Storage Management System for Multi-Tenant Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-tenancy storage environments, administrators face challenges in managing real storage resources across shared storage apparatuses, leading to potential resource allocation restrictions and lack of visibility into usage conditions, which can result in insufficient volume allocation and unanticipated resource restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A computer system with a management system that allocates real or virtual resources to tenants based on predefined upper limits for each real storage apparatus, ensuring appropriate resource allocation and visibility into usage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple tenants share a real storage apparatus to reduce administrator load, then resource management efficiency is improved, but resource allocation visibility and control for individual tenants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple virtual storage apparatuses, each assigned to a specific tenant. This segmentation allows each tenant to have dedicated virtual storage resources while physically sharing the underlying real storage apparatus. The virtualization layer divides the unified pool of real storage resources into isolated virtual storage spaces, enabling independent management and visibility for each tenant without requiring separate physical storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a storage management system as an intermediary between tenants and the real storage apparatus. This management system handles resource allocation, monitoring, and control operations, providing tenants with visibility and control over their allocated resources while managing the shared physical infrastructure. The intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of shared resources and presents simplified, tenant-specific resource views.
2Productivity
If other tenant allocates many volumes to a real storage apparatus, then that tenant's resource utilization is improved, but volume allocation for other tenants is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the storage management system continuously monitors resource usage and automatically adjusts volume allocations across tenants. When one tenant utilizes a large portion of the real storage apparatus, the system dynamically reallocates or limits further allocations to maintain balance. This dynamic control mechanism ensures that high utilization by one tenant does not permanently restrict allocation flexibility for other tenants, as the system can respond to changing conditions in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage management system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor resource allocation status and usage patterns across all tenants. When the system detects that one tenant has allocated many volumes approaching capacity limits, it receives feedback about the remaining available resources and adjusts subsequent allocation decisions accordingly. This feedback loop prevents resource hoarding by any single tenant and maintains allocation flexibility for the multi-tenant environment.
3Reliability
If administrator cannot know usage conditions of resources for other tenant, then tenant isolation is improved, but advance knowledge of resource allocation restrictions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing each tenant with a customized view of storage resources tailored to their specific allocation and needs. Each tenant sees only their allocated virtual storage apparatus and associated resources, with management interfaces showing usage conditions and allocation status relevant to their tenancy. This localized information presentation maintains tenant isolation while providing necessary visibility into their own resource restrictions without exposing other tenants' data.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage management system provides feedback to each tenant administrator about their allocated resources, including current usage levels, available capacity, and upcoming allocation restrictions. This feedback mechanism allows tenant administrators to understand their resource limits and plan accordingly, while maintaining isolation from other tenants' operations. The system delivers targeted information about allocation restrictions specific to each tenant's virtual storage apparatus without compromising the isolation boundary.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system comprises a storage system that is configured by at least one real storage apparatus that is provided with a plurality of real resources and a management system that is coupled to the storage system. The management system is configured to allocate a real resource or a virtual resource based on the real resource as a tenant resource from the at least one real storage apparatus to a tenant based on first information that includes an upper limit that is related to a real resource of each of at least one real storage apparatus that is provided with a plurality of real resources and second information that is an upper limit that is related to a real resource that is allocated as a tenant resource that is a resource that can be used by a tenant or as a resource that is a basis of the tenant resource.