Storage Control Information Recovery for Consistent Array Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise storage systems experience inconsistent performance due to storage devices being tasked with device management operations, which utilize finite resources at varying times, leading to user experience fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
Dynamically managing control information in storage devices by querying and issuing requests to store control information using an array management module, which includes querying the storage device for the location of control information and issuing requests to retrieve it based on the location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If storage devices perform device management operations (garbage collection, error correction), then storage reliability is improved, but storage performance deteriorates due to finite resource utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts device management operations from the storage device's finite resources by introducing an external array management module. This module handles garbage collection, error correction, and other management tasks separately, allowing the storage device to focus on read/write operations without resource constraints, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and performance
Solution Approach 2:
The array management module serves as an intermediary between the storage device and the host system. It manages control information and coordinates resource allocation, enabling reliable device management operations without directly consuming the storage device's finite resources, thus maintaining both reliability and performance
2Reliability
If storage devices are tasked with device management operations, then storage reliability is improved, but performance becomes inconsistent due to varying resource utilization over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource management where the array management module continuously monitors and adjusts resource allocation based on real-time conditions. This dynamic approach ensures that storage devices have consistent available resources for read/write operations while management tasks are handled flexibly, resolving the contradiction between reliability and performance consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The array management module performs preliminary actions by pre-managing control information and allocating resources in advance. This prevents resource conflicts and ensures consistent performance by preparing the system state before operations occur, while maintaining reliability through proactive resource management
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamically managing control information in a storage device, including: querying, by an array management module executing on a storage array controller, the storage device for a location of control information for the storage device, the control information describing the state of one or more memory blocks in the storage device; and issuing, by the array management module in dependence upon the location of the control information for the storage device, a request to retrieve the control information for the storage device.