SSD Cache Indicator for Storage Block State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid-state disks (SSDs) face performance degradation due to high input/output loads caused by the need to access metadata regions for every read/write operation, leading to increased write amplification and reduced durability, which is exacerbated by the UNMAP command's inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a storage management method that uses a cache indicator to determine the state of storage blocks, allowing for reduced disk access by representing the state of groups of storage blocks with fewer bits, thereby improving read/write performance and extending SSD lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the UNMAP command is used to reduce write amplification, then the lifetime of the SSD is extended, but system performance drops when input/output load is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage blocks into groups and uses cache indicators to represent the state of entire groups rather than individual blocks. This segmentation approach reduces the number of metadata access operations needed when handling UNMAP commands, thereby maintaining SSD lifetime extension while improving system performance under high I/O loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cache indicator as an intermediary between the metadata region and storage blocks. This intermediary layer allows the system to determine storage block states without directly accessing the metadata region for every operation, reducing I/O overhead and improving performance while still enabling effective garbage collection and UNMAP operations.
2Reliability
If metadata regions are accessed for every read/write operation, then storage block state can be accurately determined, but input/output performance degrades under high load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and caching group state indicators that represent the collective state of multiple storage blocks. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly determine whether individual blocks within a group are valid or invalid without accessing the metadata region, thereby maintaining reliability while improving I/O performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the metadata state in the form of cache indicators that represent group states. This copying approach allows the system to work with a lightweight representation of storage block states rather than accessing the full metadata region, reducing I/O overhead while preserving the essential information needed for reliable storage management.
Data Source
AI summary
Various techniques are directed to a storage management method, an electronic device and a computer readable medium. Such techniques may involve: receiving a request for a target storage block in a disk; obtaining, from a cache, a cache indicator indicating a state of a group of storage blocks including the target storage block, the number of bits occupied by the cache indicator in the cache being less than the number of storage blocks in the group of storage blocks; and responding to the request based on the cache indicator. Such techniques can reduce times of access to the disk and thereby enhancing input/output performance.