Information processing device, information processing method, program

Abstract

The present invention provides an information processing device that can write data known to be accessed frequently over a predetermined period to appropriate storage. [Solution] An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to frequently accessed information, wherein the allocation policy includes a period during which multiple volume data are preferentially allocated to the first-tier storage means, and a determination is made whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means. Based on the result of the determination, the target volume data is allocated to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means and written.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] A technique is disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which, among a plurality of storages with different performances, a storage with high performance is preferentially accessed, and storages are allocated in order from data with high access frequency, and among the data for which storages are allocated, data for which a storage different from the currently stored storage is allocated is specified as a relocation target, and relocation of the data is performed.

[0003] In the technique of Patent Document 1, a block allocation method is determined based on information of a volume to be stored. Then, based on the determination, storage is allocated based on capacity designation, and allocation based on ratio designation is also performed in volume units.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the above-described technique, there is a problem that data known to have a high access frequency during a predetermined period may not be written to an appropriate storage.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that solve the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, the allocation policy including a period for preferentially allocating a plurality of volume data to the first-tier storage means, and a determination means that determines whether to allocate target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the allocation policy; and an allocation means that allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination.

[0008] An information processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein the method determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the allocation policy which includes a period for preferentially allocating a plurality of volume data to the first-tier storage means, and allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination.

[0009] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes the computer of an information processing device to function as a determination means that determines whether to allocate target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on an allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, the allocation policy including a period for preferentially allocating a plurality of volume data to the first-tier storage means; and an allocation means that allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] Data that is known to be accessed frequently over a specified period can be written to appropriate storage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows the data content of access status data according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is the first figure showing the data content of the allocation information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a second figure showing the data content of the allocation information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This figure shows the data content of policy data according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of an allocation policy indicating a period according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] This figure shows the hardware configuration of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] This is the first figure showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] This is a second figure showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] This is a third figure showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] This is the fourth figure showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] This is a functional block diagram of an information processing device according to another example of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] This figure shows the processing flow of an information processing device according to another example of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the present disclosure, the information processing apparatus is the storage device shown in FIG. 1. The storage device 2 is communicatively connected to the host 1. The storage device 2 is communicatively connected to a pool device 3 which is an external storage area.

[0013] The storage device 2 can temporarily store volume data received from the host 1 or the like. The storage device 2 can also write the volume data to the pool device 3. Further, the storage device 2 can read and use the volume data from the pool device 3. The storage device 2 can write to or read from the pool device 3 in units of a plurality of block data constituting the volume data.

[0014] The pool device 3 is composed of a first-tier storage area 31 (tier 1) and a second-tier storage area 32 (tier 2). The first-tier storage area 31 is a storage area composed of a storage device with high access performance, and stores volume data with high access frequency in block units. The second-tier storage area 32 is a storage area composed of a storage device with lower access performance compared to the storage device constituting the first-tier storage area 31, and stores volume data with lower access frequency compared to the volume data stored in the first-tier storage area 31 in block units. The access performance may be, for example, the performance of a storage device determined based on the amount of written data per unit time and the amount of read data per unit time. In the present disclosure, it is assumed that the storage device constituting the first-tier storage area 31 has a higher amount of written data per unit time and a higher amount of read data per unit time than the storage device constituting the second-tier storage area 32. As an example, the storage device of the first-tier storage area 31 is a SSD (Solid State Drive). As another example, the storage device of the second-tier storage area 32 is a HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0015] The storage device 2 of the present disclosure records high-access-frequency volume data in the first-level storage area 31 in block units, and records relatively low-access-frequency volume data in the second-level storage area 32 in block units. However, based on the information indicating the period specified in volume units, the volume data is also recorded in the first-level storage area 31. Or in another example, the storage device 2 of the present disclosure may record the volume data in the second-level storage area 32 based on the information indicating the period specified in volume units.

