Storage Pool Provisioning Rules Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users lack the necessary sophistication and knowledge to effectively configure and provision storage pools, particularly in managing RAID types and capacities, leading to complexity in storage management tasks.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that utilizes a rules layer and best practices engine to translate user requirements into appropriate configurations for storage systems, simplifying the process by determining the necessary RAID groups and disks required for a specified capacity, while offering flexibility for advanced users to consider factors like cost, performance, and high availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users directly configure storage pools with RAID types and capacities, then storage management flexibility is improved, but user complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (storage pool template, rules engine, and best practices engine) between the user and the complex storage configuration parameters. Users interact with simplified templates that automatically translate high-level requirements into detailed RAID configurations, thereby maintaining flexibility while reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated rule processing and best practices engines that automatically determine optimal RAID configurations based on user requirements. The rules engine autonomously evaluates storage pool specifications against predefined best practices and generates appropriate configurations without requiring users to manually calculate or understand complex RAID parameters.
2Reliability
If detailed RAID configuration options are provided, then storage system reliability is improved, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining storage pool templates with optimized RAID configurations and best practices rules before users perform configuration tasks. These templates contain pre-configured RAID levels, redundancy settings, and performance parameters that have been optimized in advance, allowing users to reliably configure storage systems without navigating complex configuration options.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages configuration complexity through parameter changes by dynamically adjusting RAID configuration parameters based on the selected storage pool template and user requirements. The rules engine automatically modifies parameters such as RAID level, number of disks, and redundancy settings to achieve optimal reliability while maintaining simple user interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is used in managing storage pool provisioning. One or more physical devices of a data storage system is configured for use in connection with provisioning a storage pool. A provisioning specification is received describing a RAID type and capacity. A rule is received describing one or more sets of data storage system best practices. Each of the one or more sets specifies data storage system best practices for a different type of data storage system including a first type associated with the data storage system. Configuration processing is performed in connection with initialization of the data storage system to configure a first portion of the one or more physical devices for use with the storage pool. A rules engine and best practices for the first type of data storage system specified in the rule are used in performing the configuration processing.