Virtual Storage Socket Cloning for Clustered Memory Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current networked storage systems require multiple copies of applications to be executed for different virtual storage systems, leading to significant memory consumption and inefficiencies in processing client requests across a clustered storage system.

Innovation Solution

Configuring a listening socket for an application to detect communication across multiple virtual storage systems, determining the destination virtual storage system for incoming packets, cloning a connection socket for forwarding subsequent packets, and processing these packets on behalf of the virtual storage system, thereby allowing a single instance of the application to serve multiple virtual storage systems without the need for multiple copies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple copies of applications are executed for different virtual storage systems, then each virtual storage system can be served independently, but memory consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to serve multiple virtual storage systemsVSAvoidmemory consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple application instances into a single shared application instance that serves multiple virtual storage systems. The listening socket accepts connections for any virtual storage system, and connection sockets are cloned and associated with specific virtual storage system identifiers, allowing one application copy to handle multiple virtual systems without requiring separate application instances for each.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The application instance is designed with universal functionality to handle requests for multiple virtual storage systems simultaneously. The listening socket is configured to detect communication for a plurality of virtual storage systems, and the same application code base is used across all virtual systems, eliminating the need for multiple specialized application copies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple copies of applications are executed for different virtual storage systems, then each virtual storage system can be served independently, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to serve multiple virtual storage systemsVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If a single application instance serves multiple virtual storage systems, then memory usage is reduced, but the application must handle multiple virtual storage systems simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory usageVSAvoidapplication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application functionality by creating separate connection sockets for each virtual storage system connection. Each connection socket is cloned and associated with a specific virtual storage system identifier, allowing the single application instance to manage multiple virtual systems through structured separation of connection handling logic while maintaining a unified application process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10701151B2Methods and systems for accessing virtual storage servers in a clustered environment

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 NETAPP INC

AI summary

Methods and systems for managing access to virtual storage systems is provided. A listening socket is configured for an application for detecting communication for a plurality of virtual storage systems presented by a clustered storage system having a plurality of nodes. A packet is received at a node of the clustered storage system from a client system for a virtual storage system from among the plurality of virtual storage systems. An identifier for the virtual storage system for which the packet is destined is determined. A connection socket is cloned for the virtual storage system such that any other packet for a same connection and for the virtual storage system can be forwarded to the virtual storage system. Thereafter, the packet is processed by the application on behalf of the virtual storage system.