Resource Virtualization Switch for HBA Pooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for connecting servers to storage area networks result in underutilization and inflexibility of resources, leading to inefficient use of host bus adapters (HBAs) and fibre channel switch ports, with complex network administration and high latency issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a resource virtualization switch that aggregates HBAs and connects servers via an I/O bus, providing virtual host bus adapters and multipathing mechanisms to share resources efficiently, allowing on-demand allocation and reconfiguration of bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple HBAs are included in each server to provide redundancy and load sharing, then reliability and load distribution are improved, but device complexity and resource underutilization increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveredundancyVSAvoidnumber of HBAs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple HBAs from different servers are merged and shared through a fibre channel switch, allowing a pool of physical HBAs to serve multiple servers. This reduces the total number of HBAs required while maintaining redundancy, as HBAs can be dynamically allocated and shared across the server pool rather than being dedicated to single servers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fibre channel switch provides universal access to the HBA pool, enabling any HBA to serve any server that needs storage connectivity. The switch acts as a universal intermediary that allows HBAs to perform multiple functions across different servers and applications, increasing utilization while reducing the total HBA count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a large number of fibre channel switch ports are deployed to connect multiple servers, then connectivity is improved, but resource underutilization and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidnumber of switch ports

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple server connections to the fibre channel switch are merged into a shared pool architecture. Instead of dedicated point-to-point connections, multiple servers share access to the HBA pool through the switch, reducing the total number of switch ports required while maintaining full connectivity across the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Virtual HBA instances are created and copied across the server pool, allowing multiple servers to access storage resources through virtual representations of HBAs. These virtual HBAs map to the physical HBA pool, enabling connectivity without requiring proportional physical switch ports for each server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If gateway techniques through Ethernet are used for sharing connectivity, then resource sharing is enabled, but latency increases and bandwidth decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource sharingVSAvoidbandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

A fibre channel switch serves as a specialized intermediary device that natively understands fibre channel protocols, providing efficient resource sharing without protocol conversion. This eliminates the latency and bandwidth penalties associated with Ethernet gateway techniques, as the switch directly handles fibre channel traffic with appropriate protocol support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional HBA allocation methods are used, then simplicity of deployment is maintained, but resource flexibility and utilization efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidresource flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Virtual HBA instances are created as software copies that map to physical HBA resources. These virtual HBAs can be dynamically allocated, copied, and reassigned across servers through software management, providing resource flexibility without requiring physical reconfiguration. This maintains deployment simplicity while enabling dynamic resource sharing and allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9264384B1Resource virtualization mechanism including virtual host bus adapters

Publication Date: 2016.02.16 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

Methods and apparatus are provided for virtualizing resources such as host bus adapters connected to a storage area network. Resources are offloaded from individual servers onto a resource virtualization switch. Servers are connected to the resource virtualization switch using an I/O bus connection. Servers are assigned resources such as virtual host bus adapters and share access to physical host bus adapters included in the resource virtualization switch. Redundancy can be provided using multipathing mechanisms.