IP Library Granted Patent US 10,289,548
Granted Patent B1
US 10,289,548 · App. 15/581,368 · Granted May 14, 2019

Method and system for garbage collection in a storage system which balances wear-leveling and performance

Inventors: Grace Ho (Sunnyvale, CA); Jeffrey S. Bonwick (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
G06F12/0261G06F2212/1016G06F2212/1036
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,289,548
App. No.
15/581,368
Granted
May 14, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

In general, embodiments of the technology relate to a method for managing data. The method includes, in response to initiating garbage collection on a storage appliance, selecting a first block from the plurality of blocks based, at least in part, on a selection frequency; and performing a garbage collection operation on the first block to generate a first erased block in the storage appliance.

Claims (41)

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor perform a method, the method comprising:

in response to initiating garbage collection on a storage appliance that comprises a plurality of blocks:

selecting a first block from the plurality of blocks,

wherein a selection frequency specifies when a first factor for block selection is used as compared to when at least a second factor for block selection is used,

wherein, based on the selection frequency, the first block is selected using the first factor for block selection;

performing a garbage collection operation on the first block to generate a first erased block in the storage appliance,

selecting a second block from the plurality of blocks, wherein, based on the selection frequency, the second block is selected using the second factor for block selection; and

performing the garbage collection operation on the second block to generate a second erased block in the storage appliance,

wherein the first factor for block selection uses a program/erase (P/E) cycle value associated with the first block,

wherein the second factor for block selection uses information about an amount of valid data stored in the second block.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

obtaining the selection frequency prior to selecting the first block.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the selection frequency is specified to ensure even program/erase (P/E) cycle value distribution across the plurality of blocks in the storage appliance.

4. A method for managing data, comprising:

in response to initiating garbage collection on a storage appliance that comprises a plurality of blocks:

selecting a first block from the plurality of blocks,

wherein a selection frequency specifies when a first factor for block selection is used as compared to when at least a second factor for block selection is used,

wherein, based on the selection frequency, the first block is selected using the first factor for block selection;

performing a garbage collection operation on the first block to generate a first erased block in the storage appliance,

selecting a second block from the plurality of blocks, wherein, based on the selection frequency, the second block is selected using the second factor for block selection; and

performing the garbage collection operation on the second block to generate a second erased block in the storage appliance,

wherein the first factor for block selection uses a program/erase (P/E) cycle value associated with the first block,

wherein the second factor for block selection uses information about an amount of valid data stored in the second block.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

obtaining the selecting frequency prior to selecting the first block.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein selection frequency is specified to ensure an even program/erase (P/E) cycle value distribution across the plurality of blocks in the storage appliance.

7. A storage appliance, comprising:

persistent storage;

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions;

a processor, configured to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor perform the method, the method comprising:

selecting a first block from the plurality of blocks,

wherein a selection frequency specifies when a first factor for block selection is used as compared to when at least a second factor for block selection is used,

wherein, based on the selection frequency, the first block is selected using the first factor for block selection;

performing a garbage collection operation on the first block to generate a first erased block in the storage appliance,

selecting a second block from the plurality of blocks, wherein, based on the selection frequency, the second block is selected using the second factor for block selection; and

performing the garbage collection operation on the second block to generate a second erased block in the storage appliance,

wherein the first factor for block selection uses a program/erase (P/E) cycle value associated with the first block,

wherein the second factor for block selection uses information about an amount of valid data stored in the second block.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the selecting frequency prior to selecting the first block.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein selection frequency is specified to enforce a maximum program/erase (P/E) cycle value distribution across the plurality of blocks in the storage appliance.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042769/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.)
Reel/Frame 059803/0802 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 042768 FRAME 0585 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; MOZY, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058297/0536 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2018
From: HO, GRACE; BONWICK, JEFFREY S.
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 044798/0729 →
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (CREDIT) Recorded Jun 12, 2017
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; MOZY, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042768/0585 →
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (NOTES) Recorded Jun 12, 2017
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; MOZY, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042769/0001 →