Host-Managed Zone Translation Layer for FTL-Free Zoned-Namespace SSDs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage system technologies consume significant computer resources and memory due to the maintenance of FTL mapping tables, resulting in reduced usable storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a zone translation layer (ZTL) within the host device to manage input-output operations, eliminating the need for a Flash Translation Layer (FTL) in SSDs, thereby optimizing memory usage and increasing usable storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If FTL mapping tables are maintained in SSD memory to translate logical addresses to physical addresses, then input-output operations can be performed, but memory consumption increases and usable storage decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput-output operation capabilityVSAvoidusable storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the FTL mapping table functionality from the SSD and relocates it to the host device. The host maintains the mapping table in its own memory, eliminating the need for the SSD to allocate significant memory for this purpose. This extraction resolves the contradiction by freeing up SSD memory for actual data storage while preserving the address translation capability through the host's FTL driver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If FTL mapping tables are maintained in SSD memory to track data relocation, then translation operations can be performed, but processing resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddress translation capabilityVSAvoidprocessing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the FTL driver and mapping table management from the SSD to the host device. The host's FTL driver handles all address translation operations, eliminating the need for complex processing logic within the SSD. This reduces the SSD's processing burden and complexity while maintaining reliable address translation through the host's computational resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If FTL mapping tables are maintained in SSD memory to manage logical and physical addresses, then data relocation can be tracked, but memory resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata relocation trackingVSAvoidmemory resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the memory-intensive FTL mapping table from the SSD to the host device. The host maintains the mapping table in its own memory space, which has sufficient capacity without impacting the SSD's storage capacity. This extraction allows reliable tracking of data relocation while eliminating the memory resource consumption that would otherwise reduce the SSD's usable storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250252058A1Methods for managing input-output operations in zone translation layer architecture and devices thereof

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 NETAPP INC

AI summary

The disclosed technology relates to determining physical zone data within a zoned namespace solid state drive (SSD), associated with logical zone data included in a first received input-output operation based on a mapping data structure within a namespace of the zoned namespace SSD. A second input-output operation specific to the determined physical zone data is generated wherein the second input-output operation and the received input-output operation is of a same type. The generated second input-output operation is completed using the determined physical zone data within the zoned namespace SSD.