PRAM Storage via RDMA Bypassing CPU Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage server technologies face inefficiencies in accessing persistent memory due to CPU overhead and latency issues during data transfers, especially when using traditional storage protocols that require message processing and block-level operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a one-sided storage protocol that utilizes persistent random access memory (PRAM) on a storage server, allowing direct RDMA access without CPU processing, and enabling remote clients to register PRAM regions for secure, high-speed data transfers using RDMA-enabled network adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional message-based storage protocols are used, then data transfer can be performed, but CPU overhead increases and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the CPU processing functions from the data transfer path by implementing RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) technology. The network interface card directly accesses remote memory without CPU intervention, eliminating the message processing overhead that traditionally required CPU involvement on both client and server sides.
Solution Approach 2:
The network interface card acts as an intermediary that directly manages data transfer between remote and local memory. By using RDMA-enabled network interface cards, the system bypasses the traditional CPU-mediated message protocol and enables direct memory-to-memory transfers, reducing both latency and CPU overhead.
2Reliability
If block-level disk operations are used, then data can be written to persistent storage, but device complexity and operation overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses persistent memory as a direct copy target for data transfers, eliminating the need for block-level disk operations. Data is transferred directly to persistent memory regions using RDMA, bypassing the complex block management layers required by traditional disk storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical disk operations with electronic persistent memory access. By using PRAM (Persistent Random Access Memory) and RDMA technology, the system substitutes slow mechanical seek and read operations with fast electronic memory access, eliminating block management overhead while maintaining data persistence.
3Productivity
If PRAM is used for persistent storage, then data throughput increases and latency decreases, but CPU overhead must be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service data transfers where the network interface card autonomously performs memory-to-memory transfers without CPU involvement. The RDMA protocol allows the network adapter to directly access and transfer data to PRAM regions, eliminating the need for CPU processing energy while maximizing I/O throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing one or more remote nodes with direct access to persistent random access memory (PRAM). In an embodiment, registration information is generated for a remote direct access enabled network interface controller (RNIC). The registration information associates an access key with a target region in PRAM. The access key is sent to a remote node of the one or more nodes. The RNIC may subsequently receive a remote direct memory access (RDMA) message from the remote node that includes the access key. In response to the RDMA message, the RNIC performs a direct memory access within the target region of PRAM.