Disk Mapping to Reclaim Unused RAID Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RAID technologies face inefficiencies due to unconsumed capacities caused by insufficient numbers of large drives, leading to wasted space and unnecessary expenses when users choose RAID configurations requiring a specific minimum width, and significant size differences between drives result in unused space.
Innovation Solution
A method for disk mapping that divides disks into groups based on number and type, identifying available and unavailable groups for RAID formation, and enables mapping disk units between these groups to optimize RAID configuration and utilize non-effective capacity portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RAID configuration requires specific minimum width, then data redundancy and fault tolerance are improved, but unconsumed capacities cause space waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments disks into different groups based on their capacity and divides them into available groups (can form target RAID) and unavailable groups (cannot form target RAID). This segmentation allows the system to identify which disks can be used to meet RAID minimum width requirements and which disks have excess capacity that can be reassigned, thereby reducing space waste while maintaining data redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of disk utilization by mapping disks from available groups to unavailable groups based on their capacity characteristics. This parameter change enables the system to optimize disk allocation so that disks with larger capacities are used to satisfy RAID minimum width requirements, while disks with smaller capacities are reassigned to maximize overall space utilization, reducing unconsumed capacities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If large drives are used to meet RAID minimum width, then RAID configuration is satisfied, but significant size differences cause unused space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments disks by capacity into different groups and identifies which groups are available for RAID formation. This segmentation enables the system to match disks of different sizes to specific RAID requirements, allowing flexible configuration that minimizes unused space by using the smallest sufficient disks for each RAID level rather than forcing all large drives into every configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual mapping of disk units from available groups to unavailable groups, effectively copying the allocation strategy. This mapping allows the system to simulate different RAID configurations and disk allocations to determine the optimal arrangement that satisfies minimum width requirements while minimizing unused space from size differences.
3Productivity
If disk mapping is performed to utilize non-effective capacities, then storage efficiency is improved, but disk layout reassembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification of disks into available and unavailable groups before executing the mapping operation. This preliminary action organizes the disk layout in advance based on capacity and RAID suitability, making the subsequent mapping process more systematic and manageable. By preparing the disk groups beforehand, the complexity of reassembly is reduced while still achieving efficient utilization of non-effective capacities.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for disk mapping involve dividing a plurality of disks into a plurality of groups based on the number and type of the plurality of disks. Such techniques further involve dividing the plurality of groups into a set of available groups and a set of unavailable groups based on the type of a target redundant array of independent disks (RAID), wherein an available group represents that disk units in the available group are able to form the target RAID, and an unavailable group represents that disk units in the unavailable group are unable to form the target RAID. Such techniques further involve enabling, by mapping one or more disk units in one or more available groups of the set of available groups into the set of unavailable groups, one or more unavailable groups of the set of unavailable groups to form the target RAID.