Cache load balancing in storage controllers

摘要

Methods and structure are provided for cache load balancing in storage controllers that utilize Solid State Drive (SSD) caches. One embodiment is a storage controller of a storage system. The storage controller includes a host interface operable to receive Input and Output (I/O) operations from a host computer. The storage controller also includes a cache memory that includes an SSD. Further, the storage controller includes a cache manager that is distinct from the cache memory. The cache manager is able to determine physical locations in the multiple SSDs that are unused, to identify an unused location that was written to a longer period of time ago than other unused locations, and to store a received I/O operation in the identified physical location. Further, the cache manager is able to trigger transmission of the stored I/O operations to storage devices of the storage system for processing.

主权项

1. A storage controller of a storage system, the storage controller comprising:
a host interface operable to receive Input/Output (I/O) operations from a host computer; a cache memory comprising a Solid State Drive (SSD); and a cache manager that is operable to determine physical locations in the SSD that are unused, to identify an unused location that was written to a longer period of time ago than other unused locations, and to store a received I/O operation in the identified physical location, the cache manager further operable to trigger transmission of the stored I/O operations to storage devices of the storage system for processing, wherein if the cache manager determines that a set of cached I/O operations are directed to different storage devices along signaling pathways that share at least one common device, the cache manager is operable to alter one of the set of cached I/O operations to indicate a new signaling pathway that does not share a common device.