Storage Pool Virtual Volume Dynamic Capacity Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage systems require a large number of physical devices to achieve high storage capacity, leading to conflicts between capacity needs, cost, and size, and lack mechanisms for dynamically changing storage capacity, especially in utilizing virtual volumes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A storage system that includes a control unit which sets and manages both physical and virtual logical devices within a storage pool, allowing dynamic allocation and reconfiguration of storage areas to virtual volumes, enabling increased storage capacity beyond physical limits and enhancing data access flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a storage system is equipped with a large number of physical devices to achieve high storage capacity, then storage capacity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the storage system into physical storage devices and virtual volumes through a storage pool. Physical devices are divided into a storage pool, which is then divided into multiple virtual volumes with different characteristics. This segmentation allows flexible allocation of storage capacity without requiring separate physical devices for each virtual volume, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage pool serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores data for multiple virtual volumes, enables dynamic capacity adjustment, and provides a unified management interface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate physical devices for each virtual volume, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and device complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If virtual volumes are used to increase storage capacity beyond physical limits, then storage capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage pool acts as an intermediary between physical devices and virtual volumes. It provides a mapping mechanism that translates virtual volume requests into physical storage allocations, managing complexity centrally rather than distributedly. This intermediary structure enables virtual volumes to exceed physical limits while keeping management complexity contained within the pool controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically allocates and reconfigures storage areas between virtual volumes through the storage pool. Virtual volumes can be created, modified, or deleted without physical device reconfiguration, as the storage pool dynamically adjusts mappings. This dynamic approach increases storage capacity flexibility while managing complexity through software-based control rather than hardware complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If storage capacity is dynamically changed by reallocating logical devices, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage pool implements feedback mechanisms to track storage usage, allocation status, and virtual volume characteristics. This feedback enables automatic or guided reallocation decisions when capacity needs change, reducing manual intervention complexity. The system can monitor which virtual volumes need capacity expansion or contraction and facilitate dynamic changes through structured feedback loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes storage capacity by modifying allocation parameters of the storage pool rather than physical device parameters. Virtual volume characteristics such as capacity, access patterns, and priority can be changed by adjusting pool allocation parameters. This parameter-based approach improves adaptability while keeping device complexity low, as changes are made through software configuration rather than hardware reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system connected to a computer and a management computer, includes storage devices accessed by the computer, and a control unit for controlling the storage devices. A first-type logical device corresponding to a storage area set in at least one of the storage devices and a second-type logical device that is a virtual storage area are provided. The control unit sets at least two of the first-type logical devices different in a characteristic as storage areas included in a storage pool through mapping. The first-type logical device stores data by allocating a storage area of the second-type logical device to a storage area of the first-type logical device mapped to the storage pool. The characteristic of the second-type logical device can be changed by changing the allocated storage area of the second-type logical device to a storage area of another first-type logical device.