Data storage system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A data storage system comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices;
a plurality of nodes for providing access to the storage devices, each node comprising;
a computer-memory complex operable to provide general purpose computing for the node, a node controller operable to control data transfers through the respective node, and a cluster memory coupled to the node controller, the cluster memory operable to buffer data for the data transfers;
a plurality of storage device-to-node communication paths for connecting the storage devices to the nodes, wherein each storage device is coupled by two independent storage device-to-node communication paths to two of the nodes; and
a plurality of primary node-to-node communication paths for interconnecting the nodes, wherein each node is coupled by independent primary node-to-node communication paths to all the other nodes.
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Abstract
A data storage system includes a plurality of nodes for providing access to a data storage facility. Each node has a computer-memory complex to provide general purpose computing for the node, a node controller to control data transfers through the respective node, and a cluster memory to buffer data for the data transfers. A plurality of communication paths interconnect the nodes, with a separate communication path provided for each two nodes of the data storage system.
118 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A data storage system comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices;
a plurality of nodes for providing access to the storage devices, each node comprising;
a computer-memory complex operable to provide general purpose computing for the node, a node controller operable to control data transfers through the respective node, and a cluster memory coupled to the node controller, the cluster memory operable to buffer data for the data transfers;
a plurality of storage device-to-node communication paths for connecting the storage devices to the nodes, wherein each storage device is coupled by two independent storage device-to-node communication paths to two of the nodes; and
a plurality of primary node-to-node communication paths for interconnecting the nodes, wherein each node is coupled by independent primary node-to-node communication paths to all the other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
a central processing unit; and
system memory.
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15. The node of claim 1 wherein the node controller comprises:
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a logic engine; and
a memory control.
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16. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to compute RAID parity.
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17. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to reconstruct data if a storage device of the data storage facility is not operating properly.
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18. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to perform a checksum operation to validate data being transferred through the node.
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19. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to accelerate writing of a full RAID strip.
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20. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to perform peer-to-peer transfer of data through the node.
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21. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to compute RAID parity.
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22. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to reconstruct data if a storage device of the data storage facility is not operating properly.
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23. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to perform a checksum operation to validate data being transferred through the node.
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24. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the node controller is operable to accelerate writing of a full RAID strip.
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25. The data storage system of claim 1, further comprising:
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a plurality of host devices accessing the storage devices through the nodes; and
a plurality of host device-to-node communication paths for connecting the host devices to the nodes, wherein each host device is coupled by two independent host device-to-node communication paths to two of the nodes.
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26. The data storage system of claim 25, wherein each node further comprises a bus coupled to the computer memory complex, the bus comprising:
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a slot for receiving the controller node; and
a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots receiving a storage device or a host device.
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27. A data storage system comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices;
a plurality of system boards for providing access to the storage devices, each system board comprising;
a bus including an interface slot operable to connect the system board to one of the storage devices, wherein each storage device is coupled independently to two of the system boards, a computer-memory complex operable to provide general purpose computing for the system board, a node controller coupled to the computer-memory complex, the node controller operable to control data transfers through the system board, and a cache memory coupled to the node controller, the cache memory operable to buffer data for the data transfers; and
a backplane for interconnecting the system boards, the backplane supporting a plurality of primary system board-to-system board communication paths for transfer of data between the system boards, wherein each system board is coupled by independent primary system board-to-system board communication paths to all the other system boards. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
a central processing unit; and
system memory.
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31. The data storage system of claim 27 further comprising a plurality of secondary system board-to-system board communication paths, wherein each system board is coupled by independent secondary system board-to-system board communication paths to all the other system boards.
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32. The data storage system of claim 27, further comprising:
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a plurality of host devices accessing the storage devices through the system boards;
wherein the bus of each system board further includes a second interface slot operable to connect the system board to a host devices, each host device being coupled independently to two of the system boards.
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Specification