Storage Array Data Migration via Evacuation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern storage systems face inefficiencies as older storage devices become less effective in terms of power consumption, response times, and storage density, prompting the need for data migration to newer devices.

Innovation Solution

The method involves detecting storage device evacuation events, identifying target storage devices, reducing write access to old devices, and migrating data from source storage devices to target devices within a storage array.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is migrated from older storage devices to newer storage devices, then storage efficiency and performance are improved, but system complexity and migration overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidmigration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting evacuation events and proactively identifying target storage devices before actual data migration begins. This advance preparation reduces the complexity of the migration process by establishing the migration path beforehand and minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The storage array controller acts as an intermediary that manages the data migration process between source and target storage devices. It coordinates write access reduction, oversees data transfer, and ensures data integrity, thereby simplifying the overall migration complexity by centralizing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If write access to source storage devices is reduced during migration, then data integrity is improved, but write performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidwrite performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by temporarily reducing write access to source storage devices in controlled intervals during the migration process. This allows data integrity to be maintained during critical migration phases while minimizing the duration and impact of performance degradation through time-bound access restrictions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If storage devices are upgraded to newer models, then power consumption efficiency is improved, but transition and deployment time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption efficiencyVSAvoidupgrade time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuity of useful action by enabling data migration to occur while the storage array remains operational and accessible. Newer storage devices are integrated into the system without requiring complete system shutdown or prolonged downtime, thus minimizing time loss while achieving the energy efficiency benefits of upgraded hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11809727B1Predicting failures in a storage system that includes a plurality of storage devices

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 PURE STORAGE INC

AI summary

Predicting failures in a storage system that includes a plurality of storage devices, including: gathering information describing a plurality of blocks within the storage devices; developing, using the information describing the plurality of blocks within the storage devices and information describing known dead block conditions, a block lifespan model; and determining, in dependence upon the information describing the plurality of blocks within the storage devices and the block lifespan model, a predicted lifespan for the plurality of blocks within the storage devices.