Universal Storage Manager for Multi-Tenant Infrastructure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-tenant computing systems face challenges in efficiently managing storage resources, particularly in complex IT landscapes, where interfacing with and initiating operations in storage infrastructure can be technically difficult and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A universal storage manager is introduced to receive and initiate changes to the storage infrastructure, utilizing a network attached storage device, with features like an agent framework, splitter for cloning storage volumes, and lifecycle API for data synchronization, allowing dynamic and secure management of tenant data, including snapshot copying, backup, and space release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-tenant computing system hosts multiple tenants on a single system with multiple servers, then computing resource efficiency and reliability are improved, but the complexity of interfacing with and initiating operations in the storage infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage manager as an intermediary component that sits between the multi-tenant computing system and the storage infrastructure. This storage manager abstracts the complex storage operations and provides a simplified interface, thereby resolving the contradiction by maintaining high resource efficiency while reducing the operational complexity of the storage infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple storage operations (snapshot creation, cloning, backup, etc.) across multiple tenants through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain efficiency for multiple tenants while avoiding the complexity of individual storage management for each tenant.
2Ease of operation
If the storage infrastructure is made more accessible and easier to operate, then ease of operation is improved, but the security and control over tenant data may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager implements segmentation by creating isolated storage spaces for each tenant while providing a unified interface for access. Each tenant's data is segmented into separate logical units (snapshots, clones) that can be managed independently, ensuring security and control while maintaining ease of operation through the centralized management interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager acts as a security intermediary that mediates all access to tenant data. It provides controlled access to storage operations, ensuring that security policies are enforced while maintaining ease of operation for authorized users. The intermediary layer protects tenant data while allowing legitimate access and management operations.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a universal storage manager in a multi-tenant computing system receives at least one message requesting a change to a storage infrastructure of the multi-tenant computing system. Thereafter, the universal storage manager associates the requested change with one of a plurality of operations changing the storage infrastructure. Once this association is made, the universal storage manager initiates the associated operation to change the storage infrastructure. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.