Storage Interface Port Group Power Control Under Variable Host Load
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage systems lack power control mechanisms for communication ports that interact with servers, limiting the ability to manage power consumption effectively.
Innovation Solution
A storage system that includes an interface device with ports configured into groups, where a processor measures communication load and compares it with the sum of communication bands to control power consumption based on these metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If power consumption of communication ports is controlled by simply limiting it, then power consumption is reduced, but writing performance deteriorates when writing load exceeds threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power control for communication ports by continuously monitoring communication load and adjusting port operation states accordingly. Ports are dynamically switched between active and inactive states based on whether communication load exceeds thresholds, allowing the system to adapt power consumption to actual workload conditions rather than using static power limiting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides communication ports into multiple groups and applies different power control strategies to each group based on their communication load characteristics. This segmentation allows selective power management where only necessary port groups remain active while others are powered down, resolving the contradiction between power savings and performance maintenance.
2Productivity
If communication ports are kept active to maintain performance, then writing performance is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by activating only the necessary subset of communication ports based on current workload requirements. Instead of keeping all ports active, the system identifies and activates only those port groups that are actually needed for current operations, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining sufficient performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors communication load on each port group and uses this feedback to adjust power control decisions. When communication load on a port group falls below a threshold, the system powers down that port group to save energy. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures ports are activated only when necessary, balancing performance and power consumption.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If power control is applied to interface devices, then power consumption is reduced, but control complexity increases due to load measurement and comparison requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own communication load and making power control decisions without requiring external intervention. The interface device itself measures communication load on its ports and automatically adjusts power states based on predefined thresholds, eliminating the need for complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls power consumption by changing operational parameters of communication ports (active/inactive states) based on measured communication load parameters. By monitoring load parameters and comparing them against threshold parameters, the system automatically adjusts power states, transforming a complex control problem into a parameter-based decision process.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes an interface device including a port connected to communicate with a host operating in a virtual environment, a plurality of the ports configure port groups, and the plurality of ports serve as connection destinations at a time of an access from the host to the storage system. The storage system measures, for each port group, an actual communication load on the port at the time of the accesses from the host to the storage system. The storage system controls power consumption of the interface device based on a comparison result of comparing, for each port group, a communication load with a sum of communication bands of the ports included in each port group.