Storage Tiered Management Using Dynamic I/O Frequency Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage tiered management systems often result in higher-cost structures due to the use of predefined storage media combinations, leading to inefficiencies where unused or underutilized storage media are retained by users, causing capacity shortages and necessitating additional purchases.
Innovation Solution
A computer system and storage management method that recognizes the type and capacity of storage media held by users, dynamically allocates storage areas based on I/O frequency information, and creates a storage tiered configuration using identified storage media with low I/O performance, ensuring desired performance targets are met while optimizing storage usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a predefined combination of storage media is used to calculate storage tiered structure, then the calculation process is simplified, but the cost increases and storage media utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic calculation of storage tiered structure by obtaining actual I/O frequency information from the storage apparatus and using it to determine the optimal storage media combination. Instead of relying on predefined combinations, the system dynamically adjusts the storage tiered configuration based on real I/O characteristics, thereby improving storage media utilization efficiency while maintaining calculation simplicity through automated detection and computation.
2Loss of time
If predefined storage media combinations are used, then the calculation is faster, but capacity shortage occurs and additional purchases are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms by obtaining actual I/O frequency information from the storage apparatus and using this feedback to verify and adjust the storage tiered structure. The system checks whether the calculated storage tiered can be actually created with available storage media, and if capacity shortage is detected, it automatically adjusts the configuration or notifies the user, thereby ensuring reliable storage tiered creation without requiring additional purchases.
3Reliability
If storage media with high I/O performance are allocated to all volumes, then performance requirements are met, but storage cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating storage media allocation based on the specific I/O frequency characteristics of each volume. Instead of uniformly allocating high-performance storage media to all volumes, the system identifies volumes with high I/O frequencies and allocates high-performance media only to those volumes, while using lower-cost media for volumes with lower I/O frequencies. This localized approach ensures performance requirements are met for critical volumes while optimizing overall storage cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage tiered that satisfies desired performance is configured by recognizing the type and capacity of storage media of a storage apparatus, which are held by a user, and using the storage media.When adding a specified area of storage media to a storage tiered in response to a request from a host computer, a management computer: obtains storage media information, including I/O frequency of a data storage area of a volume(s) as well as performance information and structure information of the storage media, from the storage apparatus; identifies one or more storage media, which have not been allocated to any of the volumes with the I/O performance in excess of the I/O frequency, on the basis of the structure information of the storage media so that the data storage area of the volume(s), to which a specified storage in the storage tiered is allocated, would achieve a specified I/O performance target; and issues an instruction to the storage apparatus to create a storage tiered by using the identified storage media.