US 9,542,320 B2 · Multi-node cache coherency with input output virtualization

Abstract

Systems and methods maintain cache coherency between storage controllers using input/output virtualization. In one embodiment, a primary storage controller receives write commands over a virtualized interface, stores the write commands in cache memory, tracks a status of the write commands processed from the cache memory, and stores the status in a portion of the cache memory. A backup storage controller includes a backup cache that receives replications of the write commands via direct memory access operations, and stores the replications of the write commands. The primary storage controller makes the status available to a host system. In response to a failure of the primary storage controller, the backup storage synchronizes with the status from the host system, and resumes I/O operations for the logical volume.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A storage system comprising:

a primary storage controller configured to receive write commands over a virtualized interface, to store the write commands in cache memory, to track a status of the write commands processed from the cache memory, and to store the status in a portion of the cache memory;
and
a backup storage controller that includes a backup cache configured to receive replications of the write commands via direct memory access (DMA) operations, and to store the replications of the write commands;
wherein the primary storage controller is configured to make the status available to a host system;
and
wherein, in response to a failure of the primary storage controller, the backup storage controller is configured to synchronize with the status from the host system, and to resume I/O operations at the logical volume.

3 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, direct the one or more processors to:

receive, at a primary storage controller of a logical volume, write commands over a first virtualized Input/Output (I/O) path, the primary storage controller having cache memory for caching the write commands, wherein a portion of the cache memory stores a status of commands processed from the cache memory for the logical volume;
receive, at a backup cache of a backup storage controller of the logical volume, replications of the write commands via direct memory access (DMA) operations;
make the status available to a host system;
in response to a failure of the primary storage controller, synchronize the backup cache of the backup storage controller with the status from the host system;
and
resume I/O operations at the logical volume with the backup storage controller.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-node cache coherency with input output virtualization

Life of this patent

Multi-node cache coherency with input output virtualization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25