Storage Area Allocation for Unbalanced Access Performance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtualized storage systems face challenges in maintaining consistent access performance when expanding storage capacity, as the performance for data stored before system configuration changes remains unchanged, leading to unbalanced access performance for data stored before and after the change.
Innovation Solution
A storage system architecture that includes a first and second storage unit, each with a control unit, where the first control unit manages the allocation of storage areas and executes rearrangement control based on the degree of unevenness between storage capacities, optimizing access performance by redistributing data across multiple storage units during system expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage capacity is expanded by adding new storage units, then the overall storage capacity increases, but the access performance for pre-existing data remains unchanged and becomes unbalanced compared to new data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic storage area allocation where the system automatically detects unevenness in storage capacity distribution and triggers rearrangement processes. The storage control unit continuously monitors the allocation state and adjusts the distribution of storage areas between old and new storage units based on current system conditions, transforming the static allocation into a dynamic, self-balancing system that maintains performance equilibrium as capacity expands
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the allocation parameter of storage areas by calculating the degree of unevenness between storage capacities of old and new storage units. When the unevenness exceeds a threshold, the system modifies the allocation state by redistributing storage areas through rearrangement control, thereby adjusting the parameter distribution to achieve balanced access performance across all storage units
2Productivity
If storage areas are rearranged to balance allocation between old and new storage units, then access performance becomes more uniform, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by automatically detecting unevenness in storage capacity allocation and triggering rearrangement processes without external intervention. The storage control unit monitors its own state, calculates imbalance degrees, and executes redistribution when necessary, enabling the system to maintain performance uniformity through autonomous operation rather than complex external control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the storage control unit continuously monitors the allocation state of storage areas, calculates the degree of unevenness between old and new storage units, and uses this information to determine whether rearrangement is needed. This closed-loop feedback system automatically triggers redistribution when imbalance thresholds are exceeded, maintaining performance uniformity through simple threshold-based decision logic rather than complex control algorithms
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4A
Figure 4B
AI summary
A storage system includes a storage apparatus having a first storage unit having first storage and a first storage control unit controlling access to the first storage, and a first control unit controlling storage units including the first storage unit; a second storage unit having second storage and a second storage control unit controlling access to the second storage; and a second control unit controlling storage units including the second storage unit. The second storage unit and second control unit are added to the storage apparatus. The first control unit includes a memory unit storing allocation information including an allocation state of storage areas of the first and second storage, and a processor configured to execute rearrangement control of an allocated storage area based on the allocation information corresponding to unevenness between a storage capacity of an allocated storage area in the first storage and that in the second storage.