# US 11,029,882 B2 · Secure multiple server access to a non-volatile storage device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,882 B2 - Document ID: US11029882B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/370,312 - Filed: 2019-03-29 - Published: 2020-10-01 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-29 - Assignees: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: LENOVO Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) PTE. LTD. - Inventors: David W. Cosby; Theodore B. Vojnovich; Jonathan R. Hinkle; Patrick L. Caporale - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029882B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/061: {Improving I/O performance} - G06F 3/0659: {Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling} - G06F 3/0613: {in relation to throughput} - G06F 3/0658: {Controller construction arrangements} - G06F 3/0671: {In-line storage system} - G06F 3/0679: {Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]} - H04L 67/1051: {Group master selection mechanisms} - H04L 67/1097: for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS] - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An apparatus for secure multiple server access to a non-volatile storage device is disclosed. A method and storage device product also perform the functions of the apparatus. An apparatus includes a storage device with three or more ports. Each port includes at least one lane and each port is configured to connect to a different server over the at least one lane of the port. The storage device includes a storage controller in the storage device for each port. Each storage controller controls storage to non-volatile storage of the storage device. The storage device includes a logical namespace assigned to each port. Each logical namespace is assigned to a portion of the non-volatile storage of the storage device. The logical namespace of a first port of the three or more ports is inaccessible to a second port of the three or more ports. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a solid-state storage device with three or more ports, the solid-state storage device comprising solid-state non-volatile memory in a housing and the solid-state storage device uses a Non-Volatile Memory Express (“NVME”) protocol, each port comprising a single lane, each lane communicating using a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (“PCIe”) protocol, each port configured to connect directly to a different server of a plurality of servers over the lane of the port free of an intervening network communication fabric; a plurality of storage controllers in the housing of the solid-state storage device, each storage controller of the plurality of storage controllers associated with a different port of the three or more ports, the plurality of storage controllers in a housing of the solid-state storage device, each storage controller controlling storage to non-volatile storage within the housing of the solid-state storage device; and a logical namespace assigned to each port and associated lane, each logical namespace assigned to a portion of the non-volatile storage of the solid-state storage device in the housing, wherein the logical namespace of a first port of the three or more ports and the associated lane of the first port is inaccessible to a second port of the three or more ports and the associated lane of the second port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a port of the solid-state storage device is configured to communicate with a master controller in a server connected to the port of the solid-state storage device, wherein the master controller controls global commands from servers connected to the solid-state storage device, a global command comprising a command from a server that affects other servers connected to the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the master controller issues global commands through the server where the master controller is located. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the master controller coordinates execution of a global command with each server connected to the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the master controller is an active master controller and further comprising a backup master controller on a server different than the server where the active master controller resides and wherein the backup master controller becomes active in response to the active master controller being unavailable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the master controller communicates with servers connected to the solid-state storage device via the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the master controller communicates with servers connected to the solid-state storage device via a computer network different than connections between the servers and the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein physical memory addresses of the non-volatile storage of the solid-state storage device are segregated between the logical namespaces of the three or more ports. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: configuring each port of a solid-state storage device with three or more ports, the solid-state storage device comprising solid-state non-volatile memory in a housing and the solid-state storage device uses a Non-Volatile Memory Express (“NVME”) protocol, each port comprising a single lane, wherein each lane communicates using a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (“PCIe”) protocol, wherein each port configured to connect directly to a different server of a plurality of servers over the lane of the port free of an intervening network communication fabric; controlling, via a plurality of storage controllers in the housing of the solid-state storage device, that are each associated with a different port of the three or more ports, storage to non-volatile storage of the solid-state storage device, wherein the plurality of storage controllers and the non-volatile storage are disposed within a same housing of the solid-state storage device; and assigning a logical namespace to each port and associated lane, each logical namespace assigned to a portion of the non-volatile storage of the solid-state storage device, wherein the logical namespace of a first port of the three or more ports and the associated lane of the first port is inaccessible to a second port of the three or more ports and the associated lane of the second port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising communicating over a port of the solid-state storage device with a master controller in a server connected to a port of the solid-state storage device, the master controller controlling global commands from servers connected to the solid-state storage device, a global command comprising a command from a server that affects other servers connected to the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of: the master controller issues global commands through the server where the master controller is located; and the master controller coordinates execution of a global command with each server connected to the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein one of: wherein the master controller communicates with servers connected to the solid-state storage device via the solid-state storage device; and wherein the master controller communicates with servers connected to the solid-state storage device via a computer network different than connections between the servers and the solid-state storage device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein physical memory addresses of the non-volatile storage of the solid-state storage device are segregated between the logical namespaces of the three or more ports. ### Claim 14 A solid-state storage device comprising: solid-state non-volatile storage in a housing of the solid-state storage device; three or more ports at an interface to the housing, each port comprising a single lane, each lane communicating using a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (“PCIe”) protocol, each port configured to connect directly to a different server of a plurality of servers over the lane of the port free of an intervening network communication fabric; a plurality of storage controllers in the housing of the solid-state storage device, each storage controller of the plurality of storage controllers associated with a different port of the three or more ports, the plurality of storage controllers in a housing of the solid-state storage device, each storage controller controlling storage to non-volatile storage within the housing of the solid-state storage device; and a logical namespace assigned to each port and associated lane, each logical namespace assigned to a portion of the non-volatile storage of the solid-state storage device in the housing, wherein the logical namespace of a first port of the three or more ports and the associated lane of the first port is inaccessible to a second port of the three or more ports and the associated lane of the second port, and wherein the solid-state storage device uses a Non-Volatile Memory Express (“NVMe”) protocol.