Storage Management System Policy-Based Capacity Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size and complexity of modern storage networks make storage capacity planning and administration difficult, leading to costly and disruptive storage migrations, as current tools provide insufficient assistance to administrators in managing storage issues.

Innovation Solution

A storage management system that uses a policy-based approach to detect storage resource problems, identifies potential solutions, simulates their effects, and implements selected solutions to optimize storage resources, such as increasing volume size, deleting backup snapshots, or reallocating space, either automatically or with user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If storage networks increase in size and complexity to meet growing data storage needs, then storage capacity and functionality are improved, but storage capacity planning and administration become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidstorage administration

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated storage management system that acts as an intermediary between storage administrators and complex storage networks. This system includes components for monitoring storage capacity, analyzing usage patterns, generating migration plans, and executing migrations automatically, thereby reducing the administrative burden on human operators while managing large-scale storage networks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage management system implements self-service capabilities by automatically monitoring storage capacity, identifying migration opportunities, generating migration plans, and executing migrations without requiring continuous human intervention. The system can autonomously manage storage resources, freeing administrators from routine tasks while maintaining control over storage capacity planning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If administrators manually manage storage capacity issues, then some storage problems can be addressed, but storage migration becomes necessary frequently which is expensive and disruptive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage management capabilityVSAvoidcost and disruption of storage migration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring storage capacity and identifying potential migration opportunities before storage becomes critically full. It generates migration plans in advance, allowing administrators to execute migrations at optimal times rather than reacting to urgent capacity issues, thereby reducing disruption and costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The storage management system implements continuous feedback loops by monitoring storage capacity usage, analyzing the effectiveness of migration plans, and adjusting future migration strategies based on observed outcomes. This feedback mechanism helps optimize migration timing and methods, reducing both cost and disruption over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If current storage management tools are used, then basic monitoring is provided, but insufficient assistance is given to administrators in solving storage problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage status informationVSAvoidadministrative decision-making

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis methods with automated electronic systems that use algorithms to monitor storage capacity, analyze usage patterns, generate migration plans, and evaluate multiple solutions. This substitution provides administrators with automated intelligence rather than requiring manual analysis, significantly improving decision-making capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9274714B2Method and system for managing storage capacity in a storage network

Publication Date: 2016.03.01 NETAPP INC

AI summary

A system for managing configuration of a storage network having multiple storage resources is disclosed. The system uses a storage management policy to set parameters for detecting storage resource problems in the storage network. The system monitors the storage resources in the storage network based on the storage management policy. Based on the monitoring, the system detects limited storage resource conditions, and identifies one or more potential solutions to the condition. After identifying potential solutions, the system simulates effects on the storage resources of implementing individual solutions. Based on the simulations, the system then implements one or more selected solutions. These solutions may be selected automatically or by a user.