Interface Device DMA Data Reverse Conversion for Server Storage Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems face high costs and performance degradation due to increased FC ports and decompression processing loads when connecting servers to storage apparatuses, particularly with the use of flash memory for data caching, which requires prior design and management of cache areas and compression policies.
Innovation Solution
A computer system architecture that includes a storage module, a server module, and an interface device allowing for DMA transfer of post-converted data between storage and server memories, enabling flexible decompression and compression operations based on I/O characteristics without prior application design, thereby reducing data transfer amounts and improving bandwidth between the server and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If decompression processing is performed on the server side to reduce data transfer volume, then the effective bandwidth between server and storage is improved, but the server processing load increases and system performance may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decompression processing function from the server side and relocates it to the storage apparatus side. The storage apparatus performs decompression of compressed data before transferring it to the server, thereby reducing the data transfer volume over the network while avoiding additional processing load on the server. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the bandwidth benefit without sacrificing system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a storage apparatus as an intermediary between the data source and the server. This intermediary performs the decompression operation, acting as a mediator that reduces the burden on the server while still achieving the goal of reduced data transfer volume. The storage apparatus mediates between the compressed data in storage and the server's need for decompressed data, resolving the performance-bandwidth tradeoff.
2Productivity
If flash memory is mounted on the server side for data caching, then storage access is reduced, but the device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing caching functionality within the storage apparatus itself rather than requiring external flash memory on the server. The storage apparatus maintains cache areas locally and performs hit/miss determination internally, providing fast storage access without requiring the server to have additional flash memory components or manage cache policies. This resolves the contradiction by achieving fast access without increasing server-side device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the primary storage device and the cache memory simultaneously. By integrating these functions into a single device, the patent eliminates the need for separate flash memory components on the server and reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining fast access performance.
3Loss of energy
If compression policies are managed on the server side to determine whether to read compressed or decompressed data, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but the ease of operation and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the storage apparatus to autonomously determine whether to transfer compressed or decompressed data based on its internal assessment of data characteristics and access patterns. The storage apparatus manages compression policies locally without requiring server-side configuration or management intervention. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining data transfer efficiency while simplifying operation, as the system automatically adapts without user involvement.
Data Source
AI summary
The transfer data amount between a server and storage is effectively reduced, and the broadband of an effective band between the server and the storage is realized. An interface device is located in a server module, and, when receiving a read request issued by a server processor, transmits a read command based on the read request to a storage processor. In a case where a reverse-conversion instruction to cause the interface device to perform reverse conversion of post-conversion object data acquired by converting object data of the read request is received from the storage processor, DMA to transfer post-conversion object data stored in the transfer source address on a storage memory to the transfer destination address on the server memory while reverse-converting the post-conversion object data is performed.