Storage Server Cache Management via Block Grading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As database systems handle increasingly large amounts of data, existing methods struggle to efficiently manage cache devices and permanent storage media, leading to inefficiencies in data management and storage operations.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that includes a storage server with a cache device and a controller that determines the grade of blocks based on size, identifies a victim block, and records it in a permanent storage medium, optimizing data management by applying different policies based on usage thresholds and block grades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is stored in a cache device to decrease I/O time, then access speed is improved, but storage capacity is limited and data loss risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage into two distinct parts: a cache device for high-speed temporary storage and a permanent storage medium for reliable long-term storage. The controller manages these segments separately, transferring data between them based on grade determination, thus achieving both fast access and adequate capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the cache device and permanent storage medium. It determines the grade of each block, selects victim blocks for recording, and manages data transfer, thereby coordinating the operations of both storage components to resolve the contradiction between speed and capacity.
2Reliability
If all blocks are recorded in permanent storage medium, then data reliability is improved, but I/O performance deteriorates due to increased write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels to different data blocks based on their grade. High-grade blocks (small size) are selectively recorded in the permanent storage medium to ensure reliability, while low-grade blocks (large size) remain in the cache device to maintain I/O performance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliability and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes the parameter of block selection by determining grades based on block size. This parameter change enables dynamic decision-making about which blocks to record, allowing the system to adjust between reliability and performance based on data characteristics rather than applying a uniform policy.
3Quantity of substance
If cache device capacity is increased to store more blocks, then storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements self-service management by automatically determining the grade of each block and selecting victim blocks for recording based on predetermined criteria (block size). This automated grade-based management system handles cache capacity utilization without requiring complex external intervention, thus improving storage efficiency while keeping management complexity acceptable.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of managing a storage server in a database system. Provided is a storage server including a cache device to store at least one block that includes data; a permanent storage medium to record the at least one block stored in the cache device; and a controller to record the at least one block stored in the cache device in the permanent storage medium, wherein the controller includes a grade determiner to determine a grade of each of the at least one block based on a size of each of the at least one block; a victim block determiner to determine a victim block to be recorded in the permanent storage medium among blocks stored in the cache device based on the determined grade of each of the at least one block; and a block recorder to record the determined victim block in the permanent storage medium.