Storage Apparatus Parallel Exclusive Extent Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage apparatuses experience a deterioration in response time performance due to increased I/O requests awaiting exclusive extent processing, leading to prolonged wait times and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus with multiple microprocessors that utilize counter values to determine the access sequence for logical volumes, allowing parallel execution of exclusive extent processing by restricting access based on counter value increments, thereby improving response time performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If exclusive extent processing is executed sequentially for each I/O request, then access consistency is maintained, but response time deteriorates due to increased waiting requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the exclusive extent processing by introducing counter values that divide the processing into multiple parallel streams. Each I/O request is assigned a counter value, allowing requests with different counter values to be processed simultaneously without conflicting, thus maintaining consistency while reducing waiting time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic counter values that change with each I/O request, transforming the static sequential processing into dynamic parallel processing. The counter values enable the system to adaptively manage multiple requests by assigning different processing priorities and time slots, improving response time while preserving access consistency
2Productivity
If counter values are used to manage access sequence, then parallel processing is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where counter values are incremented and tracked for each I/O request. This feedback system automatically manages the parallel processing sequence, providing the necessary control information to maintain order while enabling parallel execution, thus balancing productivity improvement with acceptable complexity increase
Data Source
AI summary
A storage apparatus includes a microprocessor package configured to access a logical volume and a local memory in the microprocessor package. An input/output (I/O) request range of one I/O request, including a start position address and an end position address of the logical volume which is a target of the one I/O request, is stored in the local memory. A counter value indicating a number of I/O requests to and from the logical volume associated with the one I/O request is acquired and stored in the local memory. If the counter value associated with the one I/O request is greater than the counter value associated with another I/O request, the I/O request ranges of the one I/O request and the other I/O request are compared. If there is no overlap between the I/O request ranges, the one I/O request is executed; otherwise, the one I/O request is placed on standby.