PCI-Express Interconnect for Redundant Storage Virtualization Controllers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional redundant storage virtualization systems face increased circuit complexity and production costs due to the use of external interconnects like FC-AL, SCSI, or SATA for inter-controller communication, which also lead to higher CPU workload and decreased performance from heavy data transmission requirements.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a local bus, such as a PCI-Express bus, for communication between storage virtualization controllers to reduce circuit complexity and production costs, allowing for efficient data transmission and automatic failover without the need for intermediate conversion circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external interconnects like FC-AL, SCSI, or SATA are used for inter-controller communication, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the inter-controller communication function with the existing local bus infrastructure. By using the local bus (PCI-Express) that is already present in the system for both CPU communication and inter-controller communication, the need for separate external interconnects is eliminated, reducing circuit complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The local bus is given multiple functions: it serves as the communication channel between the CPU and storage virtualization controllers, and simultaneously as the inter-controller communication channel between redundant controllers. This multi-functional use eliminates the need for dedicated external interconnects, reducing device complexity and production cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If external interconnects like FC-AL, SCSI, or SATA are used for inter-controller communication, then connection reliability is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the inter-controller communication function with the existing local bus infrastructure. By using the local bus (PCI-Express) that is already present in the system for both CPU communication and inter-controller communication, the need for separate external interconnects is eliminated, reducing production cost while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the inter-controller communication function from the domain of external interconnects and relocates it to the local bus domain. This extraction eliminates the need for expensive external interconnect hardware, thereby reducing production cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If heavy data transmission is required for controller synchronization, then redundancy reliability is improved, but CPU workload increases and performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveredundancy reliabilityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the local bus as an intermediary communication channel between redundant controllers. This intermediary provides a direct, high-speed communication path that bypasses the need for heavy CPU involvement in data transmission, reducing CPU workload while maintaining synchronization reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the CPU-mediated data transmission mechanism with a direct local bus communication mechanism. By substituting the software/CPU-based approach with a hardware-based direct communication path, the system achieves better performance with reduced CPU workload

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7676614B2Redundant storage virtualization computer system

Publication Date: 2010.03.09 INFORTREND TECH INC

AI summary

A redundant storage virtualization computer system is provided. The redundant storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant storage virtualization controller set coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage space to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller set. The redundant storage virtualization controller set comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity, the storage virtualization controllers communicate therebetween via a PCI-Express interconnect. In the redundant storage virtualization controller set, a storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the alternate storage virtualization controller when the alternate storage virtualization controller is not on line.