Storage-Centric Manageability Delegation via Segmented Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional IT system architectures face performance degradation and power inefficiencies due to resource interference and shared resources when executing storage-centric manageability tasks, which require constant access to storage and often run as background processes, necessitating improved isolation and control.

Innovation Solution

Delegating storage-centric manageability tasks to a separate processing element, such as a manageability platform integrated at the southbridge or using a multi-core processor with dedicated cores for manageability tasks, allowing separate communication paths and a distinct OS stack to reduce resource contention and enhance power efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If storage-centric manageability tasks are executed on the host processor sharing resources with host system tasks, then device complexity is reduced, but host application performance degrades due to resource interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architecture complexityVSAvoidhost application performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into two distinct processing domains: a host processor for executing host applications and a separate manageability processor for executing storage-centric manageability tasks. This segmentation isolates resource usage, preventing interference between host applications and manageability tasks, thereby resolving the performance degradation issue while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Storage-centric manageability tasks are extracted from the host processor and delegated to a dedicated manageability processor. This extraction removes the source of resource interference from the host system, allowing host applications to execute with full access to processor resources without contention from background manageability tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If storage-centric manageability tasks share hardware and software resources with host system tasks, then ease of manufacture is improved, but resource interference causes performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integration easeVSAvoidtask execution performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system architecture is segmented into separate host and manageability processing domains, each with dedicated resources. This segmentation eliminates resource interference while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized processor modules and well-defined communication interfaces, allowing independent optimization of each domain without complex integration challenges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If storage-centric manageability tasks run as background processes on the host processor, then device complexity is reduced, but power efficiency deteriorates due to constant resource access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing architecture complexityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Manageability tasks are extracted from the power-intensive host processor and relocated to a dedicated manageability processor that can operate independently. This extraction allows the host processor to enter low-power states during manageability task execution, significantly reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining the ability to execute manageability functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The manageability processor provides dynamic power management capabilities, allowing the system to adjust power states based on task requirements. The host processor can dynamically transition to low-power modes when manageability tasks are executing on the separate processor, optimizing power efficiency without sacrificing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If storage-centric manageability tasks access storage space constantly, then task functionality is maintained, but resource contention increases leading to performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanageability task functionalityVSAvoidstorage access performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Storage access operations for manageability tasks are extracted from the host system's storage I/O path and routed through a dedicated communication interface to the manageability processor. This extraction creates separate storage access channels, eliminating contention between host applications and manageability tasks for storage bandwidth and improving overall storage access performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7757023B1Storage-centric manageability in a system

Publication Date: 2010.07.13 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

A system architecture for delegating a storage-centric manageability (SCM) task that includes a host system that includes a host computing element and a data storage area, wherein the host computing element operates to access the data storage area via a first communication or data path, a delegated computing element that operates to access the data storage area via second data path for executing a delegated SCM task, wherein the second data path is different from the first data path.