PCIe Switch Dynamic Configuration for Storage Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems require multiple PCIe switch devices for different system configurations, limiting the versatility of a single switch device to accommodate various configurations, as they are typically set to maintain only one upstream port, restricting their use across multiple configurations.
Innovation Solution
A storage system where the controller unit determines the system configuration based on initiator port IDs and performs switch settings for each switch device connected, allowing a single PCIe switch device to support multiple system configurations by dynamically defining port attributes and partitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a PCIe switch device is configured with a fixed number of upstream ports for a specific system configuration, then the switch device can maintain stable communication performance for that configuration, but the switch device cannot be used for other system configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the number of upstream ports in the PCIe switch device changeable rather than fixed. The storage controller dynamically determines the system configuration and configures the switch device accordingly, allowing the same physical switch device to adapt to different numbers of upstream ports based on the detected configuration type (first type with one upstream port, second type with multiple upstream ports).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a PCIe switch device that can serve multiple system configurations through dynamic configuration. The same switch device hardware can function in both first-type configurations (single upstream port) and second-type configurations (multiple upstream ports) by changing its operational state based on system configuration detection, eliminating the need for different hardware models.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple PCIe switch devices are provided for different system configurations, then each configuration can have optimized performance, but the system requires more hardware and increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single PCIe switch device model to fulfill multiple configuration requirements. Through dynamic configuration based on detected system types, one switch device can replace what would traditionally require multiple different switch device models, reducing hardware inventory and simplifying system deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the operational parameters of the PCIe switch device (specifically the number of upstream ports and their connection configurations) based on the detected system configuration type. This allows the same hardware to operate in different modes, effectively reducing the quantity of physical devices needed while maintaining support for multiple configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of upstream ports in a PCIe switch device is increased to support more initiator ports, then the switch device can support more complex system configurations, but the device becomes more expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the upstream port configuration of the PCIe switch device dynamic rather than static. The storage controller detects the system configuration type and dynamically configures the switch device to have either one upstream port (for first-type systems) or multiple upstream ports (for second-type systems), allowing the device to adapt its complexity to the actual system requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by adjusting the number of active upstream ports in the PCIe switch device based on the detected system configuration. This allows the system to use a higher-port-count switch device only when necessary (second-type configurations), while using fewer ports for simpler configurations, thereby optimizing the balance between adaptability and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Each of one or more storage device units has a switch device for relaying communication in accordance with a communication interface in which the number of master devices that can exist in the same domain is defined and having a plurality of switch ports. A controller unit has a storage controller having a plurality of initiator ports. A storage controller acquires, via each of the plurality of initiator ports, the ID of a storage device unit connected to the initiator port. The storage controller determines a system configuration on the basis of a port ID relationship between the plurality of initiator ports and the plurality of acquired IDs. The storage controller performs switch setting, for each of the one or more switch devices, that corresponds to the determined system configuration, via at least one initiator port connected to the switch device.