Communication Switch Isolation for Scalable Modular Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing networked storage systems face physical limitations in density and redundancy, particularly in high-density installations, due to constraints in storage technology and space requirements for interconnects and climate control, which hinder scalability and reliability in meeting increasing data storage needs.
Innovation Solution
A scalable storage system architecture that includes storage sleds, interconnect modules, and processing modules with communication switch circuitry for port isolation, enabling modular expansion and power redistribution during interruptions, allowing for self-powering and data commitment during outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If networked storage systems increase density in rack-mounted environments, then storage capacity per unit space improves, but physical limitations are reached due to space requirements for network interconnects and climate control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent storage modules that can be selectively activated. Each module contains its own power supply and control circuitry, allowing the system to scale from 1 to N modules without requiring proportional increases in shared infrastructure space for interconnects and climate control.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication switch circuitry serves multiple functions: it provides data communication between modules and hosts, establishes isolation for redundancy, and enables power redistribution during outages. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby saving physical space.
2Reliability
If the number of storage devices per host increases, then capacity and redundancy improve, but traditional system architecture reaches limitations in the number of devices that can be included per host
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into multiple independent modules, each with its own storage devices. The communication switch circuitry connects these modules to hosts, allowing each host to access storage devices across multiple modules without requiring all devices to be directly attached to a single host. This architecture enables scalability beyond traditional per-host limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication switch circuitry acts as an intermediary between hosts and storage modules. It establishes isolation among ports to provide redundancy and reliability, while enabling hosts to access storage devices across multiple modules. This intermediary architecture decouples the relationship between hosts and storage devices, allowing flexible scaling of redundancy without increasing per-host complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular expansion is enabled for scalability, then system capacity can grow, but power management during interruptions becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Each storage module is equipped with its own power supply unit and can operate independently. During power interruptions, modules can redistribute power autonomously through the communication switch circuitry to ensure data commitment and maintain operation of critical functions without requiring complex centralized power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing isolation among communication switch ports and configuring power redistribution paths before power interruptions occur. This preparatory configuration enables automatic power management during outages, reducing the complexity of real-time power management while supporting modular expansion.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for computing systems are provided herein. In one example, a system includes processing modules each having a communication interface and a processor, and additional modules each having a communication interface. Communication switch circuitry is coupled to the communication interfaces of the processing modules and the communication interfaces of the additional modules, wherein the communication switch circuitry is configured to establish isolation among ports in the communication switch circuitry for one or more processing modules and one or more additional modules. At least one processor instantiates access to the one or more additional modules for the one or more processing modules over at least the isolation.