[0016] In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the first-level storage area 31 is configured by the RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) function of disks 1 to 4 which are SSDs. Also in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the second-level storage area 32 is configured by the RAID function of disks 5 to 9 which are HDDs. It is assumed that the first-level storage area 31 and the second-level storage area 32 are each configured in block units of the storage area. It is assumed that the data amount of each block unit of the volume data is equal to the data amount of the storage area of the first-level storage area 31 and the second-level storage area 32.

[0017] The storage device 2 exhibits the functions of a host control unit 21, a disk control unit 22, and a RAID management unit 23. The host control unit 21 is in charge of information processing with the host 1. The disk control unit 22 controls the writing of data to each storage device constituting the pool device 3, the first-level storage area 31, and the second-level storage area 32, or the reading of data from those storage devices and storage areas. The RAID management unit 23 manages the writing and reading of volume data by the disk control unit 22 based on the pre-set data.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the data content of access state data according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a first diagram showing the data content of allocation information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a second diagram showing the data content of allocation information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] The RAID management unit 23 stores access status data 231, assignment information 232, and policy data 233 as configuration data. Access status data 231 (Figure 2) is data that includes the number of times the block data that constitutes the volume data has been written to the pool device 3, the number of times the block data has been read from the pool device 3, the amount written per block data unit (length of write operation), the amount read per block data unit (length of read operation), and a flag (overflow flag) indicating that the threshold for determining the access frequency based on the number of writes, reads, writes, and reads has been exceeded. Access status data 231 is stored for each volume data.

[0020] The allocation information 232 includes hierarchical allocation information (Figure 3) and volume allocation information (Figure 4). The hierarchical allocation information (Figure 3) stores, for each block number of the destination that constitutes the first-tier storage area 31 or the second-tier storage area 32, the identifier of the volume recorded in that block and the block number of that volume are associated with each block number, which is the identifier of the block data unit that constitutes the volume data. The volume allocation information (Figure 4) stores, for each block number, which is the identifier of the block data unit that constitutes the volume data, the identifier of the hierarchical level to which it is allocated (first-tier storage area 31 or second-tier storage area 32) and the block number of the destination that is written in that hierarchical level are associated with each block number, which is the identifier of the block data unit that constitutes the volume data.

[0021] Figure 5 shows the data content of policy data according to one embodiment of this disclosure. The policy data stored by the RAID management unit 23 stores policies for determining the recording destination of volume data. The policy data contains five policies, numbered 51 through 55.

[0022] Policy number 51 indicates that block data will be allocated as recording destinations in order from the first-tier storage area 31, which has relatively high access performance, based on the specified capacity percentage (or specified capacity ratio) of the volume data. For example, if policy number 51 is used and the specified capacity percentage is 40% of the volume data, the disk control unit 22 will record block data representing 40% of that volume data in the first-tier storage area 31, record block data representing the remaining 60% in the second-tier storage area 32 if there is a second-tier storage area, and if there is no free space in the second-tier storage area 32, record that amount of block data in the first-tier storage area 31.

[0023] Policy number 52 indicates that block data will be allocated to storage locations in order from the second-tier storage area 32, which has relatively lower access performance, based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data. For example, if policy number 52 is used and the specified capacity ratio is 40% of the volume data, the disk control unit 22 will record block data representing 40% of that volume data in the second-tier storage area 32, and if there is free space in the first-tier storage area 31, it will record block data representing the remaining 60% in the first-tier storage area 31, and if there is no free space in the first-tier storage area 31, it will record that amount of block data in the second-tier storage area 32.

[0024] Policy number 53 indicates that, based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data, the storage area will be allocated alternately, starting with the first-tier storage area 31 which has relatively high access performance, as the recording destination for block data for each block unit that makes up the volume data. For example, if the specified capacity ratio using policy number 53 is 40% of the volume data, the disk control unit 22 will record the block data representing 40% of the volume data in block units, starting with the first-tier storage area 31, then the second-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 31, then the second-tier storage area 32, and so on. The remaining block data representing 60% will then be recorded in block units, starting with the second-tier storage area 32, then the second-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 31, then the second-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 31, and so on.

