Network storage system including non-volatile solid-state memory controlled by external data layout engine

A storage server comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface through which to communicate with a client over a network;
• a storage subsystem including a plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories to store data accessible to the client, wherein the storage subsystem does not include any data layout engine for accessing the non-volatile solid-state memory;
• and
• a data layout engine external to the storage subsystem, to manage data storage operations of the storage server, including
• applying a RAID data redundancy scheme to the plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories, including defining a RAID group from among the plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories;
• and
• in response to a read request for a set of data,
• identifying a RAID group of the plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories, in which requested data is stored;
• determining whether a non-volatile solid-state memory in the identified RAID group is busy;
• and
• when a non-volatile solid-state memory in the identified RAID group is busy, reading data of the set of data from the other non-volatile solid-state memories in the identified RAID group and reconstructing the set of data from the data read from the other non-volatile solid-state memories in the identified RAID group.

A storage system comprising:

• means for applying a RAID data redundancy scheme to a plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories in a storage subsystem, including defining a RAID group from among the plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories, by executing a data layout engine that is external to the storage subsystem, wherein the storage subsystem does not include any data layout engine for accessing the non-volatile solid-state memory;
• and
• means for responding to a read request for a set of data by
• identifying a RAID group of the plurality of non-volatile solid-state memories, in which requested data is stored;
• determining whether a non-volatile solid-state memory in the identified RAID group is busy;
• and
• when a non-volatile solid-state memory in the identified RAID group is busy, reading data of the set of data from the other non-volatile solid-state memories in the identified RAID group and reconstructing the set of data from the data read from the other non-volatile solid-state memories in the identified RAID group.