Storage Emulation Module for Access Controller Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information handling systems lack accessibility and redundancy for storage media, leading to potential system downtime due to unmanaged and directly coupled storage media, which are not easily recoverable.
Innovation Solution
The method involves emulating storage media to appear locally attached to the system, mounting network-attached storage for data communication, and maintaining redundancy between local and remote storage in accordance with a redundancy policy, using a storage emulation module and access controller to ensure data accessibility and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If storage media is directly coupled to the access controller for local booting, then booting speed and accessibility are improved, but redundancy and recoverability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage emulation module as an intermediary between the access controller and the storage media. This module emulates the storage media to the host system while maintaining actual connections to both local storage media (for fast booting) and remote network-attached storage (for redundancy). The emulation layer allows the system to access local storage quickly while the backend provides redundant copies via network storage, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Device complexity
If unmanaged storage media is used for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but accessibility and management flexibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The storage emulation module automatically manages the duality of local and remote storage without requiring manual configuration or intervention. It self-manages the emulation process, automatically mounts storage media, and handles the synchronization between local and network-attached storage. This self-service approach maintains simplicity for the user while providing advanced accessibility and management flexibility internally.
3Ease of operation
If local storage media is used for fast access, then accessibility is improved, but loss of time due to failure is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by maintaining redundant copies of storage data on network-attached storage before any failure occurs. When local storage media fails, the system can immediately recover by accessing the pre-existing redundant copies over the network, thus cushioning against the loss of time. This proactive redundancy strategy ensures that while local storage provides fast access during normal operation, any failure can be rapidly recovered from using the pre-prepared backup copies.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to providing accessibility and redundancy for access controller storage media are provided. A method for providing accessibility for storage media of an access controller in an information handling system may include: (i) emulating the storage media such that the storage media appears to an operating system executing on the information handling system as storage media locally attached to the information handling system; (ii) mounting the storage media such that data may be communicated between the storage media and a processor integral to the access controller; (iii) mounting a portion of a network-attached storage remote to the information handling system such that data may be communicated between the portion of the network-attached storage and the processor; and (iv) maintaining redundancy between the storage media and the portion of network-attached storage in accordance with a redundancy policy.