[0025] Policy number 54 indicates that, based on the specified capacity percentage of the volume data, the storage area will be allocated alternately, starting with the second-tier storage area 32 which has relatively low access performance, as the recording destination for each block unit that makes up the volume data. For example, if the specified capacity percentage using policy number 54 is 40% of the volume data, the disk control unit 22 will record the block data representing 40% of the volume data in block units, starting with the second-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 31, then the second-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 32, and so on. The remaining block data representing 60% will be recorded in block units, starting with the first-tier storage area 31, then the second-tier storage area 32, then the first-tier storage area 31, then the second-tier storage area 32, and so on.

[0026] Figure 6 shows an example of an allocation policy indicating a period according to one embodiment of this disclosure. Policy number 55, included in the policy data, is a policy for determining the recording destination of volume data based on a specified period. As shown in Figure 6, policy number 55 indicates periods indicated by 01h, 02h, 04h, 08h, 10h, 20h, and 80h, respectively, or periods indicated by year, month, and day.

[0027] Period 01h is a policy that specifies a particular date and time, and determines that the first-tier storage area 31 will be the preferred destination for recording volume data on that date. Period 02h is a policy that designates a specific date and month, and on that date each year, prioritizes the first-tier storage area 31 as the recording destination for volume data.

[0028] The 04h period is a policy that specifies a particular month and day, and for that day only, prioritizes the first-tier storage area 31 as the recording destination for volume data. The period 08h is a policy that designates a specific day each month and prioritizes the first-tier storage area 31 as the recording destination for volume data on that day.

[0029] The 10-hour period is a policy that designates a specific day and prioritizes the first-tier storage area 31 as the recording destination for volume data for that day only. The 20-hour period is a policy that determines that volume data with policy number 55 set for this 20-hour period will be preferentially recorded in the first-tier storage area 31, regardless of the specified duration.

[0030] The 80-hour duration indicates a policy that does not specify a time period. If the period is indicated by year, month, and day, it is a policy to prioritize determining the first-tier storage area 31 as the recording destination for volume data during that period.

[0031] Figure 7 shows the hardware configuration of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5, storage device 2 is a computer equipped with hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, storage device 104, and communication module 105. Storage device 2 performs the functions of the host control unit 21, disk control unit 22, and RAID management unit 23 described above when the CPU 1 executes a program. Host 1 and pool device 3 also have similar hardware configurations.

[0032] Figure 8 is a first diagram showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Next, the processing flow of the storage device 2 of this disclosure will be explained step by step.

[0033] First, the host control unit 21 of the storage device 2 temporarily stores one or more volume data transmitted from the host 1. As an example, Figure 1 shows the state in which the host control unit 21 temporarily stores the first volume data 211 and the second volume data 212. Note that a volume may be a unit of data transmitted from the host 1 to the storage device 2. The host control unit 21 calculates the access status of each volume. As described above, the access status is the number of times the block data units constituting the volume data are written to the pool device 3, the number of times the block units are read from the pool device 3, the amount written per block data unit (length of write operation), and the amount read per block data unit (length of read operation). The host control unit 21 writes these access statuses to the access status data 231 for each volume data.

[0034] The disk control unit 22 then determines the destination for writing the volume data to the pool device 3 based on the policy data 233 for each volume data. Specifically, the disk control unit 22 receives write commands and read commands from the host 1 when the host control unit 21 of the storage device 2 is received (step S101). The write commands and read commands include the block number of the volume data. When the host control unit 21 of the storage device 2 receives a write command for block number 0 of the first volume data 211, the disk control unit 22 obtains allocation information 232 from the RAID management unit 23.

