Dynamic Drive Space Borrowing in Storage Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data storage arrays have inflexible storage drive space allocations for primitive and comprehensive implementations, limiting the ability to increase storage space for the primitive implementation, which can restrict trace data recording, debugging, and version management during upgrades or anomalies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the simple data services environment can dynamically borrow and return drive space from the main data services environment, allowing flexible drive space management and enabling the storage system to access additional space for tracing, debugging, and versioning without fixed predefined locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed predefined storage drive locations are used for primitive and comprehensive implementations, then system stability and simplicity are maintained, but drive space flexibility and adaptability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic drive space allocation where the primitive implementation can borrow additional space from the comprehensive implementation when needed. The space allocation is no longer fixed but can change based on operational requirements, allowing the system to adapt to different scenarios such as upgrading or anomaly debugging while maintaining manageable complexity through automated management.
2Quantity of substance
If drive space for primitive implementation is increased after array shipment, then trace data recording and debugging capability are improved, but manual reconfiguration complexity and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service drive space management where the primitive implementation automatically borrows space from the comprehensive implementation when additional storage is needed. This eliminates the need for manual operator intervention to reconfigure drive allocations, reducing both complexity and risk while improving trace data recording capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If drive space is lent to simple environment, then drive space flexibility is improved, but drive space availability for main environment may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a borrow/return mechanism where the simple environment can temporarily borrow drive space from the main environment when needed, and return it when no longer required. This allows the system to maintain drive space flexibility for debugging and upgrading while ensuring that space is recovered and made available to the main environment when the simple environment no longer needs it.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique manages drive space within a storage system having a main data services environment configured to perform data storage operations on behalf of a set of hosts and a simple data services environment configured to load the main data services environment. The technique involves, while the simple data services environment is running on the storage system, using the simple data services environment to load the main data services environment on to the storage system. The technique further involves, after the main data services environment is loaded on to the storage system, providing a drive space communication from the simple data services environment to the main data services environment. The technique further involves receiving, by the simple data services environment, allocation of drive space from the main data services environment in response to the drive space communication.