Storage Virtualization Authority Migration via Page Address Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems with multiple virtual storages sharing an external storage, migrating access authority for virtual server LUs between virtual storages while avoiding intermixing of access authorities across different capacity pools has not been effectively addressed.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves independently managing the allocation and release of capacity pool authorities and virtual server LU access authorities, determining whether pages are allocated to specific LU areas and processing accordingly, allowing for efficient migration of access authority without data copying by notifying the destination virtual storage of external page addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If access authority for virtual server LUs is migrated between virtual storages sharing external storage, then operational flexibility and load distribution are improved, but complexity of managing capacity pool authorities and preventing intermixing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authority management into distinct components: capacity pool authorities are managed separately from virtual server LU access authorities. This segmentation allows independent control and migration of different authority types, reducing the complexity of managing their intermixing while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the storage system's control apparatus) that mediates between virtual storages and external storage, managing capacity pool authorities and access authorities independently. This intermediary handles the complexity of authority migration and prevents intermixing, allowing virtual storages to operate flexibly without directly managing the complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional data copying method is used for migrating access authority, then data integrity is ensured, but migration time and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a selective copying approach where only necessary authority information (not entire data sets) is copied during migration. The control apparatus copies capacity pool authority and access authority metadata between virtual storages, rather than copying actual data, significantly reducing migration time while maintaining integrity through controlled copying mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing the capacity pool authority and page allocation structure before actual data access migration occurs. The control apparatus pre-configures the authority relationships and page mappings, so that when migration happens, only the authority references need to be updated rather than copying substantial data, reducing migration time while ensuring integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes a first storage apparatus and a second storage apparatus. The first storage apparatus includes a capacity pool that is partitioned into multiple pool pages and includes a storage area of an external logical volume provided by at least one storage apparatus. The second storage apparatus provides first virtual volume which is a virtual logical volume comprising multiple first virtual areas. In a case of receiving a write request from the computer to a virtual area in the first virtual volume to which a page is not allocated, an unallocated pool page of the external logical volume is allocated to the virtual area. An authority to allocate the unallocated pool page of the external logical volume is assigned to the first storage apparatus.