Policy-Based Storage Virtualization for Simplified Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage management systems require server administrators to manually remember and manage storage appliance and volume names, leading to increased difficulty as the number of hosts and appliances grows, without a centralized management console to facilitate storage space allocation.
Innovation Solution
A policy-based storage appliance virtualization method that allows server administrators to allocate storage space through a management console, which identifies suitable storage appliances and volumes based on specified amounts and host identities, eliminating the need to remember appliance and volume names and simplifying network management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual storage space allocation is used where administrators remember appliance and volume names, then storage provisioning can be performed, but management difficulty increases as the number of hosts and appliances grows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management console as an intermediary between server administrators and storage appliances. The console presents a simplified interface where administrators can allocate storage space without needing to know appliance or volume names. The system automatically handles the complex mapping and allocation processes, mediating between the simple user request and the complex underlying storage infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service storage allocation by allowing server administrators to perform storage provisioning tasks independently through the management console. The console automatically identifies suitable storage appliances and volumes based on allocation parameters, eliminating the need for administrators to manually search for or remember storage resource identifiers.
2Ease of operation
If centralized management console is introduced to simplify storage allocation, then ease of operation improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management console serves as an intermediary layer that simplifies the user interface while managing complexity internally. It presents a straightforward allocation process to users but automatically handles the complex tasks of identifying suitable storage appliances, checking availability, and performing the actual allocation, thus hiding system complexity from users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments management functions by separating the simplified user-facing allocation interface from the complex underlying storage management operations. The management console handles high-level allocation decisions while delegating specific storage operations to the storage appliance virtualization layer, dividing complexity across different system levels.
3Loss of time
If automated identification of storage appliances is implemented, then time required for allocation decreases, but processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The management console performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying and evaluating suitable storage appliances and volumes based on allocation parameters before the actual allocation occurs. This pre-processing of candidate identification and selection reduces the time required during the actual allocation operation, as the system has already narrowed down the options in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical searching and selection processes with automated computational identification. Instead of administrators manually searching for suitable storage resources, the system uses automated algorithms to identify candidate storage appliances and volumes based on specified parameters, significantly reducing allocation time through computational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for a policy-based storage appliance virtualization that identifies the storage space based on a desired storage management operation type. One example of a storage management operation type is the allocation of storage space from a storage appliance(s) to a host(s). The requested storage space amount to be allocated to a host is first specified in a management console. The management console checks one or more policies and compares the policies with the requested storage space amount and identity of the host, so that the management console identifies the storage space(s) that are available for allocation from a storage appliance(s) to the host. The management console may generate a candidate virtualized storage pool identification that identifies the storage space(s) that are available for allocation from the storage appliance(s) to the host. The server administrator then selects the storage space(s) to be allocated to the host. The policies may also be used as constraints to other storage management operation types besides the above-mentioned storage allocation to hosts.