Data Storage Resource Binding via Tier Definitions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Data storage administrators face difficulties in configuring data storage systems to meet performance, availability, protection, and cost objectives due to the complexity of existing management tools and the need to balance static and dynamic factors, leading to potential incorrect provisioning of resources.
Innovation Solution
A method involving tier definitions with goal and configuration clauses that prioritize data storage system resources, allowing for automated adjustment of resources to meet objectives by associating consumers with tiers and dynamically binding resources based on observed data and relative priorities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing management tools are used to configure data storage resources, then administrators can perform basic storage provisioning, but it becomes difficult to appropriately configure resources to achieve desired performance, availability, and cost objectives due to system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tier definition mechanism as an intermediary layer between the administrator and the complex storage system. Administrators define tiers with goal clauses (performance, availability, cost objectives) and configuration clauses (resource requirements), which serve as mediators that automatically translate high-level requirements into specific resource configurations, eliminating the need for administrators to directly manage complex system parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing tier definitions to automatically bind appropriate resources based on observed system state and predefined priorities. The storage system autonomously evaluates current resource availability, performance metrics, and cost factors against tier definitions, automatically provisioning and configuring resources without requiring continuous administrator intervention or complex manual configuration
2Manufacturing precision
If administrators manually configure storage resources to meet multiple objectives, then specific performance goals can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and may result in incorrect provisioning due to the need to balance multiple static and dynamic factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback mechanisms where the system monitors observed system state (performance metrics, resource utilization, cost factors) and compares it against the goals defined in tier configurations. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment and reconfiguration of storage resources to maintain compliance with performance, availability, and cost objectives, ensuring precise provisioning without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static manual configuration to dynamic automated management. Tier definitions establish flexible frameworks with prioritized clauses that automatically adapt to changing system conditions. The system continuously evaluates dynamic factors such as resource availability, performance metrics, and cost variations, automatically rebalancing resource allocation to meet multiple objectives simultaneously without requiring reconfiguration by administrators
3Productivity
If storage resources are provisioned without automated tier-based management, then system complexity is reduced, but resource allocation efficiency decreases and adverse impacts on performance, availability, and cost objectives increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage management system into distinct tier definitions, each targeting specific consumer classes with customized goal and configuration clauses. This segmentation allows different resource allocation strategies to be applied to different consumer groups independently, improving overall resource allocation efficiency by matching specific resource characteristics to specific performance requirements, while maintaining manageable complexity through modular tier configurations
Data Source
AI summary
Described are techniques for configuring resources of a data storage system. A definition for each of one or more tiers is provided. Each of the tiers corresponds to a different class of consumer of data storage system resources and has a different corresponding definition including a set of one or more clauses and a priority of each clause in said set relative to other clauses in said set. Each of the clauses in the set is one of a plurality of predefined types of clauses. One or more data storage consumers are associated with each tier. A first set of data storage system resources is associated with a first of said one or more tiers in accordance with a corresponding first definition for said first tier. The first set is used when processing storage provisioning requests and I/O requests for data storage consumers associated with the first tier.