Storage Connector Interface Bypassing Server Bus for Flash Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage system architectures face performance issues due to frequent input/output operations over system buses, which consume bandwidth and introduce latency, especially when using flash storage devices that lack scalable data protection and management capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A storage connector interface that enables direct data exchange between flash storage devices and a storage array, bypassing the server's main memory and system bus, with control logic implementing operational modes for data deployment and synchronization, and an I/O journal for logging write operations to ensure consistent recovery points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is stored on flash storage devices with server replication, then data protection capability is improved, but data traffic over system buses increases and memory bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection capabilityVSAvoidmemory bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data replication function from the server's main memory and system bus by introducing a dedicated storage connector interface. This interface directly connects flash storage devices to the storage array, removing the need for data to traverse the server's internal bus and memory, thereby eliminating the bandwidth consumption and energy loss associated with server replication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage connector interface acts as an intermediary component between flash storage devices and the storage array. It provides a dedicated data path that bypasses the server's main memory and system bus, enabling direct data exchange while maintaining data protection capabilities through replication and synchronization functions implemented within the interface itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data is exchanged over system bus to storage array, then data management capability is improved, but access latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata management capabilityVSAvoidaccess latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data exchange path from the server's system bus by introducing a dedicated storage connector interface. This creates a direct connection between flash storage devices and the storage array, removing the latency introduced by bus arbitration, memory access, and protocol overhead associated with exchanges over the system bus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the storage system into distinct functional components with dedicated communication paths. The storage connector interface is separated from the server's main processing path, creating an independent data exchange channel that operates parallel to the system bus, thereby reducing access latency for storage operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If flash storage devices are used instead of disks, then access performance is improved, but storage capacity and cost-effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess performanceVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of flash storage (high access performance) with the advantages of disk storage (large capacity, cost-effectiveness) by using flash storage devices for active data that requires fast access and the storage array for bulk data storage. The storage connector interface enables direct data exchange between these two storage types, allowing the system to leverage both technologies' strengths simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using different storage media for different data requirements. Flash storage devices are used locally for data requiring high access performance, while the storage array provides capacity for less frequently accessed data. The storage connector interface enables selective data placement and movement between these different storage quality zones based on access patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9146684B2Storage architecture for server flash and storage array operation

Publication Date: 2015.09.29 NETAPP INC

AI summary

A storage architecture of a storage system environment has a storage connector interface configured to exchange data directly between flash storage devices on a server and a storage array of the environment so as to bypass main memory and a system bus of the server. According to one or more embodiments, the storage connnector interface includes control logic configured to implement the data exchange in accordance with one of a plurality of operational modes that deploy and synchronize the data on the flash storage devices and the storage array. Advantageously, the storage connector interface obviates latencies and bandwidth consumption associated with prior data exchanges over the main memory and bus, thereby enhancing storage architecture performance.