Multiple quality of service file system

Abstract

The invention relates to a multiple QoS file system and methods of processing files at different QoS according to rules. The invention allocates multiple VLUNs at different qualities of service to the multiQoS file system. Using the rules, the file system chooses an initial QoS for a file when created. Thereafter, the file system moves files to different QoS using rules. Users of the file system see a single unified space of files, while administrators place files on storage with the new cost and performance according to attributes of the files. A multiQoS file system enhances the descriptive information for each file to contain the chosen QoS for the file.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates to management of file systems and large files. [0002] This application incorporates by reference herein as follows: [0003] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 264,603, Systems and Methods of Multiple Access Paths to Single Ported Storage Devices, filed on Oct. 3, 2002; [0004] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 354,797, Methods and Systems of Host Caching, filed on Jan. 29, 2003; [0005] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 397,610, Methods and Systems for Management of System Metadata, filed on Mar. 26, 2003; [0006] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 440,347, Methods and Systems of Cache Memory Management and Snapshot Operations, filed on May 16, 2003; [0007] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 600,417, Systems and Methods of Data Migration in Snapshot Operations, filed on Jun. 19, 2003; [0008] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 616,128, Snapshots of File Systems in Data Storage Systems, filed on Jul. 8, 2003; [0009] U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 677,560, Systems and Methods o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] The invention relates to a multiple QoS (multiQoS) file system and methods of processing files at different QoS according to IT administrator-specified rules. The invention allocates multiple VLUNs at different qualities of service to the multiQoS file system. Using the IT administrator-specified rules, the file system can assign an initial QoS for a file when created. Thereafter the file system moves files to a different QoS using IT administrator-specified rules. Users of the file system see a single unified name space of files. A multiQoS file system enhances the descriptive information for each file to contain the QoS of the file.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, more than in the past active data is a shrinking part of the entire data set of a file system leading to inefficient use of expensive high performance storage.

This impacts data storage backups and lifecycle management / compliance.

Although symbolic links can simulate the original namespace, this approach requires the target storage be provisioned as another file system thus increasing the IT administrator workload.

Archival and HSM software also don't integrate well with snapshots.

Archival software that moves old data does not free snapshot space on high performance storage.

Also, usually each data store has its own snapshots and these snapshots are not coordinated.

Archival software also does not control initial file placement and is inefficient for a large class of data that ultimately ends up being archived.

Since archival software is not privy to initial placement decisions, it will not provide different quality of service (QoS) in a file system to multiple users and data types.

Archiving software also ends up consuming production bandwidth to migrate the data.

They are not optimized to leverage idle bandwidth of a storage system.

Archiving software has integration issues, high administrative overhead and may even require application redesign.

It may also require reconsideration of system issues like high availability, interoperability, and upgrade processes.

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