Write Buffer Sector State Management for All-Flash Array Servers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The management of accessing Flash memory in all-flash array (AFA) servers is complicated due to differences between SSDs and HDDs, leading to degraded performance, as existing control methods may become improper or invalid.

Innovation Solution

A server architecture with a write buffer having sectors in specific states (empty, merging, need-flush, and flushing) is implemented, where the processor manages data processing based on these states to optimize data movement between the buffer and SSDs, using a write pointer and flush pointer to determine data handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional HDD control methods are applied to SSDs in AFA servers, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and reliability are degraded due to SSD-specific characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidperformance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the control parameters and management mechanisms from HDD-based to SSD-based. It introduces a write buffer with multiple sectors having different states (empty, merging, need-flush, flushing) and uses write pointer and flush pointer to manage data flow, adapting the control method to SSD characteristics to improve performance while maintaining operational ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If write buffer sectors are managed sequentially, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to inefficient data processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoiddata processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The write buffer is segmented into multiple sectors, each capable of holding data to be written to SSDs. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple sectors, improving data processing efficiency. The processor can manage different sectors in different states simultaneously, enhancing productivity without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic state management for write buffer sectors, where each sector can transition between different states (empty, merging, need-flush, flushing) based on real-time conditions. The processor dynamically adjusts its behavior based on sector states, using write pointer and flush pointer to optimize data movement, thereby improving processing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11487654B2Method for controlling write buffer based on states of sectors of write buffer and associated all flash array server

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 SILICON MOTION INC

AI summary

The present invention provides a control method of a server, wherein the server includes a write buffer for temporarily storing data from an electronic device, the write buffer has a plurality of sectors, and the write buffer has a write pointer and a flush pointer; and the control method comprises: setting each sector to have one of a plurality of states comprising an empty state, a merging state, a need-flush state and a flushing state; and referring to a state of a specific sector indicted by the write pointer to determine if ignoring the specific sector to directly process a sector after the specific sector.