Data Storage Systems and Methods

• US 20130145105A1
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenoware R&D Limited
• Original Assignee: Antoni Sawicki, Tomasz Nowak
• Inventors: Sawicki, Antoni, Nowak, Tomasz, Murphy, Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 9,880,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/147
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1076 Parity data used in redundant arrays of independent storages, e.g. in RAID systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1425 by reconfiguration of node membership
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1443 Transmit or communication errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/16 Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1662 the resynchronized component or unit being a persistent storage device re-synchronization of failed mirror storage G06F11/2082; rebuild or reconstruction of parity RAID storage G06F11/1008
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17331 Distributed shared memory [DSM], e.g. remote direct memory access [RDMA]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/815 Virtual
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/104 Metadata, i.e. metadata associated with RAID systems with parity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0644 Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1809 Selective-repeat protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Example data storage systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method identifies data to be written to a shared storage system that includes multiple storage nodes. The method communicates a write operation vote request to each of the multiple storage nodes. The write operation vote request is associated with a data write operation to write the identified data to the shared storage system. A positive response is received from at least a portion of the multiple storage nodes. The data write operation is initiated in response to receiving positive responses from a quorum of the storage nodes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying data to be written to a shared storage system having a plurality of storage nodes;

communicating a write operation vote request to each of the plurality of storage nodes, the write operation vote request associated with a data write operation to write the identified data to the shared storage system;

receiving, using one or more processors, positive responses from at least a portion of the plurality of storage nodes; and

initiating, using the one or more processors, the data write operation responsive to receiving positive responses from a quorum of the storage nodes.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising preventing other data write operations to any of the plurality of storage nodes until the initiated data write operation is complete.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating communication of the write operation vote request after a predetermined time period responsive to receiving a collision response from any of the plurality of storage nodes.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating communication of the write operation vote request responsive to failing to receive a positive response from a quorum of the storage nodes within a predetermined time period.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating communication of the write operation vote request responsive to failing to receive a positive response from a quorum of the storage nodes within a predetermined time period and failing to receive a collision response from any of the plurality of storage nodes.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating communication of the write operation vote request after a predetermined time period responsive to receiving the collision response.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, the write operation vote request communicated to each of the plurality of storage nodes by a virtual storage controller within a client device generating the data write operation.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, the initiating of the data write operation including writing the identified data across all of the plurality of storage nodes in the shared data storage system.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, the initiating of the data write operation including writing redundant copies of the identified data across at least a portion of the plurality of storage nodes in the shared data storage system.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, the quorum of the storage nodes including more than half of the plurality of storage nodes in the shared storage system.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, the communicating of the write operation vote request to each of the plurality of storage nodes performed without requesting an acknowledgement receipt from the plurality of storage nodes.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a memory to store data associated with controlling a shared storage system having a plurality of storage nodes; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

identify data to be written to the shared storage system;

communicate a write operation vote request to each of the plurality of storage nodes, the write operation vote request associated with a data write operation to write the identified data to the shared storage system;

receive responses from at least a portion of the plurality of storage nodes; and

initiate the data write operation responsive to receiving positive responses from a quorum of the storage nodes.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to prevent additional data write operations to any of the plurality of storage nodes until the initiated data write operation is complete.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to cancel the data write operation responsive to receiving a collision response from any of the plurality of storage nodes.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to repeat communication of the write operation vote request responsive to failing to receive a positive response from a quorum of the storage nodes within a predetermined time period.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, the initiating of the data write operation including writing the identified data across all of the plurality of storage nodes in the shared storage system.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, the quorum of the storage nodes including more than half of the plurality of storage nodes in the shared storage system.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

identifying data to be written to a shared storage system having a plurality of storage nodes;

communicating a write operation vote request to each of the plurality of storage nodes, the write operation vote request associated with a data write operation to write the identified data to the shared storage system;

receiving responses from at least a portion of the plurality of storage nodes; and

initiating the data write operation responsive to receiving positive responses from a quorum of the storage nodes.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, the machine further performing operations including preventing other data write operations to any of the plurality of storage nodes until the initiated data write operation is complete.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, the machine further performing operations including canceling the data write operation responsive to receiving a collision response from any of the plurality of storage nodes.