Intelligent Storage Systems: Ismdr:Be5It:Viii:Madhu N. Piit 1

Intelligent Storage Systems
Chapter 4
ISMDR:BE5IT:VIII:Madhu N. PIIT 1
Chapter objective
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
• Describe components of intelligent storage
system
• List benefits of intelligent storage system
• Explain intelligent cache algorithms and
protection
• Describe intelligent storage array implementation
– High-end storage array
– Mid-range storage array
What is an Intelligent Storage System
Intelligent Storage Systems are RAID arrays that are:
• Highly optimized for I/O processing
• Have large amounts of cache for improving I/O
performance
• Have operating environments that provide:
– Intelligence for managing cache
– Array resource allocation
– Connectivity for heterogeneous hosts
– Advanced array based local and remote replication
options
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:
– Increased capacity
– Improved performance
– Easier data management
– Improved data availability and protection
– Enhanced Business Continuity support
– Improved security and access control
Components of an Intelligent Storage
System
Intelligent Storage System
Host Front End Back End Physical Disks
Cache
Connectivity
FC SAN
Intelligent Storage System: Front End
Cache
Connectivity
FC SAN
Ports Controllers
Front End Command Queuing
A
D C B A D C B A
C D
I/O Requests I/O Processing
B
Order
Front-End Cylinders
Controller
Without Optimization (FIFO)
D C B A D B C A
C D
I/O Requests I/O Processing B
Order
Front-End Cylinders
Controller
With command queuing

Intelligent Storage System: Cache
Cache
Connectivity
FC SAN
Write Operation with Cache
Write-through Cache
Cache
Write
Request
Acknowledgement
Write-back
Cache
Write
Request
Acknowledgement Acknowledgement
Read Operation with Cache: ‘Hits’ and
‘Misses’
Data found in cache = ‘Hit’
Cache
Read
Request
No data found = ‘Miss’

Cache
Read
Request
Cache Management: Algorithms
New Data
• Least Recently Used (LRU)
– Discards least recently used data
• Most Recently Used (MRU)
– Discards most recently used data
( assumed that recent data may not be
required for a while)
Oldest Data
Cache Implementation
 Dedicated Cache
– Separate memory sets reserved for read and write
 Global Cache
– Both read and write operation use available memory.
– More efficient
Cache Management: Watermarking
 Manage peak I/O requests “bursts” through flushing/de-staging
– Idle flushing, High Watermark flushing and Forced flushing
 For maximum performance:
– Provide headroom in write cache for I/O bursts
100 %
HWM
LWM
Idle flushing High watermark flushing Forced flushing

ISMDR:BE5IT:VIII:Madhu N. PIIT
Cache Data Protection
• Protecting cache data against failure: (power
failure)
– Cache mirroring
• Each write to the cache is held in two different memory
locations on two independent memory cards
• Cache coherency(only writes r mirrored)
– Cache vaulting
• Cache is exposed to the risk of uncommitted data loss
due to power failure
• In the event of power failure, uncommitted data is
dumped to a dedicated set of drives called vault drives
Intelligent Storage System: Back End
Cache
Connectivity
FC SAN
Controllers Ports
Intelligent Storage System: Physical
Disks
Cache
Connectivity
FC SAN
What the Host Sees – RAID Sets and
LUNs (Logical Unit Number)
Host 1
LUN 0 Front End Back End Physical Disks
Cache
Connectivity LUN 0
FC SAN
LUN 1
LUN 1
Host 2
LUN Masking
It is a process that provides data access control by defining which LUNs a host can
access.
• LUN masking is access control mechanism

• Process of masking LUNs from unauthorized access
• Implemented on storage arrays and at front end controller
Intelligent Storage Arrays

 High End Storage System
 Mid Range Storage System
ISS Implementation: High-end Storage
•
Systems
Also referred as Active-active arrays
Active-Active Configuration
– I/O’s are serviced through all the available
path
• Following are high-end array capabilities:
– Large storage capacity
Controller
– Huge cache to service host I/Os
A
Port
Active
– Fault tolerance architecture
LUN
Controller
– Multiple front-end ports and support to
B
Port
interface protocols Active
– High scalability Host

