Unified Converged Network Storage Compute System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data center architectures face challenges such as high latency, energy consumption, heat emission, and high total cost of ownership due to multiple hardware and software layers, which hinder the performance and adaptability of servers, network switches, and storage arrays, and fail to efficiently manage the dynamic growth of data processing and storage demands.
Innovation Solution
A unified converged network, storage, and compute system (UCNSCS) that integrates the functionalities of a network switch, router, storage array, and compute server into a single platform, eliminating the need for System on Chip (SoC) and reducing hardware and software layers, allowing direct access to storage and networks, and incorporating specialized software to manage data flow without hindering existing application servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple hardware and software layers are used in conventional data center architectures, then device functionality is achieved, but latency increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges storage array functionality, network switch functionality, and compute server functionality into a single unified appliance. This consolidation eliminates multiple hardware and software layers between I/O sources and destinations, directly reducing latency and improving performance. The unified architecture allows direct access paths that bypass traditional multi-layer data center infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified appliance performs multiple functions simultaneously - it operates as a storage array, network switch, and compute server all in one device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized appliances and their associated software layers, thereby reducing I/O latency while maintaining all necessary functionalities.
2Productivity
If multiple appliances are deployed to scale compute power and storage, then processing capacity increases, but energy consumption and heat emission increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining storage, networking, and compute functions into a single appliance, the system reduces the total number of devices required. This consolidation decreases overall energy consumption and heat emission while maintaining or improving processing capacity through optimized resource utilization within the unified architecture.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple appliances are deployed to scale storage capacity, then storage space increases, but space requirements and total cost of ownership increase
Solution Approach 1:
The unified appliance provides storage capacity while simultaneously delivering networking and compute functions. This eliminates the need for separate storage arrays and their associated infrastructure, reducing data center space requirements while maintaining or expanding storage capacity through shared resources.
4Reliability
If conventional architecture with host bus adapters and system on chip is used, then hardware functionality is achieved, but data throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the System on Chip (SoC) component from the host bus adapter architecture. By removing this intermediate layer, the system achieves direct hardware access paths that improve data throughput while maintaining all necessary hardware functionalities through optimized direct connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS) converges functionalities of a network switch, a network router, a storage array, and a server in a single platform. The UCNSCS includes a system board, interface components free of a system on chip (SoC) such as a storage interface component and a network interface component operably connected to the system board, and a unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA). The storage interface component connects storage devices to the system board. The network interface component forms a network of UCNSCSs or connects to a network. The UCNSCA functions as a hypervisor that hosts virtual machines or as a virtual machine on a hypervisor and incorporates a storage module and a network module therewithin for controlling and managing operations of the UCNSCS and expanding functionality of the UCNSCS to operate as a converged network switch, network router, and storage array.