Storage Device Direct Data Path Bypassing CPU Bottleneck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network-attached storage devices are inefficient due to the CPU being a bottleneck in processing power and communication bandwidth, especially when scaling up storage capacity, as they process both control and data messages, with data messages being the majority and placing a high load on the CPU.
Innovation Solution
Implementing different processing paths for control and data messages, where control messages are routed through the processing device for administrative and management operations, while data messages are communicated directly between the storage device and the storage client without going through the processing device, reducing the burden on the CPU and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both control messages and data messages are processed through the CPU, then the storage device can provide comprehensive storage services, but the CPU becomes a bottleneck in processing power and communication bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the message processing function into two independent paths: control messages are routed through the host system CPU for administrative operations, while data messages are routed directly between the storage device and storage client through a dedicated data path, bypassing the CPU. This segmentation eliminates the CPU bottleneck while maintaining comprehensive storage service capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated data message path as an intermediary channel that enables direct communication between the storage device and storage client. This intermediary path handles data messages without requiring CPU intervention, thereby improving processing efficiency while the CPU continues to handle control messages through the host system.
2Ease of operation
If the CPU processes all messages including data messages, then control and data operations can be unified, but power consumption and computing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments message processing into two distinct paths based on message type: control messages go through the host system CPU maintaining operational unification, while data messages use a dedicated direct path that bypasses the CPU. This segmentation reduces power consumption and computing power requirements by eliminating unnecessary CPU involvement in data message processing.
3Extent of automation
If data messages go through the host system, then centralized control is maintained, but security is compromised by exposing data access operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication paths so that control messages (which require centralized control and security policies) are processed through the host system CPU, while data messages (which require security isolation) are processed through a dedicated direct path between storage device and storage client. This segmentation maintains centralized control over control operations while improving security by isolating data access operations from the host system.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus having a solid-state drive, a host interface, a network interface, and a controller configured to recover, from packets received in the network interface from a remote host system, first control messages and data messages containing host data provided by the remote host system. The controller is further configured to: send the first control messages via the host interface to a local host system to receive second control messages from the local host system; and process the second control messages and the data messages, without sending the data message to the local host system, to write the host data into the solid-state drive. When the first control messages include read requests, the controller is further configured to retrieve data from the solid-state drive and send, via the network interface, the retrieved data to the remote host system without going through the local host system.