[0035] Let's assume that the allocation information (Figure 4) for the first volume data 211 does not currently contain information about the hierarchy of the pool device 3 to which it is allocated. In this case, the disk control unit 211 obtains the policy numbers (51 to 55) that are set as allocation policies for the volume data. Based on one of the policy numbers 51 to 55, the disk control unit 211 determines the recording destination for block data with block number 0 of the first volume data 211. In other words, the disk control unit 211 determines whether to allocate the recording destination based on the specified capacity ratio of the acquired policy numbers 51 to 54, or based on the period of policy number 55 (step S102). If the policy number of the first volume data 211 is one of the policy numbers 51 to 54, and the disk control unit 211 allocates the recording destination based on the specified capacity ratio, it obtains the allocation information 232 for the first volume data 211 shown in Figure 5, identifies the allocation policy registered in that allocation information 232, and determines the hierarchy of the recording destination based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data indicated by that allocation policy (step S103).

[0036] The disk control unit 211 determines the destination tier based on the period indicated by the policy if the allocation policy for the first volume data 211 is policy number 55 (step S104). For example, if the allocation policy for the first volume data 211 is policy number 55 and the period indicated by the policy is period 01h, the disk control unit 211 determines whether the current date falls within that period. If the period indicated by the policy is period 01h and the current date falls within that period 01h, the disk control unit 211 decides to record block data with block number 0 of the first volume data 211, as described in the write command, into the first tier storage area 31. If the period indicated by the policy is period 01h and the current date falls outside that period 01h, the disk control unit 211 decides to record block data with block number 0 of the first volume data 211, as described in the write command, into the second tier storage area 32. Similarly, if the allocation policy with policy number 55 indicates a period of 02h, 04h, 08h, 10h, or 20h, it is decided that if the period falls within one of those periods, the data will be recorded in the first-tier storage area 31; otherwise, it will be recorded in the second-tier storage area 32.

[0037] The disk control unit 211 determines whether there is free space for the volume data (block data) indicated by the write command in the hierarchy determined as the recording destination. If there is free space, it decides to record in the determined hierarchy; otherwise, it decides to record in another hierarchy (step S105). The disk control unit 211 records block data with block number 0 of the first volume data 211 specified by the write command in the hierarchy determined as the recording destination (first-level storage area 31 or second-level storage area 32). In other words, the disk control unit 211 determines whether to allocate the first-level storage area 31 as the recording destination (step S106). If the disk control unit 211 allocates the first-level storage area 31 as the recording destination, it records block data with block number 0 of the first volume data 211 specified by the write command in the first-level storage area 31 (step S107). If the disk control unit 211 does not allocate the first-level storage area 31 as the recording destination, it records the block data of block number 0 of the first volume data 211 specified by the write command to the second-level storage area 32 (step S108).

[0038] Furthermore, if the disk control unit 22 subsequently records block data with block number 0 of the first volume data 211 in the first-level storage area 31 in step 107, it writes the identifier of the first volume data and the block number as the allocation information for block number 0 included in the allocation information (Figure 3) of the first-level storage area 31. The disk control unit 22 also writes the identifier of the first-level storage area 31 and the block number of the recording destination in that storage area (for example, block number 0) as the allocation information for block number 0 included in the allocation information (Figure 4) of the first volume data. The disk control unit 22 also updates the access status data 231 by writing information regarding the number of writes and write length due to write commands.

[0039] The processing flow of the storage device 2 described above is an example of a process that determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage area 31 or the second-tier storage area 32 based on an allocation policy for a period in which the first-tier storage area 31 is preferentially allocated to the first-tier storage area 31 among multiple volume data, and writes the target volume data to either the first-tier storage area 31 or the second-tier storage area 32 based on the result of the determination.

[0040] Furthermore, the processing flow of the storage device 2 described above is an example of a process in which, if it is determined to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage area 31 based on the result of the determination, and there is no free space in the first-tier storage area 31, it is determined to continue allocating the target volume data to the second-tier storage area 32.

