Automated Storage Component Discovery and Classification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage infrastructure management is labor-intensive and prone to errors, as providers manually map and configure storage components to meet consumer service levels, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential mistakes, especially in consumer-provider models where human resources are heavily dependent for tasks like provisioning, monitoring, and reporting.

Innovation Solution

An automated system, such as the On Demand Storage System (ODSS), that discovers and classifies available storage components, maps consumer-defined service level objectives to appropriate storage components, configures them, monitors compliance, and generates reports, using a component discovery and classification module and metadata repository to optimize storage resource allocation and usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual mapping and configuration of storage components is used, then provider control over storage infrastructure is maintained, but labor intensity increases and errors become more likely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror rate in storage configurationVSAvoidmanual configuration process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-configuration of storage components through policy-based rules. The automated storage configuration system discovers storage components, classifies them according to service level objectives, and configures them without manual intervention. This self-service approach eliminates human errors in configuration while maintaining provider control through policy definitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated software-based configuration. The automated storage configuration system uses software components to discover, classify, and configure storage components automatically, substituting the manual mechanical process of provider intervention with an automated software system that reduces errors and labor intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual provisioning of storage capacity is used, then provider dependency on human resources is reduced, but storage resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage resource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidautomated capacity provisioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification of storage components into different categories based on service level objectives before actual data placement. This preliminary action enables efficient automated capacity provisioning by pre-organizing storage resources according to their capabilities and requirements, allowing the system to automatically allocate appropriate storage capacity without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automated storage configuration system continuously monitors storage resource usage and provides feedback to adjust capacity provisioning dynamically. This feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize storage resource utilization by reallocating resources based on actual demand patterns, improving productivity while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If automated storage component discovery and classification is implemented, then mapping accuracy between service levels and storage components is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice level mapping accuracyVSAvoidcomponent discovery and classification module

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex task of storage component classification into distinct categories based on service level objectives. By dividing the classification process into manageable segments (e.g., performance-based classification, capacity-based classification), the system achieves high mapping accuracy while reducing the complexity of individual classification modules through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7921246B2Automatically identifying available storage components

Publication Date: 2011.04.05 KYNDRYL INC

AI summary

A method for automatically identifying available storage components within a storage system, which are appropriate for storing consumer data in compliance with specified service level objectives (SLOs), including discovering available storage components; identifying and assigning service levels provided by each available storage component, wherein identifying and assigning service levels provided by each available storage component, includes classifying the available storage components based on their type of technology, and determining the SLO relevant capabilities of the available storage components; and storing resultant mapping of service levels to available storage components in a metadata repository.