Phased Storage Pool Extension Reduces Wait Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems, extending the capacity by adding new disks requires a time-consuming shuffling process to ensure even distribution of extents, leading to prolonged wait times for users, especially when the data volume is large.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-phase extension method where disks are added in phases, allowing initial partial capacity to be made available quickly, with the option for users to decide the number of disks added in each phase, balancing time and capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a shuffling process is performed to migrate data in extents to newly-added disks to ensure even distribution, then the access performance of the extended mapped RAID is improved, but the time required for the extension process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the disk extension process into multiple phases. In the first phase, a first number of disks are added to the storage resource pool without performing shuffling, allowing immediate capacity expansion. In subsequent phases, remaining disks are added with shuffling operations. This segmentation allows the system to provide capacity immediately while completing performance optimization gradually in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary capacity expansion by adding disks without shuffling in the first phase, providing immediate storage capacity to users. The shuffling operation is then performed in subsequent phases to optimize performance, effectively performing the capacity-providing action first and the performance-optimizing action later.
2Stability of the object's composition
If all disks are added in a single phase with shuffling, then even distribution of extents is achieved, but the time to obtain available capacity is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the disk addition process into multiple phases. The first phase adds a first number of disks without shuffling, providing immediate capacity. Subsequent phases add remaining disks with shuffling operations to achieve even distribution. This allows the system to balance between quick capacity provision and gradual performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial shuffling action in the first phase by adding disks without performing complete shuffling operations. This partial action provides sufficient capacity immediately while the remaining shuffling is completed in subsequent phases, avoiding the need to wait for complete shuffling before obtaining any capacity.
3Productivity
If no shuffling is performed when adding disks, then the extension process is fast, but the access performance of the mapped RAID deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the extension process into phases: the first phase adds disks without shuffling to maximize extension speed, while subsequent phases perform shuffling to optimize access performance. This segmentation allows the system to prioritize extension speed initially, then gradually improve performance without blocking capacity expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary disk addition without shuffling to quickly provide capacity, then performs shuffling operations in subsequent phases to optimize performance. This preliminary action ensures capacity is available immediately while performance optimization follows as a secondary step.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques manage a storage system. Such techniques involve, in response to receiving a request to add a first number of disks to a storage resource pool in the storage system, determining whether the first number of disks are to be added to the storage resource pool in a plurality of phases. Such techniques further involve determining a second number of disks to be added to the storage resource pool in the first phase. Such techniques further involve determining first information on a first disk array group to be created with the second number of disks in the first phase. Such techniques further involve adding the second number of disks to the storage resource pool in the first phase by creating the first disk array group based on the first information. Such techniques enable a user to obtain an available capacity of the extended storage resource pool quickly and efficiently.