SDN-Aware Storage Manager for Virtual Machine I/O Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual computing environments, existing methods for optimizing storage based on changing data access patterns are disruptive and require applications to provision new virtual storage devices, which can be resource-intensive and not always feasible, especially when applications lack access to necessary hypervisor functionality.
Innovation Solution
An SDN-aware storage manager dynamically routes I/O commands to appropriate storage endpoints by modifying network configurations, allowing for transparent changes in storage characteristics without disrupting virtual machines, by identifying and utilizing heterogeneous storage systems such as solid state and cloud-based storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If applications provision new virtual storage devices to optimize storage based on changing data access patterns, then storage performance is improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage manager as an intermediary component that sits between the virtual machines and the physical storage devices. This storage manager dynamically provisions and manages virtual storage devices, handling the complexity of storage optimization without requiring applications to directly provision or manage multiple virtual storage devices. The storage manager monitors data access patterns and automatically adjusts storage provisioning, thereby improving storage performance while containing system complexity within the management layer rather than propagating it to applications.
2Productivity
If applications provision new virtual storage devices to optimize storage, then storage optimization is achieved, but application disruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring data access patterns and pre-provisioning appropriate virtual storage devices before they are needed. When optimization is required, the storage manager has already prepared the necessary virtual storage devices with appropriate characteristics, allowing for seamless switching without application disruption. This preliminary provisioning ensures that storage optimization can be achieved while maintaining application continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager as an intermediary absorbs the disruption caused by storage reconfiguration. Instead of applications directly provisioning and switching between virtual storage devices (which would cause disruption), the storage manager handles all provisioning and switching operations transparently. Applications continue to access storage through the storage manager, which manages the transitions between different virtual storage devices without requiring application awareness or intervention, thereby eliminating application disruption while achieving storage optimization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications directly provision virtual storage devices, then storage flexibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager implements self-service by automatically monitoring data access patterns and autonomously provisioning and managing virtual storage devices without requiring application intervention. Applications simply request storage through the storage manager, which then handles all the complexity of selecting appropriate storage characteristics, provisioning virtual storage devices, and managing storage optimization. This self-service approach maintains storage flexibility through automatic adaptation while preserving ease of operation for applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager as an intermediary provides applications with a simplified interface for storage access while maintaining full storage flexibility in the background. Applications interact only with the storage manager using simple operations, and the storage manager translates these into complex storage provisioning and management tasks. This intermediary layer shields applications from storage complexity while the storage manager maintains flexibility by dynamically provisioning appropriate virtual storage devices based on monitored access patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A request to change one or more storage characteristics associated with a virtual storage device is received. Communications identifying the virtual storage device are routed, via a network, to a first storage endpoint. One or more operations are performed in accordance with the request. A configuration of the network is updated to route communications identifying the virtual storage device to a second storage endpoint.