CLOUD DEFINED STORAGE
Storage processing units or SPUs ( 120 ) operate backend storage ( 150 ) to provide scalable storage services, redundancy, and disaster recovery to an enterprise. Each SPU ( 120 ) may reside in a host server ( 110 ) and may include an processor domain ( 490 ) with backup power ( 440 ) and isolation from a host domain ( 480 ) to allow the SPU ( 120 ) to operate after the host ( 110 ) fails or otherwise stops providing power. A cloud-based management system ( 180 ) may assess the storage needs of the enterprise, identify a storage style suited to the enterprise, and direct the SPUs ( 120 ) to create virtual volumes ( 122, 124, 128 ) having characteristics according to the storage style identified. The cloud based management system ( 180 ) may eliminate the need for the enterprise to have expertise in storage management.
1 . A storage processing unit comprising:
a first interface circuit configured to connect to a host server and receiving power and one or more control signals from the host server when the host server is operating normally, the first interface circuit being in a first clock domain in the storage processing unit;
a second interface circuit configured to connect to a storage device;
a processing system coupled to the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit and configured to provide the host server with storage services for a plurality of virtual storage volumes, the processing system being in a second clock domain of the storage processing unit;
a backup power unit coupled to provide power to the second clock domain when the host server fails to provide power through the first interface circuit.
2 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the second clock domain operates on the power from the backup power unit when the first interface circuit is not receiving power from the host server.
3 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the backup power unit comprises a battery.
4 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a connector configured for installation of the storage processing unit as a resident with the host server.
5 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling system integrated within the storage processing unit, wherein the cooling system operates using power from the backup power unit when the host server fails to provide cooling or power.
6 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to execute data services including data deduplication, compression, and encryption during a failure of the host server while the storage processing unit operates on backup power.
7 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the first interface circuit is configured to interface with the host server via a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus, and the second interface circuit is configured to communicate with the storage device using Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) protocols.
8 . The storage processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the backup power unit is configured to activate a smart power management mode to selectively reduce power consumption by disabling non-essential functions of the SPU during extended power outages.
9 . At least one processor, comprising:
one or more circuits to:
receive power and one or more control signals from a host server through a first interface circuit when the host server is operating normally, the first interface circuit being in a first clock domain in the storage processing unit;
cause storage services to be provided to the host server for a plurality of virtual storage volumes using a processing system of the storage processing unit, the processing system coupled to the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit, the processing system being in a second clock domain of the storage processing unit;
in response to the host server failing to provide power through the first interface circuit, use a backup power unit to supply power to the processing system.
10 . The processor of claim 9 , wherein the one or more circuits are further to provide storage services using the backup power unit until the host server resumes normal operation or a safe shutdown is completed.
11 . The processor of claim 9 , wherein the second clock domain operates on the power from the backup power unit when the first interface circuit is not receiving power from the host server.
12 . The processor of claim 9 , wherein the one or more circuits are further to:
in response to detecting a failure in cooling provided by the host server, activate an internal cooling system in the storage processing unit, powered by the backup power unit, to prevent overheating.
13 . A method for operating a storage processing unit in a host server, the method comprising:
receiving power and at least one control signal from the host server through a first interface circuit when the host server is operating normally, the first interface circuit being in a first clock domain in the storage processing unit;
providing storage services to the host server for a plurality of virtual storage volumes using a processing system of the storage processing unit, the processing system coupled to the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit, the processing system being in a second clock domain of the storage processing unit;
in response to the host server failing to provide power through the first interface circuit, using a backup power unit to supply power to the processing system.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
continuing to provide storage services using the backup power unit until the host server resumes normal operation or a safe shutdown is completed.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second clock domain is operable on the power from the backup power unit when the first interface circuit is not receiving power from the host server.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising installing the storage processing unit as a resident with the host server through a connector.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
in response to detecting a failure in cooling provided by the host server, activating an internal cooling system in the storage processing unit, powered by the backup power unit, to prevent overheating.
18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
executing data services including one or more of data deduplication, compression, and encryption during a failure of the host server while the storage processing unit operates on backup power.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first interface circuit is configured to interface with the host server via a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus, and the second interface circuit is configured to communicate with the storage device using Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) protocols.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the backup power unit is configured to activate a smart power management mode to selectively reduce power consumption by disabling non-essential functions of the SPU during extended power outages.