Virtual Storage Subsystems with Dedicated L2 Cache for Enterprise Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale enterprise data storage systems face performance degradation due to the sheer size and number of disks, leading to increased response times and difficulties in managing massive data across numerous applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation divides storage disks into multiple virtual storage subsystems, each with a dedicated level-2 cache memory, allowing for faster data access and redundancy through communication paths between these caches and the main cache, as well as automatic rebuilding and secure hardware management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the enterprise data storage system increases storage capacity by adding more large-capacity physical disks, then the total storage capacity is improved, but the system complexity and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large-scale enterprise storage system into multiple virtual storage subsystems, each managing a subset of physical disks. This segmentation reduces the complexity of managing thousands of disks by creating smaller, more manageable units that can be independently controlled and monitored, while still providing aggregate storage capacity exceeding 1 petabyte.
2Quantity of substance
If the enterprise data storage system increases storage capacity by adding more large-capacity physical disks, then the total storage capacity is improved, but the data access response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces level-2 cache memory as an intermediary between the main cache and physical storage disks. This intermediate caching layer stores frequently accessed data, reducing the time required to access data on large-capacity physical disks while maintaining the expanded storage capacity of the system.
3Speed
If dedicated level-2 cache memory is added to each virtual storage subsystem, then data access speed is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The level-2 cache memory is designed to serve multiple virtual storage subsystems and can be dynamically allocated or shared when needed. This multi-functional approach allows the cache to improve data access speed across different subsystems while reducing overall complexity through resource sharing and consolidation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a method to manage an enterprise data storage system, the method including: dividing storage disks of the enterprise data storage system into multiple virtual storage subsystems, wherein each virtual storage subsystem hosts a non-overlapping subset of the storage disks, and wherein each virtual storage subsystem includes a level-2 cache memory dedicated thereto; establishing a communication path between the level-2 cache memory dedicated to each virtual storage subsystem and a main cache of the enterprise-level data storage system; and maintaining a copy of transaction data from the non-overlapping subset of the storage disks hosted by each virtual storage subsystem in the level-2 cache memory dedicated thereto such that when the main cache searches for the copy of the transaction data, the main cache fetches, over the communication path, the copy of the transaction data from the level-2 cache memory of the virtual storage subsystem.