Storage Bandwidth Management for Resource Competition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional storage system performance tuning methods are complex and difficult to execute simply, especially when multiple volumes share a single transmission path, leading to performance deterioration due to resource competition, and setting proper target performance values is challenging.

Innovation Solution

A storage management device that includes a reception unit for performance level input, a target value calculation unit, a setting unit, a monitoring unit, and a bandwidth management unit to dynamically calculate and adjust bandwidth allocation based on load factors, identifying transmission resources and instructing bandwidth restrictions to maintain target performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple volumes share a single transmission path, then resource utilization is improved, but performance deterioration occurs due to resource competition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidperformance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes bandwidth allocation parameters for different volumes based on monitored performance metrics. When performance deterioration is detected due to resource competition, the system adjusts bandwidth throttling ranges to restore target performance levels, thereby maintaining performance stability while allowing multiple volumes to share the transmission path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If administrator manually identifies and tunes bandwidth throttling range, then performance tuning is achieved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance tuning effectivenessVSAvoidtuning operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system performs self-diagnosis and self-tuning by automatically monitoring performance metrics, identifying volumes experiencing competition, and adjusting bandwidth throttling ranges without administrator intervention. The system reads target performance values, compares actual performance, and autonomously executes bandwidth tuning to maintain target performance levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where performance metrics are continuously monitored and compared against target values. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts bandwidth allocation and throttling ranges to maintain optimal performance, eliminating the need for manual administrator tuning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If fixed target performance is designated by level, then performance restriction is achieved, but proper target performance setting becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance controlVSAvoidtarget performance flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed, predetermined target performance values to dynamic target performance setting. The storage management device reads target performance values from external storage, allowing flexible and adaptable target setting that can be adjusted based on specific application requirements rather than being constrained to fixed levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2924555B1Storage management device, performance tuning method, and performance tuning program
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 FUJITSU LTD
  • EP2924555B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2924555B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2924555B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A reception unit (111) receives an input of designation of a performance level for a volume (232). A target value calculation unit (112) obtains a target value of performance of data transmission and reception with respect to the volume (232) according to the input performance level. A setting unit (113) sets the target value obtained by the target value calculation unit (112) for the volume (232). A monitoring unit (103) monitors a load factor of a transmission resource. A bandwidth management unit (102) identifies a target transmission resource based on the load factor of the transmission resource, decides a bandwidth allocation to a volume (232) that uses the target transmission resource based on the target value, and instructs a bandwidth control unit (252) of a storage device (2) to tune the bandwidth using the decided bandwidth allocation.