Read and write load sharing in a storage array via partitioned ownership of data blocks
US11644978B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 9, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/312
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system shares I/O load between controllers in a high availability system. For writes, a controller determines based on one or more factors which controller will flush batches of data from write-back cache to better distribute the I/O burden. The determination occurs after the local storage controller caches the data, mirrors it, and confirms write complete to the host. Once it is determined which storage controller will flush the cache, the flush occurs and the corresponding metadata at a second layer of indirection is updated by that determined storage controller (whether or not it is identified as the owner of the corresponding volume to the host, while the volume owner updates metadata at a first layer of indirection). For a host read, the controller that owns the volume accesses the metadata from whichever controller(s) flushed the data previously and reads the data, regardless of which controller had performed the flush.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.