Automated Storage Provisioning via Self-Service Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The provisioning of data storage resources is time-consuming and technically challenging due to diverse storage technologies, interconnect protocols, manufacturers, operational parameters, and the lack of privileges among end-users, particularly in scenarios requiring frequent or changeable storage needs, such as audits or testing, which burdens system administrators.
Innovation Solution
A streamlined data storage management system that automatically provisions data storage resources in response to end-user requests, enabling users to specify storage requirements through a user interface, automatically identifies suitable storage devices, and manages storage assignments with expiration times, using enhanced storage managers and media agents to configure and tear down storage setups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual provisioning of data storage resources is performed by system administrators, then storage resources can be allocated to end-users, but the process becomes time-consuming and burdensome especially when frequent or changeable storage needs arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling end-users to autonomously provision storage resources through a user interface. Users can specify their storage requirements, and the system automatically identifies suitable storage devices and completes the provisioning process without administrator intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the provisioning process independent and automated, dramatically improving efficiency while eliminating time delays associated with manual administrator actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring storage pools and organizing storage devices into available resources before user requests arrive. The storage manager continuously monitors and maintains an updated inventory of available storage capacity across multiple devices. When users submit requests, the system can immediately match requirements with pre-validated storage options, eliminating the time-consuming process of searching and configuring storage resources from scratch for each request.
2Ease of operation
If end-users are given privileges to provision their own storage resources, then administrative burdens are reduced, but users lack the expertise to identify appropriate storage resources and determine availability
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager acts as an intermediary between end-users and the complex storage infrastructure. It presents a simplified user interface that abstracts away technical complexities of diverse storage technologies, interconnect protocols, and operational parameters. The storage manager handles the expertise-intensive tasks of identifying suitable storage devices, checking availability, and configuring appropriate settings, while users only need to specify their storage requirements. This resolves the contradiction by providing user autonomy without requiring user expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the provisioning process into distinct functional layers: the user interface layer where users specify requirements, the storage manager layer that processes requests and makes technical decisions, and the storage device layer that executes provisioning. This segmentation allows users to operate at their expertise level while the system handles complex technical aspects, enabling ease of operation without sacrificing adaptability to diverse storage requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If diverse storage technologies and manufacturers are supported, then storage resource options increase, but the complexity of provisioning and managing these resources increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager implements universality by providing a unified interface and management framework that works across diverse storage technologies and manufacturers. It abstracts the heterogeneity of different storage devices into a common resource model, allowing the system to manage multiple types of storage resources through consistent processes. This resolves the contradiction by enabling support for diverse technologies while maintaining simple, standardized provisioning procedures through the universal management layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an abstract representation or copy of the physical storage infrastructure in the form of logical storage pools and resource inventories. This logical model simplifies the complexity of diverse physical devices by presenting a unified view of available storage capacity. The storage manager operates on this simplified logical model rather than directly managing individual physical devices, thereby reducing provisioning complexity while maintaining support for diverse technologies through the abstraction layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage management system comprises enhanced capabilities for automatically discovering operational characteristics of data storage devices installed in the system. A user interface enables end-users to submit requests for storage resources ranging from a simple request for a certain amount of storage space to more complex requests that specify the type of storage technology, the manufacturer, the I/O speed of the storage device, etc. The end-user also may include an expiration timeframe for the requested storage space. The system identifies storage devices that are suitable to the end-user's request, automatically provisions the storage space (e.g., LUN), and assigns it to the requestor. The assigned storage space may automatically expire, based on user-requested or system-provided expiration timeframes. Expired storage space is returned to a logical pool of available resources so that it may be assigned in response to other requests. The system comprises special-purpose policies that govern which data storage devices may be used for users submitting requests and further specify other administrative constraints.