File System Objects for Application-Level Storage Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in tracking and managing data at the application-level object granularity, making it difficult to impose storage management policies and view statistics effectively, leading to inefficiencies in resource utilization and agility in deploying new applications.
Innovation Solution
The system introduces file system objects, which are dynamically definable sets of files that can be grouped and managed at various granularities, allowing for better visibility and automation of storage operations through policies, enabling application owners to control storage management without needing to understand underlying storage constructs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data is stored using typical storage granularities (files, file systems, LUNs, volumes), then storage management is simplified, but it becomes difficult to track and manage data at application-level object granularity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage management into multiple hierarchical levels: application-level objects are divided into file system objects, which are further divided into files and stored on storage systems. This segmentation allows tracking at application level while using conventional storage granularities, resolving the contradiction between ease of storage management and application-level tracking capability.
2Ease of operation
If typical storage abstractions (files, file systems, LUNs, volumes) are used, then storage system operation is simplified, but imposing storage management policies at desired granularity with respect to application-level objects becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimensional layer (application-level object layer) above the traditional storage hierarchy. This additional dimension enables storage management policies to be imposed at application-level granularity while maintaining conventional storage operations, as policies can now be applied at any level from application objects down to physical storage.
3Device complexity
If conventional storage granularities are used, then storage system complexity is reduced, but viewing statistics at desired granularity with respect to application-level objects becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces file system objects as intermediary entities between application-level objects and physical storage files. These intermediaries aggregate files belonging to specific application objects, enabling precise statistics collection at application-level granularity without increasing overall storage system complexity, as the intermediaries operate at the software/firmware level.
Data Source
AI summary
File system object storage is disclosed, including: receiving, via a communication interface, a request to perform a file system operation; determining a file system object associated with the request, wherein the file system object comprises two or more files; and performing the file system operation in a manner determined at least in part by data associated with the file system object.