Storage Pool Volume Balancing via Dynamic Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer systems fail to reliably and immediately equalize storage capacity among multiple pool volumes, especially when changes in data amounts occur, such as when deleting fixed pattern data, leading to imbalanced storage resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

A computer system dynamically detects imbalances in storage capacity and migrates storage areas among logical areas to maintain equilibrium, while also considering the deletion of fixed pattern data to ensure continuous equalization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If storage areas are migrated among multiple pool volumes to equalize storage capacity, then storage capacity equalization is improved, but the reliability and immediacy of equalization is insufficient when changes in data amounts occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity equalization reliabilityVSAvoidequalization response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system continuously monitors the usage rates of multiple pool volumes and automatically triggers migration operations when imbalance is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that storage capacity equalization is both reliable (automatically responds to changes) and immediate (detects and corrects imbalances as they occur), resolving the contradiction between reliability and response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-balancing by automatically detecting usage rate imbalances among pool volumes and executing migration operations without external intervention. This self-service capability ensures continuous maintenance of storage capacity equality, making the equalization both reliable (automatic correction) and immediate (real-time monitoring and response).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If fixed pattern data is deleted from pool volumes, then storage space is freed, but storage capacity balance among pool volumes is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space availabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors usage rates of all pool volumes and performs migration operations as needed to maintain balance. This continuous action ensures that when fixed pattern data is deleted from any pool volume, the system immediately detects the resulting imbalance and redistributes storage areas to restore equality, maintaining both storage space availability and capacity balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the distribution of storage areas among pool volumes based on changing usage rates. When fixed pattern data deletion causes imbalance, the system changes the allocation parameters by migrating storage areas from volumes with lower usage rates to those with higher usage rates, thereby restoring balance while preserving the freed storage space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If storage areas are allocated dynamically to virtual volumes, then storage resource efficiency is improved, but storage capacity imbalance among pool volumes occurs over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage resource efficiencyVSAvoidstorage capacity balance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic allocation of storage areas to virtual volumes while simultaneously implementing dynamic rebalancing among pool volumes. As workloads change and storage is allocated dynamically, the monitoring mechanism detects resulting imbalances and triggers migration operations to restore equality, thereby maintaining both high storage resource efficiency and storage capacity balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the distribution parameters of storage areas among pool volumes in response to dynamic allocation patterns. When certain pool volumes become over-utilized due to dynamic allocation to virtual volumes, the system adjusts parameters by migrating storage areas from under-utilized to over-utilized volumes, maintaining balance while preserving the benefits of dynamic allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9201607B2Computer system and method for balancing usage rate of pool volumes

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 HITACHI VANTARA LTD

AI summary

The computer system, during the course of executing an operation of dynamically allocating a storage area to a virtual volume in response to an access from a host system, detects where a balance of a storage capacity among a plurality of logical areas is disrupted, and subsequently moves a storage area among a plurality of logical areas to maintain balance of the storage capacity.