Virtual Host Bus Adapter Data Buffer Address Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of servers and storage systems using virtual machines consumes excessive system resources due to the need for multiple operating systems and memory copying during data transmission, affecting system performance.
Innovation Solution
A data processing method and device that enables a server and storage to share the same operating system through a virtual channel, reducing memory copy by transferring only the address and data buffer information during data operations, thereby improving system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machine solution is used to integrate server and storage, then server and storage can run programs under the same operating system, but system resources are consumed excessively due to need for multiple operating systems and memory copying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the server and storage into a unified system running under a single operating system, eliminating the need for separate virtual machines and multiple operating systems. The storage system is integrated as a module within the server, sharing the same CPU, memory, and OS, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining integration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the storage function as a separate module that can operate independently within the unified system. The storage module can be selectively activated or deactivated, and the system can operate in different modes (unified mode or independent mode), allowing flexible resource allocation and reducing overhead when storage functions are not needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machine solution is used to integrate server and storage, then server and storage can share hardware system, but system performance is affected due to memory copy during data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the server and storage into a unified system with shared memory space, eliminating the need for memory copying between separate virtual machines. Data transmission occurs within the same memory space, significantly improving performance while maintaining hardware sharing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual channel mechanism that acts as an intermediary for data transmission between the unified server and storage modules. This virtual channel enables efficient data communication without requiring physical memory copying, using address translation and virtual memory management to facilitate fast data access.
3Ease of operation
If dual virtual machines are used in one physical host, then server and storage can be simulated, but large amount of system resources are consumed for operating system simulation and memory allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple virtual machine functions into a single unified system. Instead of running separate virtual machines for server and storage, the system uses a single operating system with integrated server and storage modules, dramatically reducing the resources needed for OS simulation and memory allocation while maintaining virtualization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal platform where a single operating system can handle both server and storage functions through modular design. The unified system can execute different types of programs and handle various storage operations within the same OS environment, eliminating the need for multiple specialized virtual machines.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing method, which includes: writing, by an application module, data to be written in a data buffer, and sending a write request command and an address of the data buffer to a Virtual Host Bus Adapter (VHBA); sending, by the VHBA, the write request command and the address of the data buffer to a storage array module; and acquiring, by the storage array module, the data to be written from the data buffer, and then writing, into the storage medium, the data to be written according to the address of the data to be written into the storage medium. In the embodiments, it is only required to transfer the address of the data buffer and the data to be written when writing the data, so memory copy is reduced and system performance is improved.