Storage Controller Metadata Allocation via High Reliability Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In open-channel SSDs, host systems face challenges in accurately managing metadata due to the lack of information about block characteristics, particularly bad blocks, which affects data reliability and timely access to metadata.
Innovation Solution
A storage system with a controller that identifies high reliability blocks, allocates them for metadata storage, and includes a bad block manager and repair module to ensure data integrity by communicating block information and performing error repairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the host system manages metadata without accurate block characteristic information, then the system complexity is reduced, but data reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage system intermediary that includes a bad block manager and repair module. This intermediary sits between the host system and storage medium, managing block characteristic information and metadata storage independently. The host system can continue with simplified metadata management while the storage system intermediary handles the complexity of tracking bad blocks and ensuring data reliability through repair mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the storage system communicates bad block information via separate commands, then the flexibility and adaptability are improved, but the time overhead and communication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges bad block information communication with regular metadata operations. Instead of using separate commands for bad block information, the storage system integrates this information into existing metadata communication channels. The host system receives block characteristic information along with metadata, eliminating the need for separate communication commands and reducing time overhead.
3Speed
If the host system determines block characteristics without receiving bad block information, then the operation speed is improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system performs preliminary identification and tracking of bad blocks before the host system needs to access metadata. The bad block manager proactively monitors storage medium health and maintains an up-to-date record of bad blocks. When the host system requests metadata, the information is already prepared and validated, eliminating the need for the host system to perform time-consuming block characteristic determination while ensuring high accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system communicates with a host system and includes a storage device including storage medium divided into a plurality of blocks including high reliability blocks and reserve blocks, and a controller. The controller provides the host system with block information identifying the high reliability blocks among the plurality of blocks, receives a block allocation request from the host system, wherein the block allocation request is defined with reference to the block information and identifies at least one high reliability block to be used to store metadata, and allocates at least one high reliability block to a meta region in response to the block allocation request. The controller includes a bad block manager that manages an allocation operation performed in response to the block allocation request, and a repair module that repairs an error in metadata stored in one of the high reliability blocks.