Storage Device Online Access During Enclosure Hardware Upgrade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data storage system upgrades face limitations when trying to maintain online access during hardware upgrades, particularly when moving storage devices from an initial enclosure to a new one with different geometries and features, as they require new storage drives and reconfiguration of host computers, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that maintain online access by transferring storage devices one at a time from an initial storage processor enclosure to a new enclosure, using established data pathways and cache mirroring to ensure uninterrupted access, allowing the new enclosure to operate independently with different geometries and features without the need for new storage drives or reconfiguration of host computers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If storage devices are moved from an initial enclosure to a new enclosure with different geometries and features, then the new enclosure can operate independently with different features, but conventional approaches require new storage drives and host reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the storage devices from the enclosure they originally resided in, allowing the storage devices to be independently transferred to a new enclosure. This segmentation enables the storage devices to maintain their identity and data while being decoupled from the original enclosure's geometry and feature constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
A data pathway acts as an intermediary between the storage devices and the host computer system. This intermediary maintains the connection and data access continuity during the transition, allowing storage devices to be moved between enclosures without requiring host reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If storage devices are transferred during online operation, then continuous data access is maintained, but data pathway establishment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data pathway is established in advance between the storage devices and the host system before the physical transfer of storage devices occurs. This preliminary setup ensures that when storage devices are moved, the data access connection is already in place and can be seamlessly activated, maintaining continuous online access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous data access throughout the upgrade process by keeping the data pathway active and operational. The storage devices remain accessible to the host system during transfer, ensuring uninterrupted useful action (data access) while the physical hardware is being upgraded.
3Reliability
If conventional hardware upgrade approach is used, then online access is maintained during processor replacement, but enclosure and midplane upgrades are not suitable
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the enclosure from the storage devices and data access functionality. By segmenting these components, the enclosure can be upgraded or replaced independently while the storage devices maintain their data access through the established data pathway, enabling enclosure upgrades that were previously impossible with conventional approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The data pathway is designed to be universal, allowing storage devices to access data regardless of which enclosure they are physically located in. This multi-functionality enables the same data pathway to support storage devices in different enclosure environments, providing versatility for enclosure upgrades.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique maintains online access to data stored in a plurality of storage devices during a hardware upgrade in which the plurality of storage devices moves between storage processor enclosures. The technique involves providing, from the plurality of storage devices, online access to the data while each storage device of the plurality of storage devices resides in a first storage processor enclosure. The technique further involves providing, from the plurality of storage devices, online access to the data while the plurality of storage devices is moved from the first storage processor enclosure to a second storage processor enclosure (e.g., transferring each storage devices one by one before triggering a rebuild process). The technique further involves providing, from the plurality of storage devices, online access to the data while each storage device of the plurality of storage devices resides in the second storage processor enclosure.