Cloud Storage Management via Policy-Based Sweeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hybrid cloud model for storage management is costly and time-consuming, particularly due to the challenge of identifying and managing obsolete or unused cloud storage, as existing solutions like cloud autoscaling primarily focus on compute resources rather than storage resources.
Innovation Solution
A policy-based storage sweeping process is employed to identify and manage obsolete storage, allowing for its reallocation or reclamation based on predefined parameters, such as service level agreements and storage management policies, enabling dynamic and automatic management of cloud storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cloud storage is allocated to users in association with numerous virtual machines, then storage capacity and service availability are improved, but manual monitoring and management complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated storage management where the cloud storage manager automatically monitors usage, identifies obsolete storage, and performs reclamation without requiring manual user intervention. The policy-based automated sweeping process allows the system to self-manage storage resources while maintaining service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring storage usage patterns and systematically evaluating whether allocated storage is currently being used. This feedback loop enables the automated identification of obsolete storage and triggers appropriate reclamation actions, reducing management complexity while preserving necessary storage capacity.
2Reliability
If cloud storage is allocated to users for extended periods, then service reliability and user satisfaction are improved, but storage cost increases due to charges for unused storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic storage sweeping actions that systematically evaluate allocated storage at regular intervals to determine current usage status. This periodic review mechanism allows the system to maintain service reliability by preserving storage during active use while identifying and reclaiming obsolete storage to reduce costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of storage allocation parameters dynamically based on usage evaluation. Storage transitions from an allocated state to a reclaimed state when determined to be obsolete, allowing the system to optimize between service reliability and cost efficiency by adjusting allocation parameters based on actual usage patterns.
3Productivity
If cloud autoscaling is used to automatically delete virtual machines, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but storage resources remain allocated and continue to incur costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the storage management function from the virtual machine lifecycle management process. While cloud autoscaling handles VM deletion, the storage management system independently evaluates and reclaimed storage resources, separating storage management from compute resource management to prevent orphaned storage allocations.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage management system performs multiple functions: it monitors storage usage, evaluates obsolescence based on policy criteria, and executes reclamation actions. This multi-functional approach ensures that storage resources are efficiently managed independently of virtual machine lifecycle events, preventing cost leakage from orphaned storage.
4Loss of energy
If manual monitoring is performed to identify obsolete storage, then storage cost reduction is achieved, but time consumption and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service storage management by automatically monitoring usage patterns and identifying obsolete storage without requiring user time investment. The automated sweeping process evaluates storage allocation against policy criteria and executes reclamation actions, eliminating the need for manual monitoring while achieving cost reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical monitoring processes with automated computational evaluation. Policy-based automated sweeping substitutes human-operated storage audits with machine-executed usage analysis, dramatically reducing time consumption while maintaining or improving the effectiveness of obsolete storage identification.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is technology for managing cloud storage. In particular, systems, devices and methods for managing cloud storage are described. In some embodiments, management of cloud storage may result in the designation of storage allocated to a first storage pool as obsolete, and the reallocation and/or reclamation of such storage to a second storage pool and/or a general cloud storage pool. Management may occur in accordance with one or more policies.