Storage Device Grouping for Capacity Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in effectively utilizing the capacities of multiple storage devices with varying capacities, leading to inefficient management and potential underutilization of storage space, especially when building a user storage system that requires a predetermined width for data and parity in RAID-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that sort storage devices by capacity, select groups based on a threshold device number, and build user storage systems to maximize the use of storage space by distributing storage devices into groups with a predetermined width, ensuring efficient management and utilization of storage devices with different capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If storage devices with different capacities are directly used to build a user storage system, then the system can be quickly assembled, but the storage space utilization becomes inefficient and some devices may be underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage devices into different groups based on their capacities. By dividing the heterogeneous storage devices into capacity-based groups, the system can efficiently allocate and utilize storage space within each group, avoiding the underutilization that would occur if devices were simply assembled without organization. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by creating structured groups that optimize space usage while maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating storage devices with similar capacities as a homogeneous group with specific characteristics. Each group is optimized for its capacity range, allowing the system to match data allocation patterns to the appropriate device group. This approach improves overall storage utilization by ensuring that each device operates at or near its optimal capacity level rather than mixing devices of vastly different sizes.
2Quantity of substance
If all storage devices are used to maximize capacity, then storage space is fully utilized, but the system becomes difficult to manage and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into multiple manageable groups based on device capacity. This segmentation allows administrators to manage each group independently according to its characteristics, reducing the complexity of managing the entire heterogeneous system. The grouping strategy enables focused management efforts on smaller, more uniform subsets of devices while still utilizing the total storage capacity of all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the management parameter from individual device management to group-based management. By organizing devices into capacity-based groups, the system transforms the management task from handling each device individually (which is complex) to managing groups with similar characteristics (which is simpler). This parameter change maintains full utilization of storage capacity while significantly improving ease of operation.
3Productivity
If storage devices are grouped by capacity, then storage space utilization improves, but the device configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic segmentation of storage devices into capacity-based groups. This automated segmentation process improves storage efficiency by ensuring optimal utilization of each device's capacity while reducing configuration complexity through systematic organization. The grouping rule-based approach provides a clear, repeatable method for configuration that simplifies the overall system setup despite the increased organizational structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the configuration approach from manual, ad-hoc device allocation to automated, parameter-driven grouping. By establishing clear grouping parameters based on device capacity, the system automatically organizes devices into efficient configurations. This parameter-based approach improves storage efficiency while reducing configuration complexity by replacing manual decision-making with systematic, rule-based automation.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain techniques, a plurality of storage devices of a storage system are sorted into a sequence of storage devices by capacity. A first number of at least one storage device with maximum capacity in the sequence of storage devices is determined. A group of storage devices are selected from the sequence of storage devices based on the first number, a device number of storage devices in the sequence and a threshold device number, the number of storage devices in the group of storage devices being less than or equal to the threshold device number. A user storage system is built based on storage space in the group of storage devices, the user storage system having a predetermined width for representing a sum of a data width and a parity width in one stripe of the user storage system. Accordingly, efficiency of storage space utilization can be improved.