Read Accelerator Control Device for Storage I/O Bottleneck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage controllers, despite improvements in non-volatile storage media like flash drives, often act as a bottleneck, limiting the performance of storage apparatuses due to inadequate processing capabilities for managing storage and improving utilization efficiency, as they rely on dedicated hardware and lack efficient execution of functions like thin provisioning, volume replication, deduplication, and data compression.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus design that incorporates both a processor and a control device, where the processor handles write commands and the control device, such as a read accelerator processor, executes read commands without processor involvement, enhancing I/O performance by distributing command processing tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dedicated hardware is used for storage controller processing, then processing performance is improved, but functionality for storage management and utilization efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The storage controller is segmented into two distinct processing units: a processor that executes software programs for storage management functions (thin provisioning, volume replication, snapshot, deduplication, data compression), and a control device (dedicated hardware) that handles high-performance I/O command processing. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its strengths, resolving the contradiction between processing performance and functional versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a processor executes all command processing, then storage management functions are provided, but I/O performance is limited due to processor bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The control device extracts and handles read command processing independently from the main processor. When the control device determines a command is a read command, it identifies the logical address, checks the address information, specifies the device address, reads the data, and transmits it directly without involving the processor. This extraction of read command processing from the processor eliminates the bottleneck and improves I/O performance while the processor continues to handle storage management functions.
3Ease of operation
If processor handles all commands, then comprehensive command processing is achieved, but read operation speed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the host computer and the physical storage device for read operations. It receives read commands from the host, processes them independently by checking address information and retrieving data, and transmits results directly. This intermediary role allows read operations to bypass the processor, significantly improving read speed while the processor maintains comprehensive command processing capability for other operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The processor provides a host computer with a logical volume based on a physical storage device. Based on a command from the host computer, the control device writes, into a memory, address information that associates a logical address in the logical volume with a device address in the physical storage device. The control device receives a command from the host computer and if it is determined that the command is a read command, identifies a first logical address designated by the command and determines whether or not the first logical address is included in the address information. If the first address is included in the address information, the control device specifies a first device address corresponding to the first logical address, reads read data stored in an area indicated by the first device address, and transmits the read data to the host computer.