Storage Tier Usage Ratio Management for Virtual Volume Data Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hierarchical-type data management method does not allow for data movement between storage tiers based on usage ratios, limiting flexibility and convenience for system administrators in managing virtual volumes across predefined usage ratios.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus and data management method that manages usage ratios of storage tiers and assigns storage areas to virtual volumes in page units, enabling data movement within predefined usage ratios for each virtual volume, allowing for more flexible storage tier management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is moved between storage tiers based on access frequency, then storage performance is improved, but usage ratio constraints prevent flexible data movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic usage ratios for storage tiers that can be adjusted based on virtual volume access patterns and storage pool status. Instead of fixed usage ratios, the system dynamically determines allocation ratios between first and second storage tiers according to actual data access frequencies and storage utilization, enabling flexible data movement while maintaining performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the usage ratio parameters of storage tiers based on virtual volume access patterns and storage pool status. When a virtual volume has high access frequency, the usage ratio of the first storage tier is increased to improve performance. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing storage demands while maintaining optimal data placement.
2Ease of manufacture
If usage ratios of storage tiers are predefined, then storage resource allocation is controlled, but data cannot be moved between tiers within the predefined usage ratio range
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines and adjusts usage ratios between storage tiers based on virtual volume access patterns and storage pool status without requiring manual intervention. The storage control apparatus autonomously performs data movement between tiers by dynamically adjusting usage ratios, eliminating the need for administrators to manually configure data movement operations while maintaining resource allocation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors virtual volume access patterns and storage pool status, using this feedback to dynamically adjust usage ratios between storage tiers. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adapt to changing storage demands and perform data movement operations within appropriate usage ratio ranges without manual intervention.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple virtual volumes are provided with storage areas, then storage capacity is increased, but managing data movement within usage ratio ranges for each virtual volume becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The storage control apparatus implements a universal data management mechanism that handles multiple virtual volumes simultaneously through a single control system. The usage ratio determination logic applies uniformly across all virtual volumes, automatically adjusting tier allocation ratios based on aggregate access patterns and storage pool status, thereby simplifying management of data movement across multiple volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the management of multiple virtual volumes into a unified storage pool with shared usage ratio controls. Instead of independently managing each virtual volume's data movement, the system aggregates access patterns and performs coordinated data movement across tiers based on overall pool status, reducing management complexity while maintaining individual volume performance requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a storage apparatus and data management method with which the usage ratio of each of the storage tiers is determined beforehand for each virtual volume and data can be managed by being migrated between storage tiers within a range of predetermined usage ratios.A storage apparatus 5, comprising storage devices 30 of a plurality of types of varying performance; and a controller 31 which manages each of storage areas provided by the storage devices 30 of a plurality of types by means of storage tiers ST of a plurality of different types respectively, and which assigns the storage areas in page units to virtual volumes VVOL from any storage tier among the storage tiers ST of a plurality of types, the controller 31 managing usage ratios of the storage tiers ST of a plurality of types and assigning the storage areas in page units to the virtual volumes VVOL based on the usage ratio managed.