NVMe Storage Device Parity Computation via Internal XOR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Parity-based protection schemes for Solid State Drives (SSDs) have not kept pace with architectural changes in the storage system, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for dedicated hardware controllers, which are becoming obsolete with the rise of NVMe interfaces and SSDs' faster access times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing parity-based protection within the storage device itself, using the NVMe interface to perform XOR computations and update parity data, thereby reducing the computational burden on the host and optimizing I/O, CPU, and memory resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If parity-based protection is implemented using dedicated hardware controllers, then data protection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the parity computation function from dedicated hardware controllers and relocates it to the storage device's own controller. This allows the storage device to perform self-protection without requiring separate hardware parity controllers, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device performs its own parity protection operations internally using its controller's processing capabilities. The device computes parity data and updates parity information without external hardware intervention, enabling self-service protection that eliminates the need for dedicated hardware controllers.
2Productivity
If parity-based protection is implemented within the storage device using NVMe interface, then I/O efficiency is improved, but computational burden on host increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device controller performs parity computations and I/O operations internally using its own processing resources. By handling parity protection tasks within the storage device itself rather than relying on host CPU cycles, the system maintains high I/O efficiency while minimizing computational burden on the host.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces host-based computational mechanisms with storage device-based mechanisms. The NVMe interface enables the storage device to perform parity operations using its integrated controller, substituting host CPU-based parity computation with device-based computation that is more efficient and less resource-intensive.
3Reliability
If parity data is stored on additional devices, then data protection capability is improved, but storage cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device's controller serves multiple functions: it handles normal data storage operations and simultaneously performs parity computation and protection. This multi-functionality allows the same storage capacity to provide both data storage and protection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated parity storage devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device uses its own internal resources and controller to generate and manage parity data. Rather than requiring additional external storage devices to hold parity information, the device computes and stores parity within its own operational framework, reducing total storage capacity requirements while maintaining protection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations described herein relate to systems and methods for providing data protection and recovery for drive failures, including receiving, by a storage device, a write request from a host operatively coupled to a storage device, and determining, by the storage device instead of the host, an XOR result by performing an XOR operation of new data and existing data. The new data is received from the host. The existing data is stored in the non-volatile storage.