Storage
– Ability to handle large amounts of Array
concurrent I/Os
• Designed for large enterprises
Midrange Storage Systems
• Also referred as Active-passive arrays
Active-Passive Configuration
– Host can perform I/Os to LUNs only
through active paths
– Other paths remain passive till active path
fails
Controller
• Midrange array have two controllers, each
A
Port
Active
with cache, RAID controllers and disks drive
LUN
Controller
interfaces Port
B
Passive
• Designed for small and medium enterprises
Host
• Less scalable as compared to high-end array Storage
Array
Chapter Summary
Key points covered in this chapter:
• Intelligent Storage Systems features
• Components of Intelligent Storage Systems
• Cache management algorithms
• Intelligent Storage System implementation
– High-end storage array
– Mid range storage array
Concept in Practice: EMC CLARiiON CX-4
• Support for UltraFlex technology
• Scalable from up to 960 disks
• Supports flash drives
• Supports different types and sizes of drives, and
RAID types (0, 1, 1+0, 3, 5, 6)
• Supports up to 16 GB of available cache memory
per controller (Storage Processor)
• Enhances availability with non disruptive
upgrade and failover
• Ensures data protection through mirrored write
cache and cache vaulting
• Supports storage-based local and remote data
replication
– Through SnapView and MirrorView software
CLARiiON CX-4 Architecture
Storage Processor Storage Processor
Multi-Core Processors Multi-Core Processors
FC Module CPU CPU CPU CPU

4 Gb/s Fibre Channel Front-End CPU CPU CPU CPU FC Module
FC Module
CPU CPU CPU CPU CLARiiON Messaging Interface (CMI) CPU CPU CPU CPU FC Module
FC Module Multi-Lane PCI-Express Bridge Link FC Module
FC Module
Power Supply SPS
FC Module
iSCSI Module Memory Memory iSCSI Module
iSCSI Module
Fan Fan Fan Fan iSCSI Module
I/O Complex CPU Module

SPS Power Supply CPU Module I/O Complex
4 Gb/s Fibre 4 Gb/s LCC 4 Gb/s LCC 4 Gb/s Fibre

Channel Back-End Channel Back-End
4 Gb/s LCC 4 Gb/s LCC
EMC Symmetrix DMX-4
• Incrementally scalable to 2,400 disks
• Supports Flash-based solid-state drives
• Dynamic global cache memory (16 GB–512
GB)
• Advanced processing power (up to 130
PowerPC)
• Direct matrix Architecture
• High data processing bandwidth (up to 128
GB/s)
• Data protection with RAID 1, 1+0 (also
known as 10 for mainframe), 5, and 6
• Storage-based local and remote replication
– Through TimeFinder and SRDF software
Direct Matrix Architecture
ESCON
host attach
Fibre Channel
host attach
FICON, GigE, iSCSI
host attach
FICON, GigE, iSCSI
host attach
FICON, GigE, iSCSI
host attach
FICON, GigE, iSCSI
host attach
Fibre Channel
host attach
ESCON
host attach
ESCON Director FC Director Multi-Protocol CD Multi-Protocol CD Multi-Protocol CD Multi-Protocol CD FC Director ESCON Director
Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl
Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct
Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix
Control and communications Signals
Environmental 64 GB 64 GB 64 GB 64 GB 64 GB 64 GB 64 GB 64 GB Environmental
control and Memory Memory Memory Memory Memory Memory Memory Memory control and
status signals status signals
Control and communications Signals
Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct
Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix Matrix
Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl Cntl
FC (Back-End) FC (Back-End) FC (BE or FE) FC (BE or FE) FC (BE or FE) FC (BE or FE) FC (Back-End) FC (Back-End)
A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B
Symmetrix Symmetrix Fibre Channel Fibre Channel Fibre Channel Fibre Channel Symmetrix Symmetrix
Fibre Channel Fibre Channel disk back-end back-end back-end back-end Fibre Channel Fibre Channel
disk devices devices director * director * director * director * disk devices disk devices
Battery backup Cooling
Power supplies
Service Unit Modules
Processor Modem
UPS
 Check Your Knowledge
• What are the parts of an Intelligent Storage
System?
• What are the differences between a high-end and
midrange storage array?
• What is the difference between a read cache hit
and a read cache miss?
• What is the difference between Least Recently
Used and Most Recently Used algorithms?
• What is the difference between Write-through
and Write-back cache?

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Intelligent Storage Systems

Host Front End Back End Physical Disks