Modular Storage Devices with CXL for Non-Disruptive RAID Upgrades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional storage systems are limited by the number of storage controllers, restricting the width of RAID stripes and making data recovery and hardware upgrades disruptive, as storage devices are coupled to controllers and cannot be easily removed or upgraded without disrupting service.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a storage system with modular storage devices that can be added or removed from storage controllers, allowing for wider RAID stripes and non-disruptive hardware upgrades, as each storage controller supports multiple modular storage devices, enabling separate addressability and improved data resiliency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If storage devices are coupled to storage controllers in conventional systems, then the system structure is simple and stable, but the width of RAID stripes is limited and hardware upgrades are disruptive

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRAID stripe widthVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into independent storage devices that can be individually addressed and managed. Each storage device operates as a separate unit that can be added or removed without affecting the entire system, enabling wider RAID stripes by simply adding more devices while maintaining system stability through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If storage devices are fixed to controllers, then system stability is maintained, but service disruption occurs during hardware upgrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware upgrade capabilityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Storage devices are extracted from the controller-bound architecture and made into independently addressable units. This extraction allows storage devices to be removed, upgraded, or replaced without taking the controller or other storage devices offline, enabling non-disruptive hardware upgrades while maintaining service continuity through seamless failover and data redistribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of storage controllers is increased to support wider RAID stripes, then RAID stripe width improves, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRAID stripe widthVSAvoidnumber of storage controllers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Existing storage controllers are made universal by enabling them to manage any number of independently addressable storage devices. Instead of requiring additional controllers to increase RAID stripe width, the system allows single controllers to handle expanded device configurations, making the controller infrastructure multi-functional and adaptable to different RAID configurations without increasing component quantities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240411486A1Scalable system memory pooling in storage systems

Publication Date: 2024.12.12 PURE STORAGE INC

AI summary

An addition of one or more storage memory devices including a compute express link (CXL) is detected by two or more storage controllers of a storage system. The CXL is configured to provide access to the one or more storage memory devices for the two or more storage controllers. The two or more storage controllers store at least one of data or metadata in the one or more storage memory devices. The two or more storage controllers one or more storage system operations using the at least one of data or metadata.