Unified Storage Controllers Distribute File Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unified storage systems face challenges in scaling out file performance while maintaining availability and controlling costs, as they often require additional servers for file processing and cannot integrate block storage resources effectively for file processing.
Innovation Solution
A unified storage system with multiple controllers equipped with main processors and channel adapters, where the processors in channel adapters cooperate to operate a distributed file system, allowing for distributed storage of data across controllers, thereby maintaining availability and scaling out file performance without the need for additional servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional servers (NAS head) are used to scale out file processing, then file processing performance is improved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges file processing capabilities with block storage controllers by equipping channel adapters with processors that can execute file processing programs. This integration allows the block storage system to perform file processing functions without requiring separate NAS head servers, thereby scaling out file performance while avoiding additional hardware costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel adapter processors are designed to perform multiple functions: they handle block storage operations and can also execute file processing programs when activated. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware resources to serve both block and file processing needs, eliminating the requirement for dedicated file processing servers.
2Quantity of substance
If resources are integrated with block storage to perform file processing, then costs are reduced, but file processing scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments file processing capabilities into individual channel adapter processors rather than relying on a centralized file processing unit. Each channel adapter can independently execute file processing programs, allowing file processing workloads to be distributed across multiple controllers. This segmentation enables horizontal scaling of file performance by simply adding more controllers to the block storage system.
3Device complexity
If centralized file processing is used, then system complexity is reduced, but availability and scalability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By distributing file processing capabilities across multiple channel adapter processors in different controllers, the system achieves both segmentation for scalability and redundancy for availability. Each controller can independently handle file processing requests, and if one controller fails, others can continue processing, thereby improving availability without significantly increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention makes it possible to maintain availability and scale out file performance, while suppressing costs. A unified storage has a plurality of controllers and a storage apparatus (storage device unit), and each of the plurality of controllers is equipped with one or more main processors (CPU) and one or more channel adapters (FE-I/F). Each main processor causes a block storage control program to operate and thereby process data inputted to and outputted from the storage apparatus, each channel adapter has a processor (CPU) that performs transmission and reception to and from a main processor after receiving an access request, and the processors in the plurality of channel adapters cooperate to cause a distributed file system to operate, and distributively store data, written as a file, to the plurality of controllers.