapter (HBA) into a single unified device that can handle both Ethernet and Fibre Channel protocols. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate NICs and HBAs, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining protocol-specific performance through dedicated processing modules for each protocol type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified adapter is designed with multi-functionality to perform both network communication (Ethernet) and storage communication (Fibre Channel) tasks. It includes separate processing modules for network protocol handling and storage protocol handling, allowing a single device to replace multiple specialized devices while optimizing performance for each protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If full offload adapters are used to handle Fibre Channel processing, then storage traffic processing is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage traffic processingVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of implementing full offload capabilities that would require expensive dedicated Fibre Channel processing hardware, the patent uses a hybrid approach where the host system executes partial Fibre Channel processing functions through software drivers. This partial offload approach reduces the complexity and cost of the adapter while still improving storage traffic processing performance compared to pure software solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a host driver as an intermediary layer that bridges the gap between the simplified adapter hardware and the full Fibre Channel protocol requirements. The driver executes on the host system and handles complex Fibre Channel processing tasks, allowing the adapter to remain simpler and less expensive while still achieving improved storage traffic processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If Fibre Channel stack is executed on host, then adapter complexity is reduced, but host resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadapter complexityVSAvoidhost resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial offload where only specific Fibre Channel processing functions are executed on the host system through the driver, rather than the complete Fibre Channel stack. This selective approach reduces adapter hardware complexity while limiting host resource consumption to only the necessary processing functions, avoiding the excessive resource usage that would occur with full stack execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Device complexity

If consolidated adapter handles both network and storage protocols, then cost is reduced, but processing performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidprocessing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The unified adapter is segmented into separate processing modules: a network processing module for Ethernet handling and a storage processing module for Fibre Channel handling. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific protocol while sharing common hardware resources, thereby reducing cost through consolidation while maintaining high processing performance through dedicated processing paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8225004B1Method and system for processing network and storage data

Publication Date: 2012.07.17 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

Method and system for transmitting data using a network protocol and a storage protocol via an adapter is provided. The method includes receiving an input output control block (IOCB) from a host system for transferring data stored in a host system memory; acquiring data from the host system memory; copying a header template in a local memory of the adapter, wherein the header template is created by a driver executed by the host system; creating a header for the network protocol and a header for the storage protocol; wherein a first module for the adapter creates the network protocol packet header and the first modules uses an assist module to create the storage protocol packet header; and creating a packet to transfer a portion of the acquired data, wherein a packet size is based on a payload size for the storage.