Storage Node Security State Management in Distributed Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional storage systems face inefficiencies in managing data across multiple storage nodes, particularly in ensuring data redundancy, wear leveling, and handling power failures, which can lead to data loss and system instability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a distributed storage cluster with non-volatile solid state storage units and a control plane that uses authorities to manage data distribution, erasure coding, and proactive data rebuilding, ensuring data redundancy and stability across multiple storage nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored on multiple storage nodes, then data redundancy and availability are improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into independent storage nodes, each capable of autonomous operation. Data is segmented into chunks distributed across multiple nodes, with each node managing its own security credentials and encryption keys independently. This segmentation allows the system to achieve redundancy without requiring complex centralized coordination for basic storage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordination layer that acts as an intermediary for managing security credentials and encryption keys across storage nodes. This intermediary handles the complexity of key management and credential verification centrally, while individual storage nodes maintain operational independence. The coordination layer resolves conflicts and manages the distributed security state without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between all nodes.
2Reliability
If security credentials are stored locally on storage nodes, then access control is improved, but security risk from credential exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-distributing encryption keys and security credentials to storage nodes before they are needed for data access. Each storage node receives and stores its designated encryption keys and credentials in advance, establishing security boundaries before any data operations occur. This preliminary setup enables fast local authentication without requiring real-time key distribution during data access operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the security model from centralized credential storage to distributed credential ownership. Each storage node is assigned specific encryption keys and credentials as its own parameters, transforming the security architecture from a single point of failure to a distributed trust model. This parameter change allows nodes to independently verify access requests using their local credentials while maintaining overall system security through cryptographic protection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If storage nodes can be dynamically added or removed, then system adaptability is improved, but data consistency and security state management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic node addition and removal by designing the storage system to automatically reconfigure security credentials and data distribution when nodes join or leave the cluster. The coordination layer dynamically updates encryption key assignments and redistributes data chunks as needed, allowing the system to adapt its composition without manual intervention while maintaining data consistency through automated reconciliation processes.
Data Source
AI summary
States of storage nodes in a storage cluster may be transitioned from a secured state to an unsecured state. When all the storage nodes are in the secured state, a first reboot of the storage nodes is initiated. The first reboot may involve the storage nodes rebooting from the secured state into an intermediate state. During the first reboot: storage nodes that have rebooted into the intermediate state are allowed to rejoin the distributed storage cluster, and storage nodes in the unsecured state are not allowed to join the distributed storage cluster. When all the storage nodes are in the intermediate state, a second reboot of the storage nodes may be initiated. The second reboot may involve rebooting the storage nodes from the intermediate state into the unsecured state. During the second reboot, storage nodes that have rebooted into the unsecured state are allowed to rejoin the storage cluster.