Unified Software Stack for LDMA and RDMA in Network Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network storage systems face performance bottlenecks due to PCI bus contention, particularly in clustered failover configurations, which limits the cluster scaling factor and affects sequential write workloads.
Innovation Solution
A network storage system integrates NVRAM and cluster interconnect adapter into a single device, using a unified software stack to manage both local and remote data transfers, reducing the need for multiple PCI transactions and alleviating bus contention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate driver software modules are used for LDMA and RDMA operations, then local and remote storage operations can be managed independently, but PCI bus contention increases and cluster performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate driver software modules for LDMA and RDMA operations into a single unified driver. This unified driver manages both local NVRAM logging and remote cluster partner data transfers through a single software stack, eliminating the need for multiple independent drivers and their associated PCI bus transactions. The merging resolves the technical contradiction by maintaining independent management capabilities while reducing PCI bus contention to improve overall cluster performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified driver software module performs multiple functions that were previously handled by separate drivers. It simultaneously manages local storage operations (LDMA to NVRAM) and remote storage operations (RDMA to cluster partner), acting as a universal interface for both local and remote data transfers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate driver modules and reduces PCI bus overhead while maintaining full operational capability.
2Reliability
If multiple PCI transactions are used for data transfer to NVRAM and cluster interconnect adapter, then data can be stored locally and remotely, but PCI bus bottleneck increases and sequential write performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data transfer paths for local NVRAM storage and remote cluster interconnect adapter storage into a single unified driver software module. This consolidation allows the system to maintain data redundancy through both local and remote storage while reducing the number of separate PCI bus transactions required. The unified driver optimizes the transfer process, eliminating the PCI bus bottleneck that previously limited sequential write performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate software stacks are used for LDMA and RDMA, then each operation can be optimized independently, but device complexity increases and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate software stacks for LDMA and RDMA operations into a single unified driver software module. This unified stack maintains the ability to independently optimize local and remote operations while reducing overall device complexity. By consolidating the software architecture, the patent eliminates the complexity of managing multiple independent stacks while preserving the versatility to handle different operation types through a single optimized interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A network storage system includes a non-volatile memory to store data including a log of received data access requests, and a cluster interconnect adapter through which to send data to a cluster partner. The nonvolatile memory and the cluster interconnect adapter are implemented in a single device connected to an expansion bus in the network storage system. Communication with the nonvolatile memory is carried out using LDMA, and communication with the cluster partner is carried out using RDMA via the cluster interconnect adapter. LDMA and RDMA functionality are merged in a common software stack.