[0041] Furthermore, the processing flow of the storage device 2 described above is an example of a process in which, if it is determined that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage area 32 based on the result of the determination, and there is no free space in the second-tier storage area 32, it is determined that the target volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage area 31.

[0042] Figure 9 is a second diagram showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the storage device 2 may switch the destination tier of the recording between the first-tier storage area 31 and the second-tier storage area 32 based on the access status of each block data in the access status data 231, such as the frequency and amount of access, or if the allocation policy in the policy data 233 is policy number 55 and its period has expired.

[0043] For example, the disk control unit 22 determines whether the allocation policy for block data constituting the volume data is policy number 55 and whether that period has expired (step S201). If the disk control unit 22 detects that the period has expired, it determines whether the expired block data is allocated and recorded in the first-tier storage area 31. If the disk control unit 22 finds that the expired block data is allocated and recorded in the first-tier storage area 31, it outputs an instruction to move the recording destination of that block data from the first-tier storage area 31 to the second-tier storage area 32 and rewrite it (step S202).

[0044] The disk control unit 22 also determines whether the allocation policy for the block data constituting the volume data is policy number 55 and whether the period has expired and is now included in the period of that allocation policy (step S203). If the disk control unit 22 detects that the period has expired and is now included in the period, it determines whether the block data that is now included in the period is allocated and recorded in the second-tier storage area 32. If the disk control unit 22 determines that the block data that is now included in the period is allocated and recorded in the second-tier storage area 32, it outputs an instruction to move the recording destination of the block data from the second-tier storage area 32 to the first-tier storage area 31 and rewrite it (step S204).

[0045] The processing flow of this storage device 2 is an example of a process that determines, based on the allocation policy, that volume data that has passed the period for which it is allocated to the first-tier storage area 31 should be moved from the first-tier storage area 31 to the second-tier storage area 32, and then deletes the volume data to be moved from the first-tier storage area 31 to the second-tier storage area 32 and writes it to the second-tier storage area 32.

[0046] Furthermore, the processing flow of this storage device 2 is an example of a process that determines, based on the allocation policy, to move newly included volume data from the second-tier storage area 32 to the first-tier storage area 31 during the period to be allocated to the first-tier storage area 31, and then deletes the volume data to be moved from the second-tier storage area 32 to the first-tier storage area 31 and writes it to the first-tier storage area 31.

[0047] Figure 10 is a third diagram showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Subsequently, the disk control unit 22 checks if there is free space at the destination using a periodically performed hierarchical movement execution flowchart (Figure 10) (step S301), and if there is free space, it moves the data to the destination hierarchical level and writes it (step S302). After that, it checks if the process has completed successfully (step S303), and if successful, it switches the hierarchical level (step S304) and performs the same process. When such rewriting occurs, the allocation information of the first hierarchical storage area 31 and the allocation information of the second hierarchical storage area 32 are rewritten in the same manner as above, and the allocation information of the first volume data 211 and the allocation information of the second volume data 212 are also rewritten in the same manner as above.

[0048] Figure 11 is a fourth diagram showing the processing flow of a storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The allocation policy may be a combination of one of the policies for determining the destination to allocate based on a specified percentage capacity (assigned policy numbers 51-54) and a policy for determining the destination to allocate based on a period (assigned policy number 55). In this case, the block data of a predetermined block number in a certain volume data may be configured using a combination of one of the policies for determining the destination to allocate based on a specified percentage capacity and a policy for determining the destination to allocate based on a period.

