NVMe RAID Boot via Shared Mailbox Mediator

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Solution Overview

Problem

The removal of the chipset SATA controller from upcoming platforms disrupts the boot support and management of software RAID volumes, including the ability to enable boot on these volumes.

Innovation Solution

A system that configures a shared mailbox as a RAID controller, creates a RAID volume from at least one non-volatile memory express drive, and exposes this RAID volume during the boot process to the basic input/output system, thereby enabling boot without relying on a chipset SATA controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the chipset SATA controller is removed from the platform, then the device complexity is reduced and compatibility with emerging technologies is improved, but the ability to boot from software RAID volumes is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with emerging technologiesVSAvoidboot support for software RAID volumes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a shared mailbox mechanism as an intermediary between the NVMe driver and the boot process. This mailbox serves as a communication channel that allows the NVMe driver to pass RAID volume information and boot capabilities to the boot loader without requiring a dedicated SATA controller. The mailbox acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the removed controller and the boot functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential boot support functionality from the SATA controller and implements it independently through the NVMe driver and shared mailbox mechanism. By separating the boot support function from the physical SATA controller, the system maintains boot capability while removing the dependency on the controller hardware itself, thus resolving the contradiction between removing the controller and maintaining boot support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the shared mailbox is configured as a RAID controller, then boot support for RAID volumes is enabled without SATA controller dependency, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboot support for RAID volumesVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shared mailbox is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a communication mechanism between drivers and as a virtual RAID controller interface. By making the mailbox multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing the overall complexity increase while still enabling boot support for RAID volumes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The NVMe driver automatically configures and manages the shared mailbox for RAID boot operations without requiring manual intervention or complex external configuration. The driver handles the mailbox setup, RAID volume identification, and boot parameter passing autonomously, which simplifies the user experience despite the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12282690B1Enable boot on a non-volatile memory express software redundant array of independent drives volume

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system claims ownership of a shared mailbox, and configures the shared mailbox as a redundant array of independent drives (RAID) controller. The system creates a RAID volume from at least one non-volatile memory express drive, and exposes the RAID volume during a boot process to a basic input/output system.