Section 1 : Storage System

Intelligent Storage Systems

Chapter 4

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Chapter Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to: o Describe components of intelligent storage system

o List benefits of intelligent storage system

o Explain intelligent cache algorithms and protection o Describe implementation of intelligent storage system
o High-end storage array o Midrange storage array

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What is an Intelligent Storage System

Intelligent Storage Systems are RAID arrays that are: o Highly optimized for I/O processing

o Have large amounts of cache for improving I/O performance

o Have operating environments that provide:
o Intelligence for managing cache o Array resource allocation o Connectivity for heterogeneous hosts o Advanced array based local and remote replication options

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Benefits of an Intelligent Storage System

Intelligent storage system provides several benefits over a collection of disks in an array (JBOD) or even a RAID arrays:
o Increased capacity o Improved performance o Easier data management o Improved data availability and protection o Enhanced Business Continuity support o Improved security and access control

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Components of an Intelligent Storage System

Intelligent Storage System

Host Front End Cache Back End Physical Disks

Connectivity
FC SAN

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Intelligent Storage System: Front End

Intelligent Storage System

Host Front End Cache Back End Physical Disks

Connectivity
FC SAN

Ports

Controllers

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Front End Command Queuing

A

A
C B D

I/O Requests

I/O Processing Order Front-End Controller

Cylinders

Without Optimization (FIFO)

A
C B D

I/O Requests

I/O Processing Order Front-End Controller

Cylinders

With command queuing

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Intelligent Storage System: Cache

Intelligent Storage System

Host Front End Cache Back End Physical Disks

Connectivity
FC SAN

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Write Operation with Cache

Write-through Cache
Write Request
Acknowledgement

Cache

Write-back
Cache Write Request
Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement

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Read Operation with Cache: Hits and Misses

Data found in cache = Hit
Read Request Cache

No data found = Miss

Cache Read Request

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Cache Management: Algorithms

New Data

o Least Recently Used (LRU)

o Discards least recently used data

o Most Recently Used (MRU)

o Discards most recently used data
Oldest Data

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Cache Management: Watermarking

o Manage peak I/O requests bursts through flushing/de-staging
o Idle flushing, High Watermark flushing and Forced flushing

o For maximum performance:

o Provide headroom in write cache for I/O bursts

100 % HWM

LWM

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Idle flushing

High watermark flushing

Forced flushing

Cache Data Protection

o Protecting cache data against failure:
o Cache mirroring
o Each write to the cache is held in two different memory locations on two independent memory cards

o Cache vaulting
o Cache is exposed to the risk of uncommitted data loss due to power failure

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Intelligent Storage System: Back End

Intelligent Storage System

Host Front End Cache Back End Physical Disks

Connectivity
FC SAN

Controllers

Ports

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Intelligent Storage System: Physical Disks

Intelligent Storage System

Host Front End Cache Back End Physical Disks

Connectivity
FC SAN

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What the Host Sees RAID Sets and LUNs

Host 1

Intelligent Storage System

LUN 0

Front End Cache

Back End

Physical Disks
LUN 0

Connectivity
FC SAN

LUN 1

LUN 1

Host 2
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LUN Masking
o LUN masking is access control mechanism o Process of masking LUNs from unauthorized access

o Implemented on storage arrays

o Storage group logical entity that contains one or more LUNs and one host

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ISS Implementation: High-end Storage Systems

o Also referred as Active-active arrays
o I/Os are serviced through all the available path
Active-Active Configuration

o Following are high-end array capabilities:

o Huge cache to service host I/Os o Fault tolerance architecture o Multiple front-end ports and support to interface protocols o High scalability o Ability to handle large amounts of concurrent I/Os
Active
Port
Controller A Controller B

o Large storage capacity

LUN

Active Host

Port

Storage Array

o Designed for large enterprises

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Midrange Storage Systems

o Also referred as Active-passive arrays
o Host can perform I/Os to LUNs only through active paths o Other paths remain passive till active path fails
Active-Passive Configuration

Port

Passive Host

o Designed for small and medium enterprises o Less scalable as compared to high-end array

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Controller B

o Midrange array have two controllers, each with cache, RAID controllers and disks drive interfaces

Active

Port

Controller A

LUN

Storage Array

Chapter Summary
Key points covered in this chapter: o Intelligent Storage Systems features

o Components of Intelligent Storage Systems

o Cache management algorithms o Intelligent Storage System implementation
o High-end storage array o Mid range storage array

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