[0049] In this case, the disk control unit 22 calculates the specified capacity and instructs that the recording be maintained in the first-tier storage area 31 if it is within the period specified by the allocation policy (step S401). Furthermore, if the period specified by the allocation policy is set in conjunction with a period of 20h "no period specified", the recording in the first-tier storage area 31 is maintained. Note that if the period of 20h "no period specified" is set in conjunction with the allocation policy, the disk control unit 22 does not move the block data constituting the volume data that has been instructed to be written from the first-tier storage area 31. If the period of 20h "no period specified" is not set in conjunction with the allocation policy, the disk control unit 22 checks the period specified by the policy for the block data that is not set in conjunction with the policy (step S402), and if it is outside the period, instructs that the allocation destination be moved from the first-tier storage area 31 to the second-tier storage area 32 (step S403). The disk control unit 22 detects that although the period has changed from outside to inside, there is block data allocated to the second-tier storage area 32 (step S404), and instructs the disk control unit 22 to move the allocation destination of that block data from the second-tier storage area 32 to the first-tier storage area 31 (step S405). The disk control unit 22 then rewrites the block data to be moved from one tier to the other.

[0050] To meet the demand for high-performance and high-capacity storage, storage with many high-performance disks is required, resulting in high costs. Therefore, a tiered pool with a high-performance tier and a high-capacity tier was constructed, and storage was prepared that allocated frequently accessed areas to the high-performance tier and less frequently accessed areas to the high-capacity tier. However, it is difficult to allocate and use the high-performance tier when access frequency is high only for a certain period or when access frequency is high from the start of use. Therefore, under these challenges, this disclosure sets a period for when access frequency is high, and during that period, the storage area is allocated to the high-performance tier (first-tier storage area 31).

[0051] Here, block data that has been allocated and recorded in the first-tier storage area 31 and is outside the period range specified by the allocation policy is moved to the second-tier storage area 32. This frees up space in the first-tier storage area 31, allowing new block data to be allocated from the first-tier storage area 31. Block data that is frequently accessed immediately after allocation can be allocated and recorded in the first-tier storage area 31 for as long as the access frequency remains high. Furthermore, by adding a period setting to the allocation policy, the allocation arrangement between tiers can be automatically changed when the period is switched, without manual intervention from the operator.

[0052] Figure 12 is a functional block diagram of an information processing device using another example. Figure 13 shows the processing flow of an information processing device in another example. An information processing device 50, with storage device 2 as an example, comprises a determination means 51 and an allocation means 52. The determination means 51 determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on an allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to frequently accessed information, the allocation policy including a period for preferentially allocating multiple volume data to the first-tier storage means. The allocation means 52 allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination.

[0053] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure may be made that can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] Some or all of the above embodiments may also be described as follows, but are not limited to the following:

[0055] (Note 1) An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein the allocation policy includes a period for preferentially allocating multiple volume data to the first-tier storage means, and a determination means that determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the allocation policy, the first-tier storage means. An allocation means that allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-level storage means or the second-level storage means based on the result of the determination, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

[0056] (Note 2) If the determination means determines, based on the result of the determination, that the target volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means, and there is no available space in the first-tier storage means, then it determines that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means. The information processing device described in Appendix 1.

[0057] (Note 3) Based on the allocation policy, the determination means determines that volume data that is outside the period for which it is allocated to the first-tier storage means should be moved from the first-tier storage means to the second-tier storage means. The allocation means deletes the volume data to be moved from the first-level storage means to the second-level storage means from the first-level storage means and writes it to the second-level storage means. The information processing device described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2.

[0058] (Note 4) Based on the allocation policy, the determination means determines that volume data newly included in the period allocated to the first-tier storage means will be moved from the second-tier storage means to the first-tier storage means. The allocation means deletes the volume data to be moved from the second-level storage means to the first-level storage means from the second-level storage means and writes it to the first-level storage means. An information processing device described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3.

[0059] (Note 5) If the determination means determines, based on the result of the determination, that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means, and there is no available space in the second-tier storage means, it determines that the target volume data should be continuously allocated to the first-tier storage means. An information processing device described in any one of the appendices 1 through 4.

[0060] (Note 6) The determination means determines, based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data indicated by the allocation policy, whether to allocate each specified capacity ratio of the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means, The allocation means allocates and writes data for each specified capacity percentage of the target volume data to the second-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination. An information processing device described in any one of the appendices 1 through 5.

