Patent · US Active

Hybrid garbage collection in a distributed storage system

US10789223B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 24, 2016
Grant dateSep 29, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2212/261
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing garbage collection in distributed storage systems are provided. The distributed storage system operates based on independent management of metadata of extent and stream data storage resources. A hybrid garbage collection system based on reference counting garbage collection operations and mark-and-sweep garbage collection operations is implemented. An extent lifetime table that tracks reference weights and mark sequences for extents is initialized and updated based on indications from extent managers and stream managers, respectively. Upon determining that an extent is to be handed-off from weighted reference counting garbage collection operations to mark-and-sweep garbage collection operations, a reference weight field for the extent is voided and a mark sequence field of the extent is updated. The mark sequence field is updated with a latest global sequence number. The mark-and-sweep garbage collection operations are utilized to reclaim the extent when the extent is no longer referenced.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.