MPIO Driver Automatic Multi-Path Logical Device Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems with multiple logical volumes, user applications often require tedious and time-consuming manual processes to determine and utilize user-defined names for logical volumes, especially in systems with hundreds or thousands of volumes, due to the lack of automated multi-path logical device creation with user-defined names.
Innovation Solution
A multi-path layer in host devices is configured with an MPIO driver to automatically create multi-path logical devices with user-defined names by querying the storage system for user-defined names and creating additional logical devices with those names, allowing user applications to utilize them without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual processes are used to determine and utilize user-defined names for logical volumes, then user applications can access storage volumes, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming, especially in systems with hundreds or thousands of volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically querying the storage system for user-defined names and creating multi-path logical devices with these names before user applications need to access the volumes. This eliminates the need for manual name determination at runtime, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-path layer performs self-service by automatically discovering user-defined names from the storage system and creating corresponding logical devices without requiring manual intervention. This self-configuration capability resolves the contradiction by eliminating tedious manual processes while maintaining proper volume access.
2Ease of operation
If automated multi-path logical device creation with user-defined names is implemented, then user applications can automatically utilize user-defined names, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-path layer acts as an intermediary between user applications and the storage system. It automatically queries the storage system for user-defined names and creates multi-path logical devices with these names, thereby simplifying user application operations while managing the complexity within the multi-path layer itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the complexity by isolating the automated name discovery and device creation logic within the multi-path layer, separate from user applications. This segmentation allows user applications to easily utilize user-defined names while the complex automated processes are contained in a dedicated layer.
3Device complexity
If manual configuration is used for each logical volume, then device complexity remains manageable, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming in large storage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-path layer provides self-service functionality by automatically querying the storage system for user-defined names and creating corresponding multi-path logical devices. This automation dramatically improves volume provisioning speed while keeping device complexity manageable through programmatic rather than manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions by automatically creating multi-path logical devices with user-defined names during system initialization or volume creation, rather than requiring manual configuration for each volume. This preliminary automation improves productivity while managing complexity through standardized automated processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a host device configured to communicate over a network with a storage system. The host device comprises a multi-path input-output (MPIO) driver configured to control delivery of input-output (IO) operations from the host device to the storage system over the network. The MPIO driver is further configured, responsive to creation of a first multi-path logical device for a logical volume of the storage system, to query the storage system to determine a user-defined name for the logical volume, and responsive to receipt of the user-defined name for the logical volume from the storage system, to create a second multi-path logical device having the user-defined name. The MPIO driver processes IO operations directed to the second multi-path logical device having the user-defined name as if those IO operations were actually directed to the first multi-path logical device.