[0061] (Note 7) The determination means determines that if the access frequency of the target volume data is higher than a threshold, the volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means. Subsequently, based on the allocation policy which includes the allocation period to the first-tier storage means, it determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. An information processing device described in any one of the appendices 1 through 6.

[0062] (Note 8) The determination means determines whether to allocate each block, which is the recording unit of information contained in the volume data, to the first-level storage means or to the second-level storage means. An information processing device described in any one of the appendices 1 through 7.

[0063] (Note 9) An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein the allocation policy includes a period during which multiple volume data are preferentially allocated to the first-tier storage means, and based on this allocation policy, it is determined whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. Based on the result of the determination, the target volume data is allocated to and written to the first-level storage means or the second-level storage means. Information processing methods.

[0064] (Note 10) If, based on the result of the above determination, it is determined that the target volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means, and if there is no free space in the first-tier storage means, it is determined that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means instead. The information processing method described in Appendix 9.

[0065] (Note 11) Based on the allocation policy, it is determined that volume data that is outside the period allocated to the first-tier storage means should be moved from the first-tier storage means to the second-tier storage means. The volume data to be moved from the first-level storage means to the second-level storage means is deleted from the first-level storage means and written to the second-level storage means. The information processing method described in Appendix 9 or Appendix 10.

[0066] (Note 12) Based on the allocation policy, it is determined that volume data newly included in the period allocated to the first-tier storage means will be moved from the second-tier storage means to the first-tier storage means. The volume data to be moved from the second-level storage means to the first-level storage means is deleted from the second-level storage means and written to the first-level storage means. The information processing method described in any one of the appendices 9 through 11.

[0067] (Note 13) If, based on the result of the above determination, it is determined that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means, and if there is no available space in the second-tier storage means, it is determined that the target volume data should be continuously allocated to the first-tier storage means. The information processing method described in any one of the appendices 9 through 12.

[0068] (Note 14) Based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data indicated by the allocation policy, it is determined whether to allocate each specified capacity ratio of the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. Based on the result of the determination, data for each specified capacity percentage of the target volume data is allocated to the second-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means and written. The information processing method described in any one of the appendices 9 through 13.

[0069] (Note 15) If the access frequency of the target volume data is higher than a threshold, it is determined that the volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means. Subsequently, based on the allocation policy which includes the allocation period to the first-tier storage means, it is determined whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. The information processing method described in any one of the appendices 9 through 14.

[0070] (Note 16) It is determined whether to assign each block, which is the recording unit of the information contained in the volume data, to the first-level storage means or to the second-level storage means. The information processing method described in any one of the appendices 9 through 15.

[0071] (Note 17) The computer of the information processing device, An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein a determination means determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the allocation policy, which includes a period for preferentially allocating multiple volume data to the first-tier storage means. An allocation means that allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-level storage means or the second-level storage means based on the result of the determination, A program that makes it function as such.

[0072] (Note 18) If the determination means determines, based on the result of the determination, that the target volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means, and there is no available space in the first-tier storage means, then it determines that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means. The program described in Appendix 17.

[0073] (Note 19) Based on the allocation policy, the determination means determines that volume data that is outside the period for which it is allocated to the first-tier storage means should be moved from the first-tier storage means to the second-tier storage means. The allocation means deletes the volume data to be moved from the first-level storage means to the second-level storage means from the first-level storage means and writes it to the second-level storage means. The program described in Appendix 17 or Appendix 18.

[0074] (Note 20) Based on the allocation policy, the determination means determines that volume data newly included in the period allocated to the first-tier storage means will be moved from the second-tier storage means to the first-tier storage means. The allocation means deletes the volume data to be moved from the second-level storage means to the first-level storage means from the second-level storage means and writes it to the first-level storage means. The program described in any one of the appendices 17 through 19.

