Initiator Cache for Storage Array Transaction Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems face challenges in ensuring transaction integrity and performance, particularly in distributed networks where device failures, network disruptions, and power outages can lead to transaction failures, despite redundancy measures, which can increase costs and latency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an initiator cache that writes data transactions in a non-volatile manner, allowing the storage system to create its own redundant copy while the initiator cache copy is still valid, enabling early release of the initiator cache and reducing latency and overhead by eliminating redundant copying and cache synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy measures (RAID, backups, UPS) are implemented to protect stored data, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The initiator cache stores data transactions in non-volatile memory before the storage system processes them. This preliminary action ensures data is preserved even if the storage system fails, eliminating the need for complex redundancy measures like RAID and backups while maintaining transaction integrity.
2Reliability
If redundancy measures are implemented to protect stored data, then reliability is improved, but performance deteriorates due to increased latency
Solution Approach 1:
By storing transactions in the initiator cache before storage system processing, the system eliminates waiting time for redundancy operations. The storage system can process transactions immediately without waiting for RAID operations or backups, significantly reducing latency while maintaining reliability through the initiator cache's non-volatile storage.
3Reliability
If the storage system maintains redundant cached copies of data transactions, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the redundancy function from the storage system and relocates it to the initiator cache. The storage system no longer needs to maintain redundant cached copies or perform synchronization operations, as the initiator cache independently stores transactions in non-volatile memory. This eliminates the overhead of maintaining redundant copies while preserving reliability.
4Speed
If local storage is used to reduce latency, then speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to greater risk of data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The initiator cache stores data transactions in non-volatile memory before they are processed by the storage system. This provides local storage speed for immediate data access while the non-volatile nature of the cache ensures data is preserved during power outages or system failures, combining the benefits of both local storage and protected storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing protected-mode data transactions using an initiator cache is provided. In some embodiments, a protected-mode data transaction is received from an initiator. It is determined that the initiator includes an initiator cache having a cache entry associated with the data transaction. A storage controller of a storage system performs the data transaction in conjunction with a storage device such that the performing of the data transaction is initiated before any writing of the data transaction to a cache of any storage controller of the storage system other than the storage controller based on the determination that the initiator includes the cache entry. In some such embodiments, when it is determined the data transaction failed to complete, a request is provided to the initiator to recreate the transaction from the cache entry in the initiator cache.