NVMe SSD Access Control via PCIe Switch 4-Control Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current NVMe SSDs lack support for Single Root Input/Output Virtualization (SR-IOV) characteristics, hindering the commercialization of NVMe backend 4-control sharing and resulting in low data transmission redundancy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for solid-state disk access control that utilizes a PCIe switch to map real and virtual spaces on NVMe SSDs, enabling 4-control sharing by reserving PCIe resources, detecting controller node faults, and implementing quick failover through system software, ensuring high reliability and availability with 1+3 redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NVMe SSDs support SR-IOV characteristics and provide four ports, then 4-control sharing and data transmission redundancy are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PCIe switch as an intermediary device between the controller nodes and NVMe SSDs. The PCIe switch provides virtualization capabilities (PF and VF) that enable 4-control sharing without requiring the NVMe SSD itself to support SR-IOV or have multiple ports. This mediator resolves the contradiction by achieving the desired redundancy and sharing capabilities through external infrastructure rather than modifying the SSD's internal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage system into distinct functional components: controller nodes, PCIe switch with virtualization layers (PF/VF), and NVMe SSDs. By dividing the system this way, the complex virtualization and redundancy management functions are isolated to the PCIe switch layer, allowing simple NVMe SSDs to be used while still achieving 4-control sharing and high reliability through the segmented architecture.
2Ease of manufacture
If NVMe SSDs have single port configuration, then device simplicity and ease of manufacture are maintained, but reliability and availability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the PCIe switch universal by enabling it to serve multiple controller nodes simultaneously through virtualization. The single NVMe SSD connected to the PCIe switch can be shared by multiple controller nodes (1+3 redundancy), allowing the same simple single-port SSD configuration to achieve multi-functionality and high system availability without requiring different hardware configurations for different reliability levels.
3Ease of operation
If 4-control sharing is implemented without SR-IOV support, then ease of operation is improved, but data transmission redundancy remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the PCIe switch automatically manages the virtualization assignments and mapping between controller nodes and NVMe SSDs. The system autonomously handles the complexity of 4-control sharing and redundancy management without requiring manual configuration or specialized SR-IOV support, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving the desired data transmission redundancy through automatic failover capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state disk access control method and apparatus, a computer device, and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: detecting controller nodes connected to a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) switch and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) solid-state disks connected to the PCIe switch; setting a first mapping connection relationship to be formed between each NVMe solid-state disk and one of the controller nodes, and setting second mapping connection relationships to be formed between each NVMe solid-state disk and the remaining controller nodes; and under a condition that any NVMe solid-state disk is accessed, in response to a determination that the first mapping connection relationship is abnormal, selecting one of the remaining controller nodes as a standby controller of the accessed NVMe solid-state disk, and modifying the second mapping connection relationship between the standby controller and the accessed NVMe solid-state disk to the first mapping connection relationship.