Storage System Scale-Out Volume Management via Lead Local Volumes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In mixed storage environments with container execution bases and normal compute servers, the uneven free capacity distribution among storage servers leads to inefficiencies in using storage capacity, particularly when creating scale-out volumes.
Innovation Solution
A storage system and method that involve a plurality of storage servers and a compute server managing free capacity. The compute server individually provisions storage capacity to each storage server based on free capacity, creating lead local volumes which are then bundled to form a scale-out volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a compute server outside the container execution base creates a closed volume on a single storage server, then low-latency IO is achieved, but free capacity becomes non-uniform across storage servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage capacity management by introducing lead local volumes as intermediate units. Each storage server maintains lead local volumes that are segmented portions of the total storage capacity, allowing individual provisioning while maintaining overall uniformity. This segmentation enables the system to balance between low-latency access (by having dedicated lead local volumes) and uniform capacity distribution (by managing segments centrally).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces lead local volumes as intermediary structures between storage servers and the container execution base. These lead local volumes act as mediators that enable low-latency IO operations while allowing the container execution base to manage free capacity uniformly across multiple storage servers. The intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing both dedicated access paths and centralized management capabilities.
2Quantity of substance
If the container execution base creates a scale-out volume, then sufficient free capacity is utilized, but the volume cannot be created due to free capacity bias among storage servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-provisioning lead local volumes on each storage server before creating scale-out volumes. This preliminary provisioning ensures that when the container execution base needs to create a scale-out volume, the necessary capacity is already prepared and uniformly distributed across storage servers, eliminating the free capacity bias problem and enabling smooth volume creation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the management parameter from direct free capacity management to lead local volume management. By transforming the storage capacity representation into standardized lead local volume units, the system can uniformly allocate and manage capacity across storage servers regardless of their individual free capacity states, enabling scale-out volume creation while effectively utilizing total storage capacity.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual operation is performed for data mapping and free space acquisition, then storage volumes can be created, but operation labor increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the container execution base to automatically manage and provision storage volumes using lead local volumes. The system provides self-service capabilities for free space acquisition and data mapping through automated processes that utilize the standardized lead local volume structure, eliminating the need for manual operations while maintaining volume creation functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes a plurality of storage servers that includes a storage device and a controller that processes data inputted to and outputted from the storage device, the plurality of storage servers providing a lead local volume for inputting and outputting data to and from the storage device; and a first compute server including a client, wherein the first compute server manages a free capacity of the plurality of storage servers, individually provisions storage capacity to each of the plurality of storage servers on the basis of the free capacity to provide the lead local volume, and configures a first volume on the basis of the provided plurality of lead local volumes, and provides the first volume to the client.