Software RAID Filter Driver Hibernation Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software RAID solutions for information handling systems, such as the VROC data protection solution, are limited in their compatibility with various storage devices and CPUs, and they come with high licensing costs and restricted functionality, particularly in pre-boot or initialization operations.
Innovation Solution
A direct-attached storage device software RAID system that includes a storage controller processing system and a storage controller memory system, which provides a filter engine to identify controller initialization requests and prevent bus driver subsystems from powering down storage controller devices during hibernation mode, ensuring continuous operation and data accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a software RAID solution like VROC is used, then data protection and RAID functionality are provided, but licensing costs are high and compatibility with various storage devices and CPUs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a software RAID solution that can operate across multiple CPU architectures (Intel and AMD) and various storage device types (NVMe, SATA, SAS) without requiring CPU-specific hardware or licensing. The filter driver architecture provides universal compatibility by intercepting initialization requests at the driver level rather than requiring CPU-specific RAID controllers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a software-based RAID implementation that replicates the functionality of expensive hardware RAID solutions without requiring proprietary hardware components. By implementing RAID logic in software through filter drivers, the system copies the essential RAID protection functionality while eliminating hardware dependency and licensing costs
2Ease of manufacture
If a software RAID solution is used, then licensing costs are reduced, but the ability to configure logical storage devices during pre-boot operations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables RAID logical volume configuration to occur during pre-boot operations by having the filter driver intercept and process initialization requests before the operating system fully loads. This preliminary action allows the system to establish RAID configurations early in the boot sequence, maintaining operational ease while using cost-effective software RAID
Solution Approach 2:
The filter driver acts as an intermediary component between the storage subsystem and the operating system, capturing initialization requests during pre-boot operations and routing them appropriately. This intermediary layer enables pre-boot configuration capability to be maintained in software RAID implementations without requiring proprietary hardware support
3Loss of energy
If the bus driver subsystem powers down storage controller devices during hibernation mode, then energy consumption is reduced, but storage device accessibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The filter driver implements a feedback mechanism that monitors hibernation state and storage device usage, dynamically adjusting power management behavior. When hibernation is detected, the filter driver provides feedback to prevent the bus driver from powering down storage controllers, ensuring devices remain accessible while still allowing energy savings when devices are not in use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic power management where the power state of storage controller devices is adjusted based on real-time system state. During hibernation, the system dynamically maintains controller power states to ensure accessibility, while during normal operation, controllers can be powered down when not in use, optimizing the balance between energy consumption and device accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
A direct-attached storage device software RAID hibernation system includes a chassis having an operating system, a bus driver subsystem, controller devices coupled to physical storage devices, and a software RAID subsystem coupled to the operating system and the controller devices. While in a runtime mode, the software RAID subsystem presents the operating system a primary controller device as being connected to a logical storage device provided by the physical storage devices, and provides a filter subsystem in a secondary controller device that controls at least one of the physical storage devices. While in the runtime mode, the filter subsystem identifies a controller initialization request from the operating system that requests initialization of the secondary controller device and, in response, transmits a power-down prevention communication to the bus driver subsystem that is configured to prevent the bus driver subsystem from powering down the secondary controller device during a hibernation mode.