IP Library Granted Patent US 11,231,881
Granted Patent B2
US 11,231,881 · App. 16/838,919 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

Raid data storage device multi-step command coordination system

Inventors: Gary Benedict Kotzur (Austin, TX); William Emmett Lynn (Round Rock, TX); Kevin Thomas Marks (Georgetown, TX); Chandrashekar Nelogal (Round Rock, TX); James Peter Giannoules (Round Rock, TX); Austin Patrick Bolen (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F3/0659G06F3/0604G06F3/0619G06F3/0689
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,231,881
App. No.
16/838,919
Granted
Jan 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A RAID data storage device multi-step command coordination system includes a RAID storage controller device that generates and transmits a first multi-step command that includes a barrier instruction, and a second multi-step command that includes a notification instruction. A first RAID data storage device receives the first multi-step command, identifies the barrier instruction in the first multi-step command and, in response, pauses performance of first multi-step command. A second RAID data storage device receives the second multi-step command, identifies the notification instruction in the second multi-step command and, in response, transmits a notification to the first RAID data storage device. While pausing the performance of the first multi-step command, the first RAID data storage device determines that the notification has been received and, in response, resumes the performance of the first multi-step command.

Claims (69)

1. A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) data storage device multi-step command coordination system, comprising:

a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage controller device that is configured to:

generate and transmit a first multi-step command that includes a barrier instruction; and

generate and transmit a second multi-step command that includes a notification instruction;

a first RAID data storage device that is coupled to the RAID storage controller device and that is configured to:

receive, from the RAID storage controller device, the first multi-step command;

identify the barrier instruction included in the first multi-step command;

pause, in response to identifying the barrier instruction, performance of the first multi-step command;

determine, while pausing the performance of the first multi-step command, that a notification has been received' and

resume, in response to determining that the notification has been received, the performance of the first multi-step command; and

a second RAID data storage device that is coupled to the RAID storage controller device and the first RAID data storage device, wherein the second RAID data storage device is configured to:

receive, from the RAID storage controller device, the second multi-step command;

identify the notification instruction included in the second multi-step command;

transmit, in response to identifying the notification instruction, the notification to the first RAID data storage device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first RAID data storage device is configured to:

perform a first subset of first multi-step command steps in the first multi-step command prior to identifying the barrier instruction; and

perform a second subset of first multi-step command steps in the first multi-step command subsequent to resuming the performance of the first multi-step command.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second RAID data storage device is configured to:

perform a first subset of second multi-step command steps in the second multi-step command prior to identifying the notification instruction; and

perform a second subset of second multi-step command steps in the second multi-step command subsequent to transmitting the notification.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the notification has been received includes:

determining that data has been written to a notification address in a storage subsystem included in the first RAID data storage device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the RAID storage controller device is configured to:

identify, to the second RAID data storage device, the data and the notification address.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein notification address in the storage subsystem is included in a Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) space.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RAID storage controller device is configured to:

transmit the first multi-step command prior to transmitting the second multi-step command.

8. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:

a processing system; and

a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a RAID data storage engine that is configured to:

receive, from a RAID storage controller device, a first multi-step command;

identify a barrier instruction included in the first multi-step command;

pause, in response to identifying the barrier instruction, performance of the first multi-step command;

determine, while pausing the performance of the first multi-step command, that a first notification has been received from a RAID data storage device; and

resume, in response to determining that the first notification has been received, the performance of the first multi-step command.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the RAID data storage engine is configured to:

perform a first subset of first multi-step command steps in the first multi-step command prior to identifying the barrier instruction; and

perform a second subset of first multi-step command steps in the first multi-step command subsequent to resuming the performance of the first multi-step command.

10. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the RAID data storage engine is configured to:

receive, from the RAID storage controller device, a second multi-step command;

identify a notification instruction included in the second multi-step command; and

transmit, in response to identifying the notification instruction, a second notification to the RAID data storage device.

11. The IHS of claim 10 , wherein the RAID data storage engine is configured to:

perform a first subset of second multi-step command steps in the second multi-step command prior to identifying the notification instruction; and

perform a second subset of second multi-step command steps in the second multi-step command subsequent to transmitting the second notification.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the determining that the first notification has been received includes:

determining that data has been written to a notification address in a storage subsystem that is connected to the processing system.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein notification address in the storage subsystem is included in a Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) space.

14. A method for coordinating multi-step commands performed by RAID data storage devices, comprising:

receiving, by a first RAID data storage device from a RAID storage controller device, a first multi-step command;

identifying, by the first RAID data storage device, a barrier instruction included in the first multi-step command;

pausing, by the first RAID data storage device in response to identifying the barrier instruction, performance of the first multi-step command;

determining, by the first RAID data storage device while pausing the performance of the first multi-step command, that a first notification has been received from a second RAID data storage device; and

resuming, by the first RAID data storage device in response to determining that the first notification has been received, the performance of the first multi-step command.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

performing, by the first RAID data storage device, a first subset of first multi-step command steps in the first multi-step command prior to identifying the barrier instruction; and

performing, by the first RAID data storage device, a second subset of first multi-step command steps in the first multi-step command subsequent to resuming the performance of the first multi-step command.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, by the first RAID data storage device from the RAID storage controller device, a second multi-step command;

identifying, by the first RAID data storage device, a notification instruction included in the second multi-step command; and

transmitting, by the first RAID data storage device in response to identifying the notification instruction, a second notification to the second RAID data storage device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

performing, by the first RAID data storage device, a first subset of second multi-step command steps in the second multi-step command prior to identifying the notification instruction; and

performing, by the first RAID data storage device, a second subset of second multi-step command steps in the second multi-step command subsequent to transmitting the second notification.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

identifying, by the first RAID storage controller device to the second RAID data storage device, the data and the notification address.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining that the first notification has been received includes:

determining by the first RAID data storage device that data has been written to a notification address in a storage subsystem that is connected to the processing system.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein notification address in the storage subsystem is included in a Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) space.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0081) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0441 →
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 (052851/0917) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0509 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052852/0022) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052771 FRAME 0906 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0298 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0917 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0081 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052852/0022 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052771/0906 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: KOTZUR, GARY BENEDICT; LYNN, WILLIAM EMMETT; MARKS, KEVIN THOMAS; NELOGAL, CHANDRASHEKAR; GIANNOULES, JAMES PETER; BOLEN, AUSTIN PATRICK
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 052301/0138 →
Continuity (1)
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