Partial Block Deallocation for SSD Rebuild Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage systems face inefficiencies in data rebuilding due to the need for parity units and increased FRU capacity, leading to longer rebuild times and decreased performance as FRUs degrade.
Innovation Solution
Implementing direct flash memory storage devices to manage storage at a finer granularity, allowing for RAID/parity schemes at a data block level, enabling partial deallocation of uncorrectable data blocks and reducing the amount of data to be rebuilt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional storage systems use FRU-level RAID stripes, then data redundancy is maintained, but rebuild times increase and performance decreases as FRUs degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RAID stripe from FRU-level to data block-level. Instead of treating entire FRUs as the unit for RAID operations, the system divides data into smaller blocks and distributes them across FRUs. This segmentation allows partial deallocation when blocks become uncorrectable, reducing rebuild scope from entire FRUs to only affected blocks, thereby reducing rebuild time while maintaining data redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial deallocation of only the uncorrectable data blocks rather than deallocating entire FRUs. When corruption is detected in specific blocks, the system performs rebuild operations only for those partial blocks, applying partial action to minimize the amount of data that needs to be rewritten, thus reducing rebuild time and wear on storage devices.
2Quantity of substance
If FRU capacity increases to compensate for degradation, then storage capacity is maintained, but rebuild times increase and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting storage management to the data block level rather than FRU level, the system can maintain full storage capacity utilization while performing smaller, more efficient rebuild operations. Only the corrupted blocks need to be rebuilt rather than entire FRUs, improving productivity during degradation events while maintaining total storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the granularity parameter from FRU-level to data block-level for RAID operations. This parameter change enables the system to work with much smaller units during rebuild operations, reducing the amount of data that must be read, processed, and rewritten, thereby improving performance even as FRUs degrade over time.
3Reliability
If conventional storage systems perform full FRU rebuilds, then data integrity is restored, but storage device longevity decreases due to increased write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by rebuilding only the specific corrupted data blocks rather than entire FRUs. This minimizes the number of write operations required to restore data integrity, reducing wear on storage devices and extending their operational lifespan while still achieving complete restoration of data integrity for the affected blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates only the corrupted data blocks from the FRU for rebuild operations. By taking out only the problematic portions rather than treating the entire FRU as a unit, the system minimizes unnecessary write operations to healthy data, thereby reducing overall wear on storage devices while maintaining data integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
Failure information associated with a plurality of blocks of a solid-state storage device of a plurality of solid-state storage devices is received. One or more blocks of the plurality of blocks storing uncorrectable data are identified based on the received failure information. A partial deallocation of the one or more blocks of the plurality of blocks is issued, the partial deallocation indicating that the one or more blocks store uncorrectable data. A remedial action associated with the one or more blocks of the plurality of blocks is performed.