Storage Controller Path Determination for Virtual RAID
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage virtualization systems, determining the recommended path for accessing a virtual RAID group becomes challenging when multiple external storages are combined in configurations like mirror or stripe configurations, as it is unclear which controller should handle the access.
Innovation Solution
A storage control device is designed to determine the responsible storage controller by using drive path information and priority settings, calculating scores based on path recommendations and processing capacity to identify the recommended and responsible controllers for virtual RAID groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple external storages are combined in mirror or stripe configurations, then storage capacity and redundancy are improved, but path determination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines recommended paths and assigns priority information to each storage control device before actual data access occurs. This preliminary path determination stores priority information in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making when multiple external storages are combined in mirror or stripe configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Priority information acts as an intermediary mechanism that simplifies path determination. Instead of directly comparing complex configurations of multiple external storages, the system uses pre-stored priority information to identify the recommended path, thereby reducing determination complexity while maintaining storage capacity benefits.
2Productivity
If multiple storage control devices are used, then processing capacity and reliability are improved, but determining the responsible controller becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of responsible storage control devices by storing priority information in advance. When multiple storage control devices are deployed to improve processing capacity, the recommended path and responsible controller are identified beforehand through priority information, eliminating complex real-time coordination requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses stored priority information as feedback to automatically identify the responsible storage control device. This feedback mechanism allows multiple controllers to operate efficiently without requiring complex communication protocols or real-time negotiation, as each controller can independently determine its responsibility based on pre-stored priority data.
3Measurement precision
If priority information is stored for each virtual drive, then path selection accuracy is improved, but memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores priority information locally at each storage control device for the specific virtual drives it manages. This local quality approach ensures accurate path selection for each device's scope without requiring all controllers to store information for all virtual drives, thereby reducing overall memory requirements while maintaining path selection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage control device includes: a memory configured to store program instructions; and processor circuitry configured to execute the program instruction stored in the memory, the program instruction including: executing a drive path information storage processing configured to cause the memory to store, for each virtual drive, priority information indicating priority to be selected as a path to access the respective virtual drive for each storage control device, the each storage control device being configured to control a corresponding storage device; and executing a determination processing configured to determine a responsible storage control device by using information of virtual drives included in the virtual RAID group and priority information stored in the memory, the responsible storage control device being the storage control device to be used to access a virtual redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) group.