Storage Relay Bridge Route Switching for Fault Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of redundancy in the back panel of a storage apparatus leads to decreased availability and performance, as failures in the midplane bridge can disrupt communication paths and make it difficult to detect abnormalities, potentially causing the system to go down.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus with a processor and memory that detects abnormalities in the relay apparatus and switches communication routes from a primary route via the bridge unit to a secondary route through communication lines connecting monitor units, ensuring continuous operation and maintaining redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single bridge unit is used to connect monitor units in the relay apparatus, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because the system lacks redundancy and any bridge failure causes system downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching capability that allows the system to transition between different communication routes based on real-time bridge unit status. When a bridge unit fails, the system automatically switches from the primary communication route (via the failed bridge) to an alternative route, maintaining system operation without requiring manual intervention or system shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-establishes alternative communication routes and switching mechanisms before any failure occurs. The control apparatus is configured with multiple possible communication paths and the capability to switch between them, so that when a bridge unit fails, the system can immediately use the pre-prepared alternative route without needing to reconfigure or shut down.
2Reliability
If redundancy is added to the back panel with multiple bridge units, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases making the system harder to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the relay apparatus into distinct functional segments: monitor units that execute monitoring tasks, bridge units that provide communication connectivity, and control apparatus that manages the overall system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently managed and replaced without affecting the entire system, reducing management complexity while maintaining redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the monitor units and control apparatus to serve multiple functions: they can communicate through different bridge units, support multiple communication routes, and perform both monitoring and control tasks. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability through redundancy.
3Reliability
If the system uses a fixed communication route through the bridge unit, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens because bridge failures cannot be detected or recovered from
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the control apparatus continuously monitors the status of bridge units and communication routes. When a bridge unit fails or becomes unavailable, the system receives feedback about this status and automatically responds by switching to an alternative communication route, enabling fault detection and recovery without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-reconfiguration when bridge units fail. The control apparatus automatically detects communication route failures, identifies alternative paths, and switches to those paths without requiring external intervention, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated fault management.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus receives information on an abnormality in a relay apparatus including first and second monitor units provided in the relay apparatus to relay a communication among control apparatuses, from the first monitor unit to manage first information and execute a monitor of the relay apparatus, the abnormality being detected by the first monitor unit; and when the received information is information on an abnormality of a bridge unit to form a first communication route between the first monitor unit and the second monitor unit to manage second information and execute a monitor of the relay apparatus, executes a process for switching a communication route used to synchronize the first and second information between the first and second monitor unit, from the first communication route via the bridge unit, to a second communication route via communication lines connecting the control apparatus and the first and second monitor units.