Storage Cluster Offloading Controller Bandwidth
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in efficiently managing data across multiple storage nodes, particularly in ensuring data availability and redundancy in the event of node failure, while also optimizing bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
A storage cluster architecture that distributes user data across multiple storage nodes using erasure coding and redundant metadata, with proactive data rebuilding capabilities and offloading of storage operations to conserve system controller bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is distributed across multiple storage nodes with erasure coding and redundant metadata, then data availability and reliability are improved, but system complexity and bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage operations into two distinct types: data plane operations (read/write) and management plane operations (metadata updates, erasure coding). By separating these operations and allowing parallel execution, the system reduces the complexity burden on any single controller while maintaining high data availability through distributed storage nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs proactive data rebuilding and metadata updates before failures occur. Management plane operations prepare redundant data and update metadata in advance, so when a storage node fails, the system can quickly restore data without waiting for failure detection, thereby improving reliability while distributing the complexity workload over time.
2Reliability
If proactive data rebuilding is implemented, then data availability is improved, but controller bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the management plane operates independently from the data plane. During normal operations, management plane tasks (proactive rebuilding, metadata updates) consume bandwidth independently, but during failures, the system dynamically prioritizes restoration operations. This dynamic separation ensures proactive rebuilding improves availability without permanently consuming excessive bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a management plane as an intermediary layer between the data plane and storage nodes. This intermediary handles proactive rebuilding and metadata operations, allowing them to execute without interfering with primary data operations. The management plane mediates bandwidth usage by scheduling management tasks during low-utilization periods, thus improving data availability while controlling overall bandwidth consumption.
3Reliability
If centralized data management is implemented, then data protection and sharing functions are improved, but controller bandwidth and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control functions into a management plane (centralized) and data plane (distributed). The management plane handles high-level data protection policies and metadata management, while individual storage nodes autonomously execute data protection operations using erasure coding. This segmentation reduces the processing load on centralized controllers while maintaining comprehensive data protection across the distributed system.
Data Source
AI summary
Data is received by one or more offload components that is to be stored in a storage system. The one or more offload components are operatively coupled to storage devices of the storage system via a first set of communication paths. The data is identified by a storage system controller operatively coupled to the storage devices via a second set of communication paths that are different than the first set of communication paths. An indication of a location in one or more of the storage devices for storing the data is transmitted to the one or more offload components. The indication causes the one or more offload components to store the data in the location of the one or more of the storage devices via the first set of communication paths.