Storage Device Sharing System for Failed Buffer Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In systems that process large amounts of data, such as cloud computing and data centers, a failure in one storage device leads to the non-use of its resources, resulting in underutilization and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A storage device sharing system where a host device determines whether to utilize the resources of a failed storage device by configuring its first memory buffer as a shared area for another storage device, allowing data to be written and stored across multiple devices, thereby optimizing resource use and improving performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a storage device fails, then system reliability is maintained by excluding the failed device, but resource utilization deteriorates as the failed device's resources become unused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers resources from failed storage devices by allowing their memory buffers to be shared with other storage devices. When a storage device fails, its first memory buffer is not discarded but rather made available for sharing, enabling other storage devices to utilize these resources and maintain high resource utilization while system reliability is preserved through the failure isolation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the first memory buffer of a failed storage device to serve dual purposes: originally it served the failed device, but after failure it can be shared with and serve other storage devices. This universal resource allocation allows the same physical resource to fulfill multiple functions and serve different devices based on system needs.
2Reliability
If resources of a failed storage device are excluded from use, then data integrity is protected, but system performance deteriorates due to reduced available resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into distinct functional components: the memory buffer area for data storage and the control logic for managing data integrity. By segmenting the first memory buffer into a shareable resource area while maintaining separate control mechanisms, the system allows performance optimization through resource sharing while data integrity is protected by the controlled access and management architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control mechanism as an intermediary between the failed storage device's memory buffer and other storage devices. This intermediary manages the sharing process, ensuring that data integrity is maintained while enabling performance optimization. The host device or storage controller acts as the mediator that coordinates resource sharing while protecting against data corruption.
3Productivity
If the first memory buffer of a failed storage device is configured as a shared area, then resource utilization improves, but device complexity increases due to additional sharing management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of memory buffers across multiple storage devices into a unified sharing mechanism. Instead of managing each memory buffer independently, the system combines them into a shared resource pool that can be dynamically allocated. This merging reduces the overall complexity by creating a standardized interface and management protocol that handles multiple devices through a single coordinated system.
4Productivity
If storage devices share memory buffers, then resource efficiency improves, but measurement and monitoring difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the status of shared memory buffers and provide information to the control system. This feedback enables real-time detection of buffer status, usage patterns, and potential issues, making monitoring manageable despite the complexity of shared resources. The system receives status information from shared buffers and adjusts resource allocation accordingly, maintaining resource efficiency while enabling effective monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a storage device sharing system and operation method thereof. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the storage device sharing system may include i) a plurality of storage devices, each storage device including a first memory buffer including a plurality of first type memory blocks and a second memory buffer including a plurality of second type memory blocks, and ii) a host device configured to determine, based on sharing state set for a first storage device among the plurality of storage devices, whether to set the first memory buffer of the first storage device as an area for storing data to be written to a second storage device among the plurality of storage devices.