iSCSI Target Routing Table Upload for MPIO Load Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Multi-Path Input/Output (MPIO) solutions for storage area networks face challenges in load balancing across multiple physical connections, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and potential network failures, as they lack effective mechanisms for spreading connections across available paths and do not always receive timely notifications of connection reestablishments, affecting iSCSI reservations and cluster operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that includes a load monitor process to communicate client load and available path information, with target-side recognition of MPIO disk structures and uploading routing tables from iSCSI targets to initiators, allowing for informed path selection and connection load balancing across multiple Network Interfaces (NICs) to ensure efficient resource distribution and fault tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MPIO solutions use multiple physical connections for storage area connectivity, then availability and performance are improved, but load balancing across connections is ineffective and connections may not be properly spread across available paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the storage target recognizes MPIO disk structures and routing information, then feeds back connection status and path information to the initiator. This enables dynamic load balancing decisions based on real-time connection status, ensuring connections are properly distributed across available paths while maintaining effective load balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism through target-side recognition of MPIO disk structures and routing tables. This intermediary layer mediates between the initiator's connection requests and the actual physical paths, enabling intelligent routing decisions that spread connections across available paths while maintaining load balancing efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If MPIO solutions implement custom software per storage vendor, then device-specific functionality is achieved, but configuration management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal target-side recognition mechanism that works across different storage vendors. By defining standard MPIO disk structure recognition and routing table formats at the target side, the system achieves vendor-specific functionality through a unified approach, eliminating the need for separate custom software implementations for each vendor and simplifying configuration management.
3Device complexity
If iSCSI targets do not recognize MPIO disk structures, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but connection load balancing and path selection cannot function properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the iSCSI target pre-recognize MPIO disk structures and maintain routing tables before connection requests arrive. This preparatory recognition enables the target to immediately provide informed path selection and load balancing decisions, eliminating the need for complex runtime analysis while maintaining implementation simplicity through standardized structure recognition.
Data Source
AI summary
A network of data processors for providing access to a resource, such as implemented a Storage Area Network that uses iSCSI and Microsoft MPIO-based network communication protocols. In preferred embodiments, the system or method uses (a) target-side consideration of MPIO disk structures, such as by having iSCSI initiators in from iSCSI targets via an iSCSI session object that is settable by a service action; and/or (b) uploading of routing tables from iSCSI targets to iSCSI initiator(s), such as to a Device Specific Module (DSM). Implementations may also involve, in a preferred embodiment: (1) requesting that the contents of the routing table be provided from the iSCSI target side storage servers to the iSCSI initiators, and using this as one of the factors influencing path selection as performed in the MPIO DSM on the initiator side; and/or (2) transmitting information from the iSCSI initiator to the iSCSI target storage server identifying connections as belonging to the same MPIO disk, and then receiving back from the iSCSI target storage server, information about the connections that should be created, and further then having a connection load balancer on the storage server handle those connections as related connections that need to be assigned each to a different Network Interface (NIC) on the storage servers.