Multipath Initiator Routing to Simplify Host Storage Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems require host systems to be configured for multiple connections to manage multipath connections, which adds overhead and complexity, especially in large-scale environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multipath management and routing in an initiator based on dynamically mapping queue pair identifiers from host connections to backend paths, offloading this functionality to an NVMe initiator card with multiple switched paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multipath management is implemented at the host system level, then multiple physical paths can be supported, but host overhead and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts multipath management functionality from the host system and relocates it to the NVMe initiator card. The initiator card includes a multipath management module that handles path selection, monitoring, and failure recovery independently, freeing the host from complex multipath configuration while maintaining connection reliability through dedicated hardware-level path management
Solution Approach 2:
The NVMe initiator card acts as an intermediary between the host system and storage devices. It introduces a multipath management module that serves as a mediator, handling all multipath operations including path selection, status monitoring, and failover logic, thereby shielding the host from complexity while ensuring reliable multi-path connectivity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multipath software is installed on host systems, then path management capability is provided, but CPU overhead increases in large-scale environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based multipath management on the host with hardware-based management in the NVMe initiator card. The initiator card's multipath management module executes path management operations in hardware, eliminating the need for host CPU to process multipath software, thereby reducing CPU overhead while maintaining full path management capability
Solution Approach 2:
The NVMe initiator card provides self-service multipath management through its dedicated multipath management module. The module autonomously handles path selection, monitoring, and failure recovery without requiring host CPU intervention, enabling the system to maintain adaptability for multiple paths while minimizing energy consumption and CPU overhead
3Reliability
If multiple host connections are configured for multipath support, then redundancy is achieved, but installation and configuration difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multipath management functionality into the NVMe initiator card itself, combining path management capabilities with the storage interface hardware. This integration allows multiple physical paths to be supported through a single unified interface, achieving connection redundancy while simplifying installation and configuration compared to separate multipath software installations on multiple hosts
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and a multipath initiator for a data storage device array that presents a single path host interface are described. The multipath initiator includes at least two backend paths to multiport data storage devices and a single path host interface. The initiator may determine a queue pair identifier for a host connection and storage commands to that host connection. The initiator may assign a path identifier, such as for a first backend path or a second backend path, to use for storage commands and send the storage commands to the data storage devices using the selected backend path.