Mapping Driver Pairing for Data Storage Command Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems (DSS) face inefficiencies in processing XCOPY commands due to the lack of awareness between source and destination inter-driver calls, leading to misalignment and the need for sequential reissuing of commands, which breaks up the copy process into smaller chunks and causes failures.
Innovation Solution
A mapping driver in the driver stack is made aware of the relationship between related source and destination inter-driver calls, allowing them to be paired and fulfilled as integrated copy commands down to the physical storage driver, optimizing the copying process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate source and destination inter-driver calls are used for XCOPY commands, then the driver stack can process data storage commands independently, but the mapping relationship between source and destination becomes misaligned and commands must be sequentially reissued
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate source and destination inter-driver calls into a paired command structure. The mapping driver pairs related source and destination calls together, allowing the physical storage driver to execute them as an integrated copy operation, thereby maintaining address mapping alignment and eliminating the need for sequential reissuing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the driver stack processes source and destination calls independently, then command processing flexibility is maintained, but address mapping alignment between source and destination is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping driver acts as an intermediary between the independent source/destination calls and the physical storage driver. It pairs related calls together and passes them as coordinated commands, preserving address mapping alignment while allowing the upper layers to maintain processing flexibility through independent call issuance.
3Manufacturing precision
If XCOPY commands are broken into smaller chunks due to misalignment, then address mapping can be maintained for each chunk, but the overall copying process becomes inefficient and requires multiple sequential operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple small chunk operations into a single paired command structure. By pairing source and destination calls at the mapping driver level, the system can execute larger integrated copy operations without losing address mapping alignment, thereby improving copying efficiency while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for performance by a mapping driver of a computing device operating as a data storage system. The method includes (a) receiving, from a storage driver stack, a first data storage command (DSC), (b) receiving, from the storage driver stack, a second DSC, (c) determining that the first DSC and the second DSC are both related aspects of a combined storage command, (d) in response to determining, establishing a pairing structure to pair the first DSC and the second DSC together, and (e) fulfilling the combined storage command by fulfilling both the first DSC and the second DSC with reference to the pairing structure. An apparatus, system, and computer program product for performing a similar method are also provided.