Abstraction Protocol for SATA SAS Storage Command Queuing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage systems interfacing with SATA and SAS devices face limitations due to half-duplex serial links, high host protocol overhead, and difficulties in scaling storage capacity, as they do not natively support full command queuing and interleaving of read and write commands, requiring complex host management and limited bandwidth distribution.
Innovation Solution
A routable packet-switched network utilizing an abstraction protocol that supports full-duplex communication, allowing for full command queuing and simplifying host interactions with SATA and SAS devices by pushing protocol management to edge controllers, enabling efficient data transfer and error handling without burdening the host.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SATA or SAS protocols are used to interface with storage media devices, then storage devices can be accessed, but host overhead increases and performance decreases due to half-duplex serial links not supporting full command queuing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary device between the host and storage media devices. This controller translates and manages communication protocols, allowing the host to interact with storage devices through a simplified interface while the controller handles the complex SATA/SAS protocol requirements, thereby reducing host overhead and enabling full command queuing support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage system into distinct functional components: the host, the controller, and the storage media devices. By separating protocol management functions into the controller, the system allows the host to focus on high-level operations while the controller handles low-level protocol complexities, improving overall productivity without increasing host complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If SATA Port Multipliers are used to increase storage capacity, then more devices can be connected, but bandwidth is shared and cascading is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to provide multiple functions including protocol translation, command queuing management, and support for multiple storage devices. This multi-functional approach allows the system to expand storage capacity without relying on Port Multipliers, thereby avoiding bandwidth sharing limitations and enabling independent high-speed connections to each storage device.
3Quantity of substance
If SAS Port Expanders are used to increase storage capacity, then more devices can be connected with increased bandwidth, but protocol management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves as an intermediary that simplifies protocol management for the host while supporting multiple storage devices. It handles SAS protocol requirements internally, allowing the host to interact through a simpler interface, thus increasing storage capacity without proportionally increasing protocol management complexity at the host level.
4Productivity
If Native Command Queuing is implemented in SATA devices, then some data transfers are improved, but not all commands are supported and interleaving read and write commands is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary that implements comprehensive command queuing functionality. It receives commands from the host, manages queuing and interleaving of read and write operations, and translates them into appropriate SATA commands for the storage devices. This approach provides full command support and versatile operation modes while maintaining simple host interface requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A simplified host accesses SATA and SAS storage media devices by abstracting the SATA and SAS protocols with one full duplex protocol that supports full command queuing to each storage media device, whether SATA or SAS, where the abstraction protocol is performance-centric and supports common high-level read and write access to a pool of storage media devices, each of which may have a SATA or SAS interface. The abstraction protocol is link-agnostic and may be carried via a multiplicity of direct attach or networked interfaces, including but not limited to PCIe, Ethernet (e.g., 1 GbE, 10 GbE, 40 GbE, or 100 GbE), Infiniband, ThunderBolt, Firewire, USB, and/or custom interfaces.