Virtual Machine Backup via Direct Flash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional storage systems face inefficiencies in data management and reliability due to unnecessary write operations and lack of direct control over storage processes, leading to potential data loss and reduced system reliability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a direct-mapped flash storage system where the operating system initiates and controls data operations, such as rewriting and erasing data, without involving lower-level storage controllers, and utilizing non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) as a buffer to improve write latency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional storage controllers are used to manage data operations, then storage processes are automated and easier to operate, but system reliability decreases due to unnecessary write operations and lack of direct control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage control functionality from the traditional storage controller and transfers it directly to the operating system. The OS now directly manages flash storage operations including wear leveling, bad block management, and data rewriting, eliminating the intermediate storage controller layer that caused reliability issues through unnecessary write operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces NVRAM as an intermediary buffer between the OS and flash storage. This mediator allows the OS to initiate write operations without immediately writing to flash, improving reliability by allowing validation and control before permanent storage, while also reducing unnecessary write operations to the flash memory.
2Productivity
If traditional storage controllers perform data operations, then automation is provided, but write performance deteriorates due to redundant write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the storage controller's automatic data operation management that caused redundant writes. By giving direct control to the OS, the system can intelligently determine when writes are necessary, eliminating the automatic but redundant write operations performed by traditional controllers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary buffering in NVRAM before committing data to flash storage. This preliminary action allows the system to validate and prepare data before permanent storage, preventing unnecessary flash write operations and improving overall write performance by reducing redundant operations.
3Speed
If NVRAM is used as a buffer, then write latency is reduced and performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the NVRAM serve multiple functions: it acts as a write buffer to reduce latency, a validation layer to improve reliability, and a control mechanism to manage flash wear. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing multiple benefits from a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The NVRAM serves as an intermediary layer that simplifies the interaction between the OS and flash storage. While it adds a component, it actually simplifies the control logic by providing a standardized buffer interface that the OS can use for all flash storage operations, managing complexity through abstraction.
Data Source
AI summary
Reversing deletion of a virtual machine including managing, by a storage system, a repository of virtual machine snapshots on a datastore; receiving, by the storage system, a request to recover a deleted virtual machine from the datastore; accessing, by the storage system, the repository of virtual machine snapshots on the datastore to generate a list of deleted virtual machines associated with virtual machine snapshots in the repository of virtual machine snapshots; receiving, by the storage system, a selection of one of the deleted virtual machines in the list of deleted virtual machines; and recovering, by the storage system, the selected deleted virtual machine using a virtual machine snapshot for the selected deleted virtual machine.