Virtual Host Bus Adaptor Buffer Pool Architecture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network and storage systems in cloud computing environments face performance and administrative bottlenecks, particularly in handling input/output (I/O) operations, which are not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a free buffer pool with multiple packet buffers associated with virtual host bus adaptors (vHBAs) and a context table in on-chip memory to manage I/O operations, allowing for efficient handling of disk read data through a single memory interface, thereby reducing latency and costs by avoiding the use of multiple memory interfaces and external dependencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple memory interfaces are used to handle I/O operations, then processing capacity is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple memory interface operations into a single memory interface by implementing a buffer pool architecture that consolidates I/O buffer management. The context table and buffer pointers enable multiple vHBAs to share the same memory interface resources, eliminating the need for separate memory interfaces for each I/O operation while maintaining processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single memory interface is designed to serve multiple functions by implementing a universal buffer pool that can handle I/O operations for multiple virtual host bus adaptors (vHBAs). The context table structure allows the same memory interface to manage buffers for different vHBAs and different I/O operations simultaneously, providing multi-functional capability.
2Speed
If multiple memory interfaces are used for I/O operations, then processing speed is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple memory interface functions into a single interface using a buffer pool architecture. The context table maintains buffer pointers that enable the single memory interface to handle multiple I/O streams concurrently, achieving high processing speed without the cost of multiple physical memory interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer pool architecture enables the memory interface to serve itself by implementing internal buffer management and context switching capabilities. The context table and buffer pointers allow the single memory interface to automatically manage its own resource allocation for multiple vHBAs, eliminating the need for additional external memory interfaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional network and storage systems are used in cloud computing, then system stability is maintained, but performance bottlenecks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the I/O processing architecture by separating the context management (context table with buffer pointers) from the actual data transfer operations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stable context management while enabling high-performance I/O operations through efficient buffer allocation and management in the buffer pool, resolving the performance bottlenecks of traditional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer pool acts as an intermediary layer between the memory interface and the I/O operations. The context table and buffer pointers serve as mediators that enable efficient data flow management, allowing the system to maintain stability while achieving improved I/O performance through the buffered architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system and method can support input/output (I/O) virtualization in a computing environment. The system comprise a free buffer pool that contains a plurality of packet buffers associated with one or more virtual host bus adaptors (vHBAs), wherein each said vHBA maintains a main linked list of buffer pointers that point to one or more packet buffers. Furthermore, a context table can be defined on an on-chip memory associated with an input/output (I/O) device, wherein the context table maintains a temporary linked list of buffer pointers that point to one or more packet buffers allocated for a disk read operation. The I/O device can open the context table when the I/O device receives disk read data from a physical host bus adaptor (HBA), update the temporary linked list of buffer pointers, and merge the temporary linked list into the main linked list when the context table is closed.