Front-End Network Adapter Data Access With Metadata Offload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data access processes in storage systems are inefficient due to high processor resource consumption during data replication and encapsulation, leading to poor read/write efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A data access system where a front-end network adapter handles data access operations, including writing and reading data, generating metadata, and maintaining index information, thereby reducing processor involvement and optimizing data access efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor handles data replication and encapsulation during data access, then data access functionality is complete, but processor resource consumption increases and read/write efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts data replication and encapsulation functions from the processor and relocates them to the network adapter. The network adapter independently performs data replication, metadata generation, and packet encapsulation without processor intervention, thereby reducing processor resource consumption while maintaining complete data access functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The network adapter is empowered to handle data access operations autonomously. It receives data from the storage device, performs replication to multiple buffers, generates metadata, encapsulates data into packets with appropriate headers, and transmits them to client devices without requiring processor involvement, enabling the network adapter to serve itself for data access tasks
2Ease of operation
If the processor participates in every data access operation, then data access control is precise, but system complexity increases and operation ease deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data access system into distinct functional modules: the storage device handles data storage, the network adapter handles data replication and network communication, and the processor handles high-level control. This segmentation allows each component to focus on its specific function, simplifying operations while reducing overall system complexity through clear division of labor
Data Source
AI summary
In one example method, a client device sends a first packet to a first storage device, to request that target data can be written into the first storage device, where the first packet includes a logical address into which the target data needs to be written. A front-end network adapter of the first storage device has a capability of parsing the first packet, and can process the first packet. The front-end network adapter of the first storage device writes the target data into the first storage device based on an indication of the first packet. The front-end network adapter of the first storage device generates metadata, and records a correspondence between the logical address of the target data and the metadata, where the metadata can indicate a physical address at which the target data is stored in the first storage device.