Storage Management Apparatus for Heterogeneous Pool Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage management techniques fail to integrate storage pools across different types of storage systems in a data center, leading to ineffective management of storage volumes and inability to create volumes that meet specific storage requirements due to varying characteristics among systems.
Innovation Solution
A storage management apparatus that holds management information for storage pools and volumes, allowing for the selection of a suitable storage pool based on requested requirements by comparing characteristic information, and creating storage volumes within the selected pool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If storage systems operate independently in a data center, then each storage system can function autonomously, but integrated management of storage pools and volumes across the entire data center fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage management apparatus as an intermediary component that sits between multiple independent storage systems. This apparatus collects management information from each storage system, compares characteristics, and coordinates storage pool integration. The intermediary enables integrated management without requiring changes to the autonomous operation of individual storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage management apparatus is designed to handle multiple types of storage systems (SDS, HCI, disk arrays) through a universal management interface. It can collect information from different storage system types, compare their characteristics, and create storage volumes that satisfy diverse requirements across heterogeneous systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If storage systems have varying forms of software and hardware, then storage diversity is achieved, but characteristics of storage systems vary causing integration management to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by collecting and storing characteristic information specific to each storage system's software and hardware configuration. Instead of treating all storage systems uniformly, the management apparatus records individual characteristics (such as protocol support, performance parameters, capacity) and uses these localized details to make appropriate matching decisions when creating storage volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complexity by dynamically comparing parameters of different storage systems and adjusting the storage pool selection process accordingly. When creating a storage volume, the apparatus changes its selection criteria based on the specific parameter comparisons between available storage pools, allowing flexible adaptation to varying system characteristics.
3Device complexity
If storage pools are not integrated across multiple systems, then storage systems remain simple and independent, but inability to create storage volumes meeting specific requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The storage management apparatus performs preliminary actions by pre-collecting and storing management information from all storage systems before volume creation is needed. Characteristic information about storage pools is maintained in advance, enabling rapid comparison and selection when storage volumes need to be created, thus improving efficiency without adding operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes of storage volume creation with an automated information comparison system. Instead of requiring manual configuration and matching of storage parameters, the apparatus automatically compares stored characteristic information with requested requirements and selects appropriate storage pools, significantly improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Even though storage systems are different in types, storage pools in a plurality of storage systems are integrated, and a storage volume is created in a suited storage pool corresponding to a storage requirements. In an information system where a plurality of storage systems (a disk array, an SDS system, and an HCI system) is present, when creating the storage volume using requested storage requirements as parameters, a storage management server selects a storage pool that satisfies the storage requirements based on comparison of the storage requirements and characteristic information held in first management information (a storage pool management table), the server creates the storage volume in the selected storage pool, and the server adds an entry relating to the created storage volume to second management information (a volume management table).