US 2019/0294346 A1Published application

Limiting simultaneous failure of multiple storage devices

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsZah Barzik, Ramy Buechler, Maxim Kalaev, Michael Keller, Amit Margalit, Rivka Matosevich

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Abstract

A data handling system includes multiple storage devices that each have a limited number of write and erase iterations. In one scheme, a deterministic endurance delta is created between a storage device (benchmark storage device), and the other storage devices so that the benchmark storage device has less endurance than the other storage devices. The benchmark storage device will likely reach endurance failure prior to the other storage devices and the probability of non-simultaneous endurance failure increases. In another scheme, a deterministic endurance delta is created between each of the storage devices so that each of the storage devices have a different endurance level than the other storage devices. By implementing the endurance delta simultaneous endurance failures of the storage devices may be avoided.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of avoiding simultaneous endurance failure of a plurality of write limited storage devices within a storage system, the method comprising:

grouping a plurality of the write limited storage devices into an end of life (EOL) detection group;
provisioning storage space within each of the plurality of write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group such that each provisioned storage space is equal in size and comprises a storage portion that stores host data and a spare portion;
implementing a different endurance exhaustion rate of each write limited storage device by altering a size of each spare portion such that the size of each spare portion is different;
subsequently receiving host data and equally distributing the host data so that each of the plurality of the write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group store an equal amount of host data;
storing the host data that is distributed to each of the plurality of write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group within the respective storage portion of each write limited storage device;
and
detecting an endurance failure of the write limited storage device that comprises the smallest spare portion prior to an endurance failure of any other write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group.

4 more elements

A computer program product for avoiding simultaneous endurance failure of a plurality of write limited storage devices within a storage system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions are readable to cause a processor of the storage system to:

group a plurality of the write limited storage devices into an end of life (EOL) detection group;
provision storage space within each of the plurality of write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group such that each provisioned storage space is equal in size and comprises a storage portion that stores host data and a spare portion;
implement a different endurance exhaustion rate of each write limited storage device by altering a size of each spare portion such that the size of each spare portion is different;
subsequently receive host data and equally distribute the host data so that each of the plurality of the write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group store an equal amount of host data;
store the host data that is distributed to each of the plurality of write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group within the respective storage portion of each write limited storage device;
and
detect an endurance failure of the write limited storage device that comprises the smallest spare portion prior to an endurance failure of any other write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group.

4 more elements

A storage system comprising a processor communicatively connected to a memory that comprises program instructions that are readable by the processor to cause the storage system to:

group a plurality of the write limited storage devices into an end of life (EOL) detection group;
provision storage space within each of the plurality of write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group such that each provisioned storage space is equal in size and comprises a storage portion that stores host data and a spare portion;
implement a different endurance exhaustion rate of each write limited storage device by altering a size of each spare portion such that the size of each spare portion is different;
subsequently receive host data and equally distribute the host data so that each of the plurality of the write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group store an equal amount of host data;
store the host data that is distributed to each of the plurality of write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group within the respective storage portion of each write limited storage device;
and
detect an endurance failure of the write limited storage device that comprises the smallest spare portion prior to an endurance failure of any other write limited storage devices in the EOL detection group.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.