Unified Write Buffer Host Storage Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage devices using nonvolatile memory, such as SSDs, the limited capacity of random access memory poses a challenge in providing sufficient write buffers when a large number of write destination blocks are required, leading to difficulties in managing data writes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a unified write buffer (UWB) on the host side, which stores write data for multiple write destination blocks and transfers it to the storage device as needed, allowing for efficient data management without the need for a large-capacity random access memory in the storage device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of write destination blocks is increased, then the storage device can serve more end users and improve versatility, but the number of write buffers required increases, exceeding the limited random access memory capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The host device acts as an intermediary by providing a unified write buffer that stores write data for multiple write destination blocks. The storage device controller only needs to maintain a small buffer for currently being written data, while the host's unified buffer holds data for multiple destination blocks, thus resolving the contradiction between serving multiple users and having sufficient buffer capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the buffer storage from the storage device dimension to the host device dimension. By placing the unified write buffer on the host side rather than in the storage device's random access memory, the system expands the available buffer capacity without increasing the storage device's memory requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If the capacity of random access memory in the storage device is increased to provide sufficient write buffers, then the storage device can handle more write destination blocks, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The write buffer functionality is extracted from the storage device and placed on the host device. The storage device controller only maintains minimal buffer for active write operations, while the host device's unified write buffer handles storage for multiple destination blocks, thereby reducing the random access memory capacity needed in the storage device
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus stores first data to be written to one destination block of a nonvolatile memory in a write buffer on a memory of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits, to a storage device, a write request including a first identifier associated with the one write destination block and storage location information indicating a location in the write buffer in which the first data is stored. The information processing apparatus transfers the first data from the write buffer to the storage device every time a transfer request including the storage location information is received from the storage device.