Quasi Disk Drive Emulation for Storage Interface Performance Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to directly assess the performance of hardware elements in a computer system due to compatibility issues between hardware and software, making it difficult to measure performance accurately.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a hardware element is configured to emulate a persistent storage device, allowing direct communication with an operating system and a diagnostic tool, enabling performance testing by sending and receiving requests without processing data, thus isolating and measuring the performance of supporting hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hardware elements are integrated with adapters and controllers in a complete system, then system functionality is improved, but performance measurement accuracy deteriorates due to inability to isolate individual component performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidperformance measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage system into distinct functional components: a test device that emulates storage device behavior, a supporting hardware element (adapter or controller), and a host system. This segmentation allows independent testing of the supporting hardware element by isolating it from other variables in the complete system, thereby resolving the contradiction between system functionality and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a test device as an intermediary component that emulates storage device behavior. This intermediary enables direct communication with the supporting hardware element without requiring a complete storage system, allowing precise performance measurement of individual components while maintaining the ability to test them in context with the host system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If data processing is performed during performance testing, then realistic operating conditions are simulated, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to confounding factors from data processing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting realismVSAvoidperformance measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data processing function from the performance testing process. The test device emulates storage device responses without actually processing test data, separating the performance measurement of communication interfaces from data processing operations. This extraction allows accurate measurement of interface performance while maintaining realistic communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the storage device process test data and measure performance, the patent inverts the approach: the test device emulates the storage device's response behavior without processing data, while the supporting hardware element processes the communication. This inversion isolates the performance measurement to the communication interface rather than including data processing variables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If direct connection to storage slots is established for testing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional testing infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance measurement accuracyVSAvoidtesting infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The test device is designed with universal functionality that can emulate various storage device types and protocols. By using a single multi-functional test device rather than specialized testing equipment for each storage device type, the patent reduces overall testing infrastructure complexity while maintaining direct connection capabilities for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The test device creates a virtual copy of storage device behavior through emulation rather than requiring physical storage devices for testing. This copying approach simplifies the testing infrastructure by replacing multiple physical storage devices with a single emulating test device that provides direct connection capabilities for accurate performance measurement of supporting hardware elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10002062B2Quasi disk drive for testing disk interface performance

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Embodiments relate to diagnostic evaluation of hardware components of a computer machine. A conventional storage device is replaced with a modified storage device. Read and write operations are received by the modified storage device. Issuance of a response to the read and write operations is limited to an acknowledgement receipt, which is employed to evaluate performance and/or bandwidth of the machines with respect to hardware for data storage.