SR-IOV Storage Controller Integrates Hypervisor Boot and SDS Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software-defined storage (SDS) systems require additional hardware for a separate boot device and storage controller, which is costly and inefficient, especially in scenarios with limited peripheral slots.
Innovation Solution
Implementing single-root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) to allocate a first virtual function to a software-defined storage virtual machine and a second virtual function to the hypervisor, allowing the storage controller to communicate with both sets of storage resources without the need for separate boot hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate boot device and storage controller are used for SDS, then storage redundancy and availability are ensured, but hardware cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the boot device and storage controller functions into a single integrated storage controller that uses SR-IOV virtualization. The storage controller implements both the boot functionality for the hypervisor and the storage virtualization functionality for SDS VMs, eliminating the need for separate boot hardware while maintaining reliability through virtualized storage resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the boot device for the hypervisor, manages storage resources for SDS virtual machines, and implements SR-IOV virtualization. This multi-functional approach reduces hardware requirements while ensuring storage redundancy and availability through proper resource allocation and management.
2Reliability
If additional boot hardware is added for SDS, then storage functionality is ensured, but total cost of solution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the boot hardware and storage controller into a single integrated storage controller. This consolidation eliminates the need for additional peripheral slots and separate boot devices, reducing the quantity of hardware components while ensuring complete storage functionality through the controller's dual role in hypervisor booting and SDS virtualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage controller is designed with universal functionality to serve both as a boot device and a storage virtualization controller. It can allocate virtual functions to different VMs and implement SDS features without requiring separate dedicated hardware, thereby reducing overall hardware quantity while maintaining full storage functionality.
3Ease of operation
If peripheral slots are used for separate boot hardware, then SDS boot capability is achieved, but hardware efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines boot capability and storage virtualization into a single storage controller, eliminating the need to occupy peripheral slots with separate boot hardware. This integration improves hardware utilization efficiency by allowing the same controller to serve multiple purposes without consuming additional physical resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage controller implements universal functionality to provide both boot capabilities for the hypervisor and storage virtualization for SDS VMs. This multi-functional design maximizes hardware utilization efficiency by ensuring that peripheral slots and hardware resources are not wasted on dedicated single-purpose components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for processing data may include a plurality of storage resources coupled to a backplane, a storage controller coupled to the backplane and configured to couple to an information handling system. The storage controller may configured to implement, using single-root input/output virtualization a first virtual function allocated to a first set of one or more of the plurality of storage resources and allocated to a software-defined storage virtual machine executing on a hypervisor of the information handling system and one of a physical function and a second virtual function allocated to a second set of one or more of the plurality of storage resources and allocated to the hypervisor.