NAS Boot Drive Selection Using Disk Signatures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network attached storage (NAS) devices face challenges in properly selecting a boot drive, especially when multiple removable hard disks are connected, as existing methods require user intervention or automatic switching that may not select an appropriate operating system, leading to inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A storage processing device with a boot processor that selects a boot drive based on identification information, such as a signature or latest creation date, and unique identification numbers, ensuring the storage medium with the appropriate system information is chosen for booting, and includes a communication interface using a MAC address for unique identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If automatic boot drive switching is implemented, then user operation is simplified, but the system may select an inappropriate operating system leading to boot failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboot drive selection operationVSAvoidboot drive selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by writing identification information (signature) and creation date metadata to each storage medium before boot time. This allows the boot processor to make accurate automatic selections without user intervention, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and selection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple removable hard disks are supported, then system adaptability is improved, but boot drive selection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage medium compatibilityVSAvoidboot drive selection mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses parameter changes by comparing creation date metadata and identification signatures of storage media to automatically determine the appropriate boot drive. This simple parameter-based approach handles multiple removable hard disks without increasing selection mechanism complexity, maintaining both adaptability and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If boot drive selection is automated, then productivity is improved, but selection precision may deteriorate without proper identification mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboot up speedVSAvoidboot drive identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses copying by writing identification information (signature) and creation date metadata from the storage medium to the file system. This creates identifiable copies of the medium's characteristics, enabling the boot processor to accurately identify and select the correct boot drive automatically, thus improving both productivity and selection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8762700B2Storage processing device and program

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 BUFFALO CORP LTD

AI summary

The NAS 20 to which the removable hard disks 251 and 252 each storing an operating system are connected, assumes that the removable hard disk storing the signature of the NAS 20 stores an operating system executable on the NAS 20. Thus, the NAS 20 selects as a boot drive the removable hard disk storing the signature of the NAS 20 and then boots up the operating system stored in the boot drive thus selected.