Storage Controller Pool Capacity Management via Dynamic Protectable Periods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in managing history information across multiple volumes with different target protection periods within a single pool, leading to inefficient capacity utilization and potential pool overflow.
Innovation Solution
The system organizes volumes into groups with distinct target protection periods, using a storage controller to allocate physical storage areas and manage history information volumes, ensuring that the difference between target and actual protection periods is minimized across groups, thereby optimizing pool capacity by determining which history information to purge based on protectable periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple groups with different target protection periods share one pool, then storage capacity utilization is improved, but it becomes difficult to determine which history information to purge while satisfying all groups' protection period requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter perspective from individual group protection periods to a unified pool-level protectable period. By calculating a single protectable period for the entire pool based on the oldest history information across all groups, the system simplifies the purge determination process while ensuring all groups' protection requirements are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotentiality by establishing a unified protectable period threshold for all groups sharing the pool. Instead of treating each group's protection period differently, the system applies a common standard (the minimum protectable period across all groups) to determine which history information can be purged, simplifying the decision-making process.
2Quantity of substance
If history information is purged to increase free capacity, then pool overflow is prevented, but the protection period for some groups may be shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the protectable period parameter for the pool based on available free capacity and write speed. By calculating the protectable period as the time required to write all current history information at current write speed, the system optimizes the balance between free capacity and protection period, allowing history information to be retained as long as possible while preventing pool overflow.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the protectable period is extended to maintain protection for all groups, then more history information must be retained, but the pool may fill up and overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the protectable period dynamic rather than fixed. The protectable period is continuously recalculated based on the current state of the pool (amount of history information stored, free capacity, write speed). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to extend the protectable period when capacity is available and shorten it when the pool is filling up, preventing overflow while maximizing protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes a storage controller, plural volumes each configured by the storage controller, and a pool allocating physical storage areas to logical storage areas of the volumes. The storage controller configures a first group including, among the volumes, a first primary volume to which a first target protection period is set, and a first history information volume storing history information about updating to the first primary volume, and a second group including, thereamong, a second primary volume to which a second target protection period is set, and a second history information volume storing history information about updating to the second primary volume. The volumes included in the first and second groups utilize the same physical storage area of the pool. When increasing a free capacity thereof, history information to be purged is determined from the first and second protectable periods such that their protectable periods become the same.