Techniques for implementing hybrid flash/HDD-based virtual disk files
First Claim
1. A method for utilizing flash storage as an extension of hard disk (HDD) based storage, the method comprising:
- storing, by a computer system, a first subset of blocks of a logical file in a first physical file residing on a flash storage tier, the first physical file being associated with a first inode data structure;
storing, by the computer system, a second subset of blocks of the logical file in a second physical file residing on an HDD storage tier, the second physical file being associated with a second inode data structure distinct from the first inode data structure, the second inode data structure comprising tiering configuration information that includes an identifier of the first physical file;
receiving, by the computer system, an I/O request directed to one or more blocks of the logical file; and
processing, by the computer system, the I/O request by directing the I/O request to the first physical file on the flash storage tier or to the second physical file on the HDD storage tier, the directing comprising;
verifying the tiering configuration information in the second inode data structure; and
in response to the verifying, determining whether the one or more blocks are part of the first subset of blocks in the first physical file or the second subset of blocks in the second physical file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for utilizing flash storage as an extension of hard disk (HDD) based storage are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can store a first subset of blocks of a logical file in a first physical file residing on a flash storage tier, and a second subset of blocks of the logical file in a second physical file residing on an HDD storage tier. The computer system can then receive an I/O request directed to one or more blocks of the logical file and process the I/O request by accessing the flash storage tier or the HDD storage tier, the accessing being based on whether the one or more blocks are part of the first subset of blocks stored in the first physical file.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for utilizing flash storage as an extension of hard disk (HDD) based storage, the method comprising:
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storing, by a computer system, a first subset of blocks of a logical file in a first physical file residing on a flash storage tier, the first physical file being associated with a first inode data structure; storing, by the computer system, a second subset of blocks of the logical file in a second physical file residing on an HDD storage tier, the second physical file being associated with a second inode data structure distinct from the first inode data structure, the second inode data structure comprising tiering configuration information that includes an identifier of the first physical file; receiving, by the computer system, an I/O request directed to one or more blocks of the logical file; and processing, by the computer system, the I/O request by directing the I/O request to the first physical file on the flash storage tier or to the second physical file on the HDD storage tier, the directing comprising; verifying the tiering configuration information in the second inode data structure; and in response to the verifying, determining whether the one or more blocks are part of the first subset of blocks in the first physical file or the second subset of blocks in the second physical file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer software executable by a processor, the computer software embodying a method for utilizing flash storage as an extension of HDD-based storage, the method comprising:
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storing a first subset of blocks of a logical file in a first physical file residing on a flash storage tier, the first physical file being associated with a first inode data structure;
storing a second subset of blocks of the logical file in a second physical file residing on an HDD storage tier, the second physical file being associated with a second inode data structure distinct from the first inode data structure, the second inode data structure comprising tiering configuration information that includes an identifier of the first physical file;receiving an I/O request directed to one or more blocks of the logical file; and processing the I/O request by directing the I/O request to the first physical file on the flash storage tier or to the second physical file on the HDD storage tier, the directing comprising; verifying the tiering configuration information in the second inode data structure; and in response to the verifying, determining whether the one or more blocks are part of the first subset of blocks in the first physical file or the second subset of blocks in the second physical file. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for utilizing flash storage as an extension of HDD-based storage, the system comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to; store a first subset of blocks of a logical file in a first physical file residing on a flash storage tier, the first physical file being associated with a first inode data structure; store a second subset of blocks of the logical file in a second physical file residing on an HDD storage tier, the second physical file being associated with a second inode data structure distinct from the first inode data structure, the second inode data structure comprising tiering configuration information that includes an identifier of the first physical file; receive an I/O request directed to one or more blocks of the logical file; and process the I/O request by directing the I/O request to the first physical file on the flash storage tier or to the second physical file on the HDD storage tier, the directing comprising; verifying the tiering configuration information in the second inode data structure; and in response to the verifying, determining whether the one or more blocks are part of the first subset of blocks in the first physical file or the second subset of blocks in the second physical file. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification