File Migration Selection via Accessed Identifier Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing file level hierarchical storage management technology requires updating and referencing dates for all files to select files for migration, which is time-consuming, especially when managing a large number of files.
Innovation Solution
A file service system that stores accessed file identifiers and determines files to migrate based on metadata and accessed file identifier information, allowing for efficient selection of files to be migrated from a high-speed to a low-speed storage region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the file server refers to update dates and times or reference dates and times for all files to select files for migration, then the file migration selection is comprehensive and accurate, but the time required to determine files to be migrated increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file management system into two distinct components: a file server that handles file operations and a storage manager that handles migration decisions. This segmentation allows the file server to avoid the time-consuming task of analyzing all file timestamps, as the storage manager independently tracks file access patterns and identifies migration candidates. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing the computational burden and enabling parallel operation of file management and migration selection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and recording file access dates and times in the background, independent of file server operations. This preliminary tracking of access patterns enables the system to pre-identify files that are candidates for migration without requiring the file server to perform comprehensive timestamp analysis when migration decisions are needed. The preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing migration candidate information in advance, making the actual migration selection process rapid and efficient.
2Quantity of substance
If the file server manages a considerable amount of files, then the storage capacity and functionality are sufficient, but the time to select files for migration becomes unacceptably long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the migration selection function from the file server and places it in a dedicated storage manager. This extraction allows the file server to focus on managing the large number of files without being burdened by the computationally intensive task of analyzing all file timestamps for migration eligibility. The storage manager independently performs the extraction and analysis of access patterns, enabling the system to handle considerable numbers of files while maintaining high migration processing speed. The extraction resolves the contradiction by separating the scalability requirement from the performance-critical migration selection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager acts as an intermediary between the file server and the migration process. It receives file access information from the file server, processes this information to identify migration candidates, and returns selection results without requiring the file server to perform comprehensive file analysis. This intermediary role enables the system to manage large numbers of files efficiently while maintaining high productivity in migration operations, as the intermediary handles the time-consuming analysis in parallel with file server operations.
3Reliability
If comprehensive file timestamp analysis is performed to ensure accurate migration selection, then the migration decisions are reliable, but the processing complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the file access monitoring function with the storage management function in the storage manager. By combining these functions, the system maintains reliable migration decisions through comprehensive access pattern analysis while avoiding the complexity of having the file server perform timestamp analysis. The storage manager independently tracks file access information and integrates this with storage management operations, achieving reliable migration decisions without increasing overall system complexity. The merging resolves the contradiction by consolidating related functions in a single component designed for this purpose.
Data Source
AI summary
Time required for a file server to determine files to be migrated from a first storage region to a second storage region is reduced. A file service system coupled to the storage system for providing a first storage region and a second storage region stores identifiers of files that have been accessed by a client, in accessed file identifier information and determines the files to be migrated from the first storage region to the second storage region based on metadata of the files stored in the first storage region and the accessed file identifier information.