Cloud Storage Pool Expansion for Threshold-Based Volume Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face inefficiencies in managing storage resources, particularly in handling flash storage devices, leading to unnecessary write operations and reduced reliability due to redundant processes performed by lower-level storage controllers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a direct-mapped flash storage system where higher-level operating systems initiate and control processes directly on flash drives, eliminating the need for lower-level storage controllers to perform these tasks, thereby optimizing storage management and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lower-level storage controllers perform storage management tasks, then device complexity is distributed, but reliability decreases due to redundant write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts storage management functionality from lower-level storage controllers and concentrates it in the operating system. The OS initiates and controls storage processes directly on flash drives, eliminating redundant write operations performed by storage controllers and improving reliability through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges storage management responsibilities into a single centralized location (the operating system) rather than distributing them across multiple storage controllers. This consolidation eliminates redundant operations and improves reliability by having one authoritative source control all storage processes.
2Productivity
If multiple storage controllers manage flash drives, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to unnecessary write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary write operations from the storage system by having the operating system directly manage flash drives. This extraction of redundant processes improves productivity by eliminating wasted write cycles while the OS maintains ease of operation through centralized control.
3Loss of energy
If storage processes are distributed across multiple controllers, then adaptability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to redundant operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges storage management into a single centralized system in the operating system, eliminating redundant write operations across multiple controllers. This consolidation reduces energy loss by preventing duplicate writes while maintaining adaptability through the OS's ability to directly control flash drive operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Scaling storage resources in a storage volume, including: monitoring a usage of a volume in a storage pool that includes one or more cloud-based storage systems; determining that the usage of the volume exceeds a threshold usage; and based on the determination, expanding the resources that are included in the storage pool for servicing the volume, including: instantiating one or more new virtual drives that are included in the one or more cloud-based storage systems; and adding the one or more new virtual drives to the storage pool.