Virtualized Local Storage via Protocol Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server storage solutions are costly and complex due to the need for multiple disks in RAID devices and expensive network attached storage, which complicates configuration and increases per-server costs, while also occupying significant physical space.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides virtualized local storage by using a virtual interface card (VIC) to present a virtual PCIe SCSI storage controller to servers, allowing multiple servers to access a shared storage system as if it were local, with embedded processors converting I/O requests between transport protocols to enable efficient access to shared storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If network attached storage is used, then storage capacity is improved, but per-server cost increases and configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A storage router is introduced as an intermediary device between servers and storage devices. The storage router receives I/O requests from servers via network protocols, translates them to native storage protocols, and forwards them to storage devices. This mediator handles protocol conversion and access control centrally, eliminating the need for each server to directly configure and manage network storage connections, thus reducing configuration complexity while maintaining storage capacity.
2Reliability
If multiple disks are used for RAID device, then storage reliability is improved, but physical footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple storage devices are merged into a unified storage pool managed by the storage router. Instead of each server requiring its own RAID array with multiple physical disks, the storage router aggregates storage from multiple devices and presents virtualized storage to servers. This consolidation achieves the same reliability benefits of RAID through distributed redundancy while dramatically reducing the total physical footprint of storage hardware.
3Quantity of substance
If local storage disks are added to server, then storage capacity is improved, but physical footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage router provides universal storage access that can serve multiple servers simultaneously. A single shared storage pool can be accessed by any number of servers in the network, eliminating the need for each server to have dedicated local storage. This multi-functional approach allows storage capacity to be dynamically allocated and shared across the network, reducing total hardware requirements while maintaining adequate storage capacity for all servers.
Data Source
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AI summary
An embedded processing unit (eCPU) processes an input/output (I/O) request from a host using a virtual storage controller. The eCPU associates a virtual network interface with a host. The virtual storage controller uses a first transport protocol. The eCPU receives an I/O request directed at a storage device from the virtual storage controller. The eCPU determines a second transport protocol used by the storage device, and converts the I/O request from a format according to the first transport protocol to a format according to the second transport protocol. The eCPU transmits the I/O request to the storage device using the second transport protocol.