RAID-5 Controller Data Stream Distribution and Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
RAID-5 systems face inefficiencies in data access operations due to their software-based structure, which complicates data distribution and aggregation processes, especially when handling invalid hard disks and storage region boundaries.
Innovation Solution
A RAID-5 controller with data stream distribution and aggregation operations based on primitive data access blocks, utilizing a unit of data distribution and combination, an XOR operation unit, transmission controllers, access controllers, and data registers to simplify data access procedures and enhance efficiency by processing data in parallel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a software-based RAID-5 system is used, then the system can be implemented with standard hardware, but the data access operations become complicated and inefficient, especially when handling invalid hard disks and storage region boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based RAID-5 system with a hardware-based solution. The hardware RAID controller directly performs data distribution and aggregation operations on storage devices, eliminating the need for complex software processing. This substitution of mechanical/software system with hardware system resolves the contradiction by maintaining implementation simplicity while dramatically improving data access efficiency and handling edge cases like invalid hard disks and boundary conditions.
2Ease of operation
If data stream distribution and aggregation operations are implemented based on primitive data access blocks, then the complexity of handling storage region boundaries is reduced, but the hardware structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data access operation into primitive data access blocks as the basic unit. The controller is designed to operate on these segmented blocks, which simplifies the handling of storage region boundaries and invalid hard disks. The segmentation principle resolves the contradiction by breaking down complex operations into manageable units, making the controller's operation simpler despite the hardware structure being more complex than software-based solutions.
3Productivity
If parallel data processing is used, then reading and writing efficiency are improved, but the control and coordination of multiple data streams becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware RAID controller is designed to automatically manage parallel data stream distribution and aggregation without requiring complex external coordination. The controller self-manages the coordination of multiple data streams, handling synchronization and data integrity automatically. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by improving productivity through parallel processing while avoiding the complexity of external coordination mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
By taking advantage of parallel data processing and transmission techniques, the data access rate of a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) level 5 can be boosted significantly. A data distribution and aggregation unit is utilized to distribute a data stream into a plurality of data sub-streams based on the primitive data access block of storage devices as a processing unit of data writing, or to aggregate a plurality of data sub-streams to form a data stream based on the primitive data access block of storage devices as a processing unit of data reading. An exclusive OR operation unit capable of parallel data processing is introduced for performing data processing on the plurality of data sub-streams simultaneously. The data transmission of each data sub-stream is controlled individually by one of a plurality of transmission controllers.