Storage Device P2P Communication via FPGA Bypassing Host
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As the volume and type of information managed by storage devices increase, the performance of each storage device becomes higher, leading to a heavier workload for the host system, which results in increased design and management costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a storage device configuration that enables peer-to-peer communication between storage devices without the intervention of a host, using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) board and interface circuits to facilitate data transfer between storage controllers and external storage devices through dual-ports, reducing the reliance on the host system for data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple storage devices are employed to manage larger amounts of data, then the storage capacity increases, but the workload of the host system becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the host system's data management workload into segments handled by individual storage devices. Each storage device is equipped with an FPGA board that can independently perform peer-to-peer communication and data processing tasks, segmenting the previously centralized host workload into distributed autonomous units across multiple storage devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Storage devices are enabled to serve themselves through autonomous data processing capabilities. The FPGA boards allow storage devices to perform peer-to-peer communication, data transfer, and processing operations independently without requiring host system intervention, making each device self-sufficient in managing its own data operations.
2Extent of automation
If storage devices communicate through the host system, then data management is centralized, but the host system becomes a bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces FPGA boards as intermediary components between storage devices and the host system. These intermediaries enable direct peer-to-peer communication pathways, allowing storage devices to exchange data autonomously without routing all communications through the host system, thus eliminating the bottleneck while maintaining organized data management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new communication dimension by implementing direct peer-to-peer data pathways between storage devices. This creates a parallel communication channel that operates independently from the traditional host-mediated pathway, enabling simultaneous data transfers and reducing host system bottlenecks through multi-dimensional data flow architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device is provided. The storage device includes a field programmable gate array board connected to a first port of the storage device; and a storage controller including a first interface circuit and a second interface circuit. The first interface circuit is connected to the FPGA board, the second interface circuit is connected to a second port of the storage device, at least one port from among the first port and the second port being configured to connect to an external storage device, and the FPGA board is configured to provide a path for transferring data in a peer-to-peer manner between the storage controller and the external storage device without intervention of a host.