Offload Processing via NVMe Storage Slot Switch Fabric
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems face limitations in offloading processing tasks, as directly coupled offload processors are dedicated to specific primary processors, offering limited flexibility and becoming unavailable if the primary processor fails, leading to underutilization and reduced processing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with offload processors housed in devices that mimic storage slots, allowing multiple primary processors to share these resources via a switch fabric, enabling flexible allocation and continued operation even if a primary processor fails, thus optimizing compute resource management and scaling processing power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If offload processors are directly coupled to primary processors, then processing tasks can be offloaded, but the offload processors become dedicated and unavailable if the primary processor fails
Solution Approach 1:
The offload processors are designed to serve multiple primary processors simultaneously through the switch fabric, rather than being dedicated to a single primary processor. This multi-functional design allows any offload processor to be allocated to any primary processor that needs processing capacity, ensuring continued availability even when one primary processor fails.
Solution Approach 2:
A switch fabric is introduced as an intermediary component between primary processors and offload processors. This mediator enables dynamic resource allocation and routing, allowing offload processors to be shared across multiple primary processors while maintaining reliable connectivity and availability independent of any single primary processor's status.
2Productivity
If offload processors are directly coupled to primary processors, then processing can be offloaded, but flexibility in resource allocation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The architecture enables offload processors to serve multiple primary processors through the switch fabric, providing flexible resource allocation. Primary processors can dynamically access available offload processor capacity based on workload demands, enhancing adaptability while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic resource allocation where offload processors can be assigned to different primary processors based on real-time needs. The switch fabric enables flexible routing and allocation decisions, allowing the system to adapt to changing workload requirements and optimize resource utilization dynamically.
3Productivity
If multiple primary processors share offload processors via switch fabric, then resource utilization improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch fabric serves as a standardized intermediary that simplifies the complexity of sharing offload processors among multiple primary processors. By providing a well-defined routing and allocation mechanism, the switch fabric manages the complexity of resource sharing while enabling improved utilization through controlled access and dynamic allocation protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Offload processing may be provided that is not dedicated to a primary processor or a subset of primary processors. A system may have one or more offload processors, for example, GPUs, coupled to data storage slots of the system, which can be shared by multiple primary processors of the system. The offload processor(s) may be housed within a device configured to be coupled to a storage slot, for example, as if the device were a storage drive. The one or more offload processors may be housed within a device that includes an interface in conformance with a version of an NVMe specification and may have a form factor in accordance with the U.2 specification. Offload processing devices may be communicatively coupled to one or more primary processors by switching fabric disposed between the one or more primary processors and the storage slot to which the offload processing device is connected.