Host-Controlled Storage Provisioning via Class-of-Storage Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage allocation techniques in data processing systems are inefficient and rely heavily on manual operations by storage administrators, leading to suboptimal system performance due to a lack of automation and reliance on human judgment.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a storage-aware component in host computers that dynamically determines storage resource needs and generates requests for specific class and size of storage resources, enabling direct communication with the data storage system for automated allocation, using a 'class of storage' classification scheme to improve provisioning efficiency and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual storage allocation by administrators is used, then storage resources can be allocated based on human judgment, but the process is inefficient and requires human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The host computer performs self-service by automatically determining its own storage resource needs and generating allocation requests without human intervention. The storage-aware component on the host dynamically assesses storage requirements and communicates directly with the data storage system to provision appropriate resources, eliminating the need for manual administrator intervention while improving allocation efficiency through automated decision-making based on actual host needs.
2Reliability
If manual storage provisioning is used, then administrators can understand host requirements, but administrative delays occur and system performance is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The host computer performs preliminary action by proactively determining its storage resource needs before requiring additional storage capacity. The storage-aware component continuously monitors and assesses storage requirements, enabling the host to initiate allocation requests in advance rather than waiting for administrator assessment and manual provisioning, thereby reducing provisioning time while maintaining allocation accuracy through direct communication of actual needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If LUN masking is used for storage allocation, then physical storage can be divided into logical units, but the process requires manual administrator control and is not dynamic
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static LUN masking to dynamic storage allocation where the host computer's storage-aware component continuously assesses storage needs and automatically requests appropriate resources. This dynamic approach allows storage capacity and class to be flexibly adjusted based on actual host requirements rather than fixed manual configurations, improving adaptability while reducing provisioning complexity through automation of the allocation process.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing system includes a host computer that executes a storage-aware component which (1) dynamically determines a need of the host computer for data storage resources of a necessary size and a necessary class, and (2) generates a storage allocation request message representing a request by the host computer that data storage resources of the necessary size and the necessary class be allocated to the host computer. The necessary class is one of a set of classes of a predetermined class-of-storage (CoS) scheme by which storage resources in the data processing system are classified. The details and complexity of the CoS scheme may vary from system to system. A data storage system communicatively coupled to the host computer includes available data storage resources of at least the necessary size and the necessary class which can be allocated for use by the host computer. The data storage system is operative to (1) receive the storage allocation request message from the host computer, and (2) in response to the storage allocation request message, allocate data storage resources of the necessary size and the necessary class from the available data storage resources to the host computer.