GUI Storage Provisioning with Allocation Certainty Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In virtual storage systems, administrators face challenges in managing storage space provisioning due to the need for optimal ratios between virtual and physical storage, which requires continuous adjustments based on workload and data reduction rates, lacking effective tools for informed decision-making.

Innovation Solution

A computer program product and method generate a configuration page in a GUI for managing storage resources, determining allocation commitment certainties for virtual storage ranges based on physical capacity and estimated data reduction rates, providing visual representations of user-selectable storage spaces with certainty levels to aid administrators in provisioning decisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If virtual storage space is increased beyond physical capacity, then storage utilization efficiency is improved, but the administrator's ability to predict and guarantee storage availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage utilization efficiencyVSAvoidstorage availability guarantee

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates allocation commitment certainties based on actual data reduction rates and provides this feedback to administrators through the GUI. The certainty values are dynamically updated as data reduction rates change, enabling administrators to make informed provisioning decisions while maintaining reliable storage availability guarantees.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of storage provisioning from fixed physical-to-virtual ratios to dynamic allocations based on data reduction rates. By adjusting the virtual-to-physical storage ratio parameter according to actual data reduction performance, the system optimizes utilization while maintaining availability guarantees through certainty calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If data reduction rates are increased to improve storage efficiency, then virtual storage capacity is improved, but the uncertainty of storage availability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidstorage availability information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors actual data reduction rates and uses this feedback to calculate and update allocation commitment certainties. This feedback loop provides administrators with accurate information about storage availability likelihood, eliminating information loss despite varying data reduction rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical fixed-storage allocation mechanisms with a probabilistic information-based system. Instead of relying on rigid physical-to-virtual storage mappings, the system uses calculated certainty values that reflect actual data reduction performance, providing more accurate storage availability information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If storage provisioning is manually adjusted based on workload, then storage optimization is improved, but the time required for administration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage optimizationVSAvoidadministration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of allocation commitment certainties based on current data reduction rates and workload patterns. This preliminary action provides administrators with pre-computed storage availability information, eliminating the need for manual analysis and reducing administration time while maintaining optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating and presenting storage availability information based on actual system performance. This eliminates the need for administrators to manually analyze workload patterns and adjust provisioning, significantly reducing administration time while maintaining optimal storage allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9927955B2Generating a configuration page for rendering in a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing provisioning of storage resources in a storage system

Publication Date: 2018.03.27 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating a configuration page for rendering in a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing provisioning of storage resources in a storage system. A determination is made of allocation commitment certainties for virtual storage ranges to allocate from the storage system based on physical capacity in the storage system and an estimated data reduction rate. Each of the allocation commitment certainties indicates a likelihood that a corresponding of the virtual storage ranges will be available for allocation in the storage system. Visual representation of a plurality of user selectable storage spaces indicating the allocation commitment certainties for the virtual storage ranges in the user selectable storage spaces are rendered in the configuration page. A user selection graphic that when selected provisions a selected of the user selectable storage spaces in the storage system is rendered in the configuration page.