Boot from Logical Volume Spanning Multiple PCI Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices allow only single device booting, limiting the ability to provide bootable RAID functionality across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first driver unit interfacing with the operating system and a second driver unit communicating with multiple PCI devices to expose them as a single logical volume, enabling booting from a combined volume across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional PCI devices are used for booting, then single device booting is supported, but bootable RAID functionality across multiple devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple PCI devices into a single logical volume that can be bootable. The driver unit combines the functionality of multiple physical devices (PCI devices 140-1 to 140-n) into one logical entity that the operating system can boot from, enabling RAID functionality without requiring separate boot configurations for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver unit performs multiple functions: it interfaces with the operating system, manages multiple PCI devices simultaneously, creates a logical volume spanning these devices, and enables booting from this combined volume. This multi-functional approach allows a single component to handle what would otherwise require multiple separate boot configurations.
2Ease of operation
If multiple PCI devices are exposed individually to the OS, then device independence is maintained, but booting from combined volume is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The driver unit acts as an intermediary layer between the operating system and multiple PCI devices. It translates OS boot requests into coordinated operations across multiple physical devices, presenting a single logical volume to the OS while managing the complexity of multi-device coordination internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver unit is divided into two functional segments: a first driver unit that interfaces with the operating system and a second driver unit that communicates with multiple PCI devices. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple OS interaction while handling complex multi-device management internally.
3Adaptability or versatility
If booting is restricted to single PCI device, then system simplicity is maintained, but functionality and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a logical dimension to the physical device architecture. Instead of booting from individual physical PCI devices, the system creates a logical volume dimension that spans multiple physical devices, allowing the OS to boot from this abstracted logical entity while the underlying physical devices remain independent and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A first driver may interface with an operating system (OS). A second driver may interface with a plurality of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices. The first driver may expose the plurality of PCI devices as a single logical volume to the OS. The OS may boot from the single logical volume that spans the plurality of PCI devices.