Storage Device Wear Management via Target Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern storage management solutions face performance overhead and capacity reduction due to unexpected failures of storage devices, which are compounded by the need for prompt replacement, especially since storage devices wear out unpredictably.

Innovation Solution

A distributed storage system with a software-based virtual storage area network (VSAN) that manages and monitors local storage resources across a cluster of host computers, using a storage device management system to predictively control wear levels by directing write operations to selected storage devices based on user-defined target wear profiles, thereby minimizing maintenance and performance impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If storage devices are monitored and managed with failure prevention features, then data loss prevention is improved, but system performance and storage capacity are reduced due to overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata loss preventionVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring wear levels of storage devices and identifying at-risk devices before they fail. Replacement candidates are identified in advance based on wear level thresholds, allowing planned replacements during maintenance windows rather than emergency replacements after failures occur. This preliminary monitoring and identification process prevents the need for reactive failure handling that would otherwise degrade system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring storage device wear levels, identifying replacement candidates, and notifying administrators without requiring continuous manual intervention. The automated wear level monitoring and candidate identification processes reduce the need for manual storage device management, allowing the system to maintain reliability while minimizing performance overhead through autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If storage devices are monitored and managed with failure prevention features, then data loss prevention is improved, but storage capacity is reduced due to device failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata loss preventionVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of storage devices that are approaching failure based on wear level monitoring. By identifying replacement candidates before they fail and notifying administrators in advance, the system enables planned capacity management where replacement devices can be provisioned and data can be migrated before actual failures occur, thereby preventing unexpected capacity loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If storage device wear is monitored and managed proactively, then unexpected failures are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure predictionVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring wear levels of storage devices and using this information to identify replacement candidates. The feedback loop compares actual wear levels against thresholds and automatically updates the list of replacement candidates, which are then communicated back to administrators. This automated feedback process simplifies complex wear level management by transforming it into actionable insights without requiring complex manual analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If prompt replacement of failed storage devices is implemented, then system performance recovery is improved, but service complexity increases due to unexpected failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance recoveryVSAvoidservice management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of storage devices that are approaching failure based on wear level monitoring. By identifying replacement candidates in advance and notifying administrators before failures occur, the system enables planned replacements during maintenance windows rather than emergency replacements after failures. This preliminary action transforms unpredictable emergency repairs into scheduled maintenance activities, improving performance recovery while reducing service management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10915252B2System and method for managing a group of storage devices using their wear levels and a target wearing profile

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 VMWARE INC

AI summary

A computer-implemented method and computer system for managing a group of storage devices in a storage system utilizes actual wear levels of the storage devices within the group of storage devices to sort the storage devices in an order. One of the storage devices is then selected as a target storage device based on wear level gaps between adjacent sorted storage devices using a target storage device wearing profile so that write operations from software processes are directed exclusively to the target storage device for a predefined period of time to control wear on the group of storage devices.