Storage Path Selection Using Energy Attributes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current path selection techniques in resilient storage environments, such as those using Asymmetric Logical Unit Access (ALUA), primarily focus on latency and do not consider energy-related factors like renewable energy usage and cooling capacity, which are crucial for reducing carbon footprint and ensuring data center reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines preferred and non-preferred paths to redundant storage systems based on energy attributes, including renewable energy usage, available cooling capacity, and power costs, to optimize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If path selection is based on latency optimization (ALUA), then access speed is improved, but energy consumption increases and carbon footprint is not reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameters from solely latency-based to multi-parameter including energy attributes. The system evaluates multiple paths using both traditional performance metrics and new energy-related metrics (renewable energy usage, cooling capacity, power costs) to determine preferred paths, thereby resolving the contradiction between speed and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic path selection that adapts to changing energy conditions. The preferred path is not fixed but can change based on real-time or near-real-time energy attributes of storage systems, allowing the system to optimize for energy efficiency when possible while maintaining acceptable performance levels.
2Reliability
If more storage systems are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption and cooling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates cooling capacity as a selection parameter alongside reliability considerations. When evaluating redundant storage systems, the system now considers both the reliability benefits of having multiple systems and the cooling capacity constraints, selecting preferred paths that balance these competing requirements.
3Reliability
If traditional ALUA path selection is used, then path failover is achieved, but energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the ALUA path selection criteria by adding energy-related parameters to the existing failover capability. The system now evaluates paths based on both traditional reliability metrics and new environmental metrics including renewable energy usage and carbon footprint, enabling green computing initiatives while maintaining path failover functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using energy considerations to determine preferred and non-preferred paths to redundant first and second storage systems having a volume. A determination is made whether a first value of an energy attribute for the first storage system satisfies an energy criteria and whether a second value of the energy attribute for the second storage system satisfies the energy criteria. First paths to the first storage system are indicated as preferred and second paths to the second storage system are indicated as non-preferred in response to determining that the first value satisfies the energy criteria and the second value does not satisfy the energy criteria. The first paths are indicated as non-preferred and the second paths are indicated as preferred in response to determining that the first value does not satisfy the energy criteria and the second value satisfies the energy criteria.