Storage Controller Write Redirection for Flash Region Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in efficiently managing workload imbalance and determining the availability of non-volatile memory regions, leading to potential data processing failures and delays due to uneven wear and tear across flash memory regions.
Innovation Solution
A storage controller that includes a status checker to monitor and manage the status of multiple flash memory regions, redirecting write operations to available regions based on predefined availability criteria and periodically updating status information, and a monitoring device to provide real-time availability information to the host.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If write operations are distributed across multiple flash memory regions, then workload balance is improved, but complexity in managing region availability and redirection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage controller implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring the status of each flash memory region (erase count, bad blocks, valid page count) and using this information to dynamically adjust write operation routing. The status information is fed back to the controller which makes real-time decisions about region availability and redirection, ensuring workload balance while managing complexity through systematic status tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and status assessment of flash memory regions before write operations are directed to them. By pre-evaluating region availability based on erase counts, bad block status, and valid page counts, the controller proactively identifies suitable target regions and prepares redirection information in advance, preventing workload imbalance before it occurs.
2Reliability
If flash memory regions are monitored continuously for availability, then data processing reliability is improved, but system overhead and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage controller implements periodic monitoring of flash memory regions at predetermined intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The controller checks status information (erase count, bad blocks, valid page count) at these periodic intervals, which maintains data processing reliability by regularly updating region availability while reducing system overhead and time consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
3Reliability
If redirection information is generated and processed, then write operation reliability is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller generates and stores redirection information in advance based on pre-monitored status information. When a write operation is received, the controller can quickly retrieve pre-computed redirection information rather than performing complex analysis in real-time, thus improving write operation reliability through proactive region selection while minimizing processing time overhead.
4Measurement precision
If status information is updated frequently, then workload distribution accuracy is improved, but memory usage and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The status information for flash memory regions is updated periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This periodic updating maintains adequate workload distribution accuracy by ensuring status information is current enough for effective load balancing while limiting memory usage and processing overhead associated with frequent updates.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an operating method of a storage controller communicating with a host and memory regions, which includes receiving a write request for a first memory region of the memory regions from the host, determining the first memory region as unavailable, based on a status information set, generating redirection information indicating that a second memory region of the memory regions is selected instead of the first memory region, performing a write operation in the second memory region based on the redirection information, updating status information of the second memory region in the status information set based on the write operation, outputting redirection result information indicating that write data of the write request are processed in the second memory region, to the host, and receiving a read request corresponding to the write data and including information of the second memory region from the host.