Unified Storage Management via REST API for Heterogeneous Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems face challenges in managing and provisioning heterogeneous storage environments, as they typically support only homogeneous systems, making it difficult to provide diverse data services and manage complex, geo-distributed storage resources efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A distributed software platform that enables the conversion of heterogeneous storage systems into a single logical storage array, using a REST API and CLI to manage storage resources as a unified entity, allowing for scalable, geo-distributed storage and hybrid deployment models, and providing integrations with cloud stacks like VMware and OpenStack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heterogeneous storage systems are managed individually, then each storage system can be optimized for its specific type, but the overall system complexity increases and management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage management into two layers: a unified management layer that handles all storage systems through a single control path, and individual storage system layers that maintain their own optimization. This segmentation allows heterogeneous storage systems to be managed individually for optimization while reducing overall management complexity through the unified layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary management layer between the user and heterogeneous storage systems. This intermediary layer acts as a mediator that translates diverse storage requests into unified control commands, enabling simplified management of complex heterogeneous storage environments without sacrificing the optimization capabilities of individual systems.
2Ease of operation
If a unified control path is implemented for heterogeneous storage, then management simplicity improves, but the ability to provide diverse data services may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control path that can handle multiple types of data services (block, file, object storage) and heterogeneous storage systems through a single interface. This universality enables simplified management while maintaining the ability to provide diverse data services by translating different service requirements into unified control commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes to adapt the unified control path to different storage service requirements. By dynamically adjusting control parameters based on the desired data service type and underlying storage system, the unified control path can maintain management simplicity while providing versatile data service capabilities.
3Productivity
If storage resources are federated into a single logical array, then resource allocation efficiency improves, but the complexity of coordinating distributed systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple distributed storage systems into a single logical storage array through a unified control path. This merging enables efficient resource allocation across the entire distributed system while the unified control mechanism manages the coordination complexity centrally, preventing it from scaling linearly with the number of storage systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product for providing data services, using a single control path, on a data storage resource selected from a plurality of heterogeneous storage resources, the computer-executable method comprising receiving an input relating to data services, analyzing the input to determine an appropriate type of data service to provide on the data storage resource, and based on the analyzing, providing the appropriate type of data service on the data storage resource.