Dynamic multitasking for distributed storage systems by detecting events for triggering a context switch

An apparatus for use in a storage system, the storage system including a first storage server configured to execute a first I/O service process and one or more second storage servers, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured to:
• detect a first event for triggering a context switch;
• transmit to each of the second storage servers an instruction to stop transmitting internal I/O requests to the first I/O service process, the instruction including an identifier corresponding to the first I/O service process, the identifier being arranged to distinguish the first I/O service process from other first I/O service processes that are executed by the first storage server concurrently with the first I/O service process;
• deactivate the first I/O service process by pausing a frontend of the first I/O service process, and pausing one or more I/O providers of the first I/O service process;
• and
• after the first I/O service process is deactivated, execute a first context switch between the first I/O service process and a second process, the first I/O service process and the second process being executed on a same processor core of the first storage server, and the first context switch causing the processor core to stop executing the first I/O service process and begin executing the second process.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more processor-executable instructions, which when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to execute the operations of:

• detecting a first event for triggering a context switch in a first storage server, the first server being configured to execute a first I/O service process for servicing I/O requests in a distributed storage system;
• transmitting to each of a plurality of second storage servers that are part of the distributed storage system an instruction to stop transmitting internal I/O requests to the first I/O service process, the instruction including an identifier corresponding to the first I/O service process, the identifier being arranged to distinguish the first I/O service process from other first I/O service processes that are executed by the first storage server concurrently with the first I/O service process;
• deactivating the first I/O service process by pausing a frontend of the first I/O service process, and pausing one or more I/O providers of the first I/O service process;
• and
• after the first I/O service process is deactivated, executing a first context switch between the first I/O service process and a second process, the first I/O service process and the second process being executed on a same processor core of the first storage server, and the first context switch causing the processor core to stop executing the first I/O service process and begin executing the second process.