Smart NIC Storage Emulation for Secure Remote-Local Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to efficiently and securely provide distributed storage services to host computers using network interface cards (NICs), as they do not effectively emulate external storage as local storage, leading to performance and security issues.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing smart NICs to access external storages through a shared port, employing a network fabric storage driver and emulation layer to present external storage as local storage, with features like data efficiency, security, and performance optimization through DSAN services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If external storage is accessed through network fabric using shared NIC port, then storage capacity and remote accessibility are improved, but data transfer security and performance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage emulation layer as an intermediary component that sits between the host computer and the external storage system. This emulation layer translates storage operations and manages data transfers, enabling secure access to remote storage through the shared NIC port while maintaining the appearance of local storage to host applications.
2Productivity
If storage operations are emulated at the NIC level, then host CPU workload is reduced, but NIC complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges storage emulation functionality with the network interface card, combining what are traditionally separate functions (network I/O and storage management) into a single integrated device. This allows the NIC to handle storage operations directly, reducing host CPU involvement while consolidating system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The NIC is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional network packet forwarding and storage emulation operations. By making the NIC universal and multi-functional, the system reduces the need for separate dedicated storage hardware and host CPU intervention for storage management.
3Ease of manufacture
If a shared NIC port is used for both storage access and packet forwarding, then hardware resources are optimized, but data transfer performance may be impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared NIC port operations into different functional paths or virtual channels, allowing storage traffic and general packet forwarding to be handled separately at the protocol or queue level. This segmentation enables simultaneous optimization of both functions despite using shared physical hardware resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method of providing distributed storage services to a host computer from a network interface card (NIC) of the host computer. At the NIC, the method accesses a set of one or more external storages operating outside of the host computer through a shared port of the NIC that is not only used to access the set of external storages but also for forwarding packets not related to an external storage. In some embodiments, the method accesses the external storage set by using a network fabric storage driver that employs a network fabric storage protocol to access the external storage set. The method presents the external storage as a local storage of the host computer to a set of programs executing on the host computer. In some embodiments, the method presents the local storage by using a storage emulation layer on the NIC to create a local storage construct that presents the set of external storages as a local storage of the host computer.