Burst buffer appliance comprising multiple virtual machines

摘要

A burst buffer appliance is adapted for coupling between a computer system and a file system. The burst buffer appliance comprises a flash memory or other high-speed memory having a substantially lower access time than the file system, and is configured to include a plurality of virtual machines for processing respective different types of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory, with each of the virtual machines providing a different performance level for its associated type of input-output operations. The performance levels provided by the plurality of virtual machines may comprise respective different quality of service (QoS) levels for the respective different types of input-output operations, specified in terms of parameters such as latency and throughput rate. A highest QoS level may be provided by a particular virtual machine for operations involving writing checkpoints from the computer system to the high-speed memory.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a burst buffer appliance adapted for coupling between a computer system and a file system; the burst buffer appliance comprising a high-speed memory having a substantially lower access time than the file system; the burst buffer appliance being configured to include a plurality of virtual machines for processing respective different types of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory; wherein each of the virtual machines provides a different performance level for its associated type of input-output operations; wherein the plurality of virtual machines comprises:
a first virtual machine for processing a first type of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory; andat least a second virtual machine for processing at least a second type of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory; wherein the first type of input-output operations is associated with a first priority and the second type of input-output operations is associated with a second priority lower than the first priority; wherein the first type of input-output operations comprises operations involving writing checkpoints from the computer system to the high-speed memory; and wherein the second type of input-output operations comprises operations involving at least one of: writing sensor data from a sensor network to the high-speed memory; writing or reading analytic engine data to or from the high-speed memory; and writing from the high-speed memory to the file system.