[0075] (Note 21) If the determination means determines, based on the result of the determination, that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means, and there is no available space in the second-tier storage means, it determines that the target volume data should be continuously allocated to the first-tier storage means. The program described in any one of the appendices 17 through 20.

[0076] (Note 22) The determination means determines, based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data indicated by the allocation policy, whether to allocate each specified capacity ratio of the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means, The allocation means allocates and writes data for each specified capacity percentage of the target volume data to the second-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination. The program described in any one of the appendices 17 through 21.

[0077] (Note 23) The determination means determines that if the access frequency of the target volume data is higher than a threshold, the volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means. Subsequently, based on the allocation policy which includes the allocation period to the first-tier storage means, it determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. The program described in any one of the appendices 17 through 22.

[0078] (Note 24) The determination means determines whether to allocate each block, which is the recording unit of information contained in the volume data, to the first-level storage means or to the second-level storage means. The program described in any one of the appendices 17 through 23. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0079] 1. Host 2. Storage devices 3. Pool equipment 21...Host Control Unit 22...Disk control unit (determination means 51, allocation means 52) 23...RAID management department 211...First Volume Data 212...Second Volume Data 231...Access Status Data 232... Assignment Information 233...Policy Data 31...First layer storage area 32...Second layer storage area 100... Information Processing Systems

Claims

1. An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein the allocation policy includes a period for preferentially allocating multiple volume data to the first-tier storage means, and a determination means that determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the allocation policy, the first-tier storage means. An allocation means that allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-level storage means or the second-level storage means based on the result of the determination, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

2. If the determination means determines, based on the result of the determination, that the target volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means, and there is no available space in the first-tier storage means, then it determines that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. Based on the allocation policy, the determination means determines that volume data that is outside the period for which it is allocated to the first-tier storage means should be moved from the first-tier storage means to the second-tier storage means. The allocation means deletes the volume data to be moved from the first-level storage means to the second-level storage means from the first-level storage means and writes it to the second-level storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. Based on the allocation policy, the determination means determines that volume data newly included in the period allocated to the first-tier storage means will be moved from the second-tier storage means to the first-tier storage means. The allocation means deletes the volume data to be moved from the second-level storage means to the first-level storage means from the second-level storage means and writes it to the first-level storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

5. If the determination means determines, based on the result of the determination, that the target volume data should be allocated to the second-tier storage means, and there is no available space in the second-tier storage means, it determines that the target volume data should be continuously allocated to the first-tier storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3.

6. The determination means determines, based on the specified capacity ratio of the volume data indicated by the allocation policy, whether to allocate each specified capacity ratio of the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means, The allocation means allocates and writes data for each specified capacity percentage of the target volume data to the second-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the result of the determination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5.

7. The determination means determines that if the access frequency of the target volume data is higher than a threshold, the volume data should be allocated to the first-tier storage means. Subsequently, based on the allocation policy which includes the allocation period to the first-tier storage means, it determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The determination means determines whether to allocate each block, which is the recording unit of information contained in the volume data, to the first-level storage means or to the second-level storage means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein the allocation policy includes a period during which multiple volume data are preferentially allocated to the first-tier storage means, and based on this allocation policy, it is determined whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or to the second-tier storage means. Based on the result of the determination, the target volume data is allocated to and written to the first-level storage means or the second-level storage means. Information processing methods.

10. The computer of the information processing device, An allocation policy for a first-tier storage means that stores frequently accessed volume data and a second-tier storage means that stores less frequently accessed volume data compared to the frequently accessed information, wherein a determination means determines whether to allocate the target volume data to the first-tier storage means or the second-tier storage means based on the allocation policy, which includes a period for preferentially allocating multiple volume data to the first-tier storage means. An allocation means that allocates and writes the target volume data to the first-level storage means or the second-level storage means based on the result of the determination, A program that makes it function as such.

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