High availability storage system
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving a write request regarding data to be stored by a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices;
transferring the write request to a selected one of a plurality of active controllers;
storing, by the selected controller, the data in a non-volatile cache simultaneously accessible by both the selected controller and at least a second active controller of the plurality of active controllers, wherein the non-volatile cache is accessible by the active controllers using an interface technology permitting two or more communication paths between a particular active controller and the non-volatile cache to be aggregated to form a higher data rate communication path; and
storing, by the selected controller, the data in one or more of the storage devices, wherein the storage devices are connected to both the selected controller and one or more other active controllers using the interface technology.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are described for a storage system including at least two controllers configured to handle write requests and a non-volatile cache connected to both controllers that stores data received from the controllers. The non-volatile cache is accessible by the first and second controllers using an interface technology permitting two or more communication paths between a particular active controller and the non-volatile cache to be aggregated to form a higher data rate communication path. Additionally, a plurality of storage devices are each connected using the interface technology to each controller for storing data received from the controllers.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a write request regarding data to be stored by a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices;
transferring the write request to a selected one of a plurality of active controllers;
storing, by the selected controller, the data in a non-volatile cache simultaneously accessible by both the selected controller and at least a second active controller of the plurality of active controllers, wherein the non-volatile cache is accessible by the active controllers using an interface technology permitting two or more communication paths between a particular active controller and the non-volatile cache to be aggregated to form a higher data rate communication path; and
storing, by the selected controller, the data in one or more of the storage devices, wherein the storage devices are connected to both the selected controller and one or more other active controllers using the interface technology. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A storage system comprising:
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a first controller configured to actively handle write requests regarding data to be stored by the storage system;
a second controller configured to perform at least one of the following while the first controller is actively handling write requests;
actively handle write requests or operate in a standby mode;
an interconnect configured to transfer write requests to the first and second controllers;
a non-volatile cache connected to both the first and second controllers and configured to store data received from the first and second controllers to be stored by the storage system, wherein the non-volatile cache is accessible by the first and second controllers using an interface technology permitting two or more communication paths between a particular active controller and the non-volatile cache to be aggregated to form a higher data rate communication path; and
a plurality of storage devices each connected to both the first and second controllers using the interface technology, and wherein the plurality of storage devices are configured to store data received from the first and second controllers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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means for receiving a write request regarding data to be stored by a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices;
a plurality of means for storing the data in a non-volatile cache and for storing the data in one or more of the storage devices;
means for selecting one of the means for storing to handle the write request; and
means for transferring the write request to the selected means for storing;
wherein the non-volatile cache is simultaneously connected to a plurality of the means for storing and the non-volatile cache is accessible by the means for storing using an interface technology permitting two or more communication paths between a particular means for storing and the non-volatile cache to be aggregated to form a higher data rate communication path;
wherein at least one of the storage devices is simultaneously connected to a plurality of the means for storing using the interface technology; and
wherein at least two of the means for storing are simultaneously available to handle write requests. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification