Dynamic QoS Policy Selection for Storage Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems, ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) settings for high availability (HA) pairs are often inadequate after failover due to differences in device configurations and usage states between primary and secondary storage devices, leading to potential service level agreement (SLA) violations and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a storage system with a storing unit for multiple policy sets related to service quality and a policy selection unit that dynamically selects the appropriate policy set based on the states of both the primary and secondary storage devices, allowing for adaptive QoS management before and after failover, as well as during changes in device states or varying workloads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second storage device is utilized as a failover destination in the HA pair, then system availability is improved, but the operational cost increases due to requiring a second storage device with the same configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the second storage device to serve dual purposes: acting as a standby failover destination for the primary volume while simultaneously being accessible for secondary purposes such as data backup, batch processing, and development tests. This allows the same hardware resource to provide both high availability protection and additional operational value, thereby reducing the waste of operational costs while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the QoS setting from the first storage device is similarly applied to the second storage device, then consistency is improved, but the SLA satisfaction deteriorates because the usage state and load state differ between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by introducing a QoS policy selection mechanism that dynamically chooses between a first QoS policy (configured based on the primary storage device's performance and usage) and a second QoS policy (configured based on the secondary storage device's actual performance and usage state). The system can switch between these policies depending on operational conditions, ensuring that the appropriate QoS settings are applied to satisfy SLA requirements while maintaining flexibility in response to changing device states and workloads.
3Device complexity
If a single QoS policy is configured for the second storage device, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates when device states change due to degradation or varying workloads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple QoS policies (first QoS policy and second QoS policy) in advance, each optimized for different operational scenarios. The system prepares these policies beforehand so that when device states change due to degradation or varying workloads, the appropriate policy can be quickly selected and applied without requiring complex real-time adjustments or increasing operational complexity during critical moments.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to realize a proper storage operation in accordance with the state of a storage devices which constructed remote copy pair via a network. A first storage device for providing a first volume and a second storage device for providing a second volume as a remote copy destination of the first volume, includes: a storing unit for policy sets that is a regulation group relating to the service quality of the second volume; and a policy selection unit for selecting a policy set to be used from the plurality of policy sets in accordance with the states of the first volume and the second storage device. According to such a configuration and operation, it is possible to properly operate the storage device by selecting a policy set before and after the failover or according to the presence or absence of degeneration.