Polymorphic Storage Volume Connection Type Casting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Container deployment systems face challenges in connecting to backend storage systems in hybrid cloud environments with both virtualized and baremetal container hosts, due to varied connection options and masked storage connection information.
Innovation Solution
Implementing polymorphism and type casting for storage volume connections, allowing container hosts to determine the appropriate connection type on-the-fly using a node manager and type casting agent, which supports hypervisor-initiated, remote protocol access, and local storage access types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If containers run on virtualized hosts with hypervisor masking storage connection information, then storage connection complexity is reduced for containers, but container hosts lose the ability to dynamically select appropriate connection protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage broker as an intermediary component that sits between the container host and the storage system. The storage broker receives connection requests from container hosts, determines the appropriate connection protocol based on host capabilities and storage system requirements, and manages the actual connection. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing dynamic protocol selection capability to container hosts while maintaining simplified storage access for containers, as the broker handles the complexity of connection management transparently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If containers on baremetal hosts directly connect to storage systems, then connection protocol flexibility is improved, but system complexity and configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the storage broker automatically determines the appropriate connection protocol and configures storage connections based on container host capabilities. When a container host needs to access storage, it requests connection information from the storage broker, which then autonomously selects the suitable protocol (e.g., iSCSI, FC, NFS) and provides the necessary connection parameters. This eliminates the need for manual configuration of connection protocols, reducing system complexity while maintaining protocol flexibility.
3Productivity
If different connection protocols are supported for different host types, then storage access efficiency is improved, but connection management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage broker is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple storage connection protocols through a single interface. It provides multi-functional capability by supporting iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, and other protocols while presenting a unified connection management interface to container hosts. The broker internally routes requests through appropriate protocol handlers, enabling efficient storage access optimized for each protocol while maintaining simple external connection management.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide for polymorphism and type casting in storage volume connections. A method of the disclosure includes storing, in a memory associated with a processing device executing a container manager, a persistent volume (PV) identifier of a PV created on a storage device and a list of polymorphic connection types supported by the PV, and responsive to receiving a query comprising the PV identifier from a container host, performing, for a connection from the container host to the storage device, type casting to identify a connection type from the list of polymorphic connection types and connection information for the connection type to enable establishment of the connection between the container host and the storage device.