Control plane method and apparatus for providing erasure code protection across multiple storage devices
First Claim
1. A storage system having a storage interface, the system comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices, configured to store erasure codes sufficient to recover data stored on any one of the plurality of storage devices from data on the other storage devices;
a data switch, configured during normal operation to route storage commands received through the storage interface to respective ones of the plurality of storage devices, according to a respective address in each storage command; and
a controller,the controller being configured, in the event of failure or absence of any storage device of the plurality of storage devices;
to reconfigure the data switch to route storage commands addressed to the failed or absent storage device to the controller; and
to send, in response to each received storage command, the same command response, through the data switch and through the storage interface, as the failed or absent device would have sent were it present and operating correctly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing erasure code protection across multiple storage devices. A data switch in a storage system connects a plurality of storage devices to a remote host. Each storage device is also connected to a controller, e.g., a baseboard management controller. During normal operation, read and write commands from the remote host are sent to respective storage devices through the data switch. When a write command is executed, the storage device executing the command sends a copy of the data to the controller, which generates and stores erasure codes, e.g., on a storage device that is dedicated to the storage of erasure codes, and invisible to the remote host. When a device fails or is removed, the controller reconfigures the data switch to redirect all traffic addressed to the failed or absent storage device to the controller, and the controller responds to host commands in its stead.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A storage system having a storage interface, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of storage devices, configured to store erasure codes sufficient to recover data stored on any one of the plurality of storage devices from data on the other storage devices; a data switch, configured during normal operation to route storage commands received through the storage interface to respective ones of the plurality of storage devices, according to a respective address in each storage command; and a controller, the controller being configured, in the event of failure or absence of any storage device of the plurality of storage devices; to reconfigure the data switch to route storage commands addressed to the failed or absent storage device to the controller; and to send, in response to each received storage command, the same command response, through the data switch and through the storage interface, as the failed or absent device would have sent were it present and operating correctly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of operating a storage system having a storage interface and comprising a plurality of storage devices, a data switch, and a controller, the method comprising:
-
during normal operation, routing storage commands received through the storage interface to respective ones of the plurality of storage devices, according to a respective address in each storage command; and in the event of failure or absence of any storage device of the plurality of storage devices; reconfiguring the data switch, by the controller, to route storage commands addressed to the failed or absent storage device to the controller; and sending, by the controller, in response to each received storage command, the same command response, through the data switch and through the storage interface, as the failed or absent device would have sent were it present and operating correctly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A storage system having a storage interface, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of storage devices, configured to store erasure codes sufficient to recover data stored on any one of the plurality of storage devices from data on the other storage devices; a data switch, configured during normal operation to route storage commands received through the storage interface to respective ones of the plurality of storage devices, according to a respective address in each storage command; and controlling means for, in the event of failure or absence of any storage device of the plurality of storage devices; reconfiguring the data switch to route storage commands addressed to the failed or absent storage device to the controlling means; and sending, in response to each received storage command, the same command response, through the data switch and through the storage interface, as the failed or absent device would have sent were it present and operating correctly. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification