Virtual Storage Arrays Aggregating Physical Pools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional data storage management approaches are complex and do not align with business goals, as they typically involve managing elements on a per-device basis, which does not effectively utilize growing datacenters and network resources.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of virtual storage arrays and virtual storage pools allows users to aggregate physical storage pools and ports into virtualized containers that can be mapped to business needs, enabling efficient storage management by defining criteria such as location, functionality, and attributes, and logically grouping backend storage systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical storage pools and ports are managed on a per-device basis, then device-level control and management precision are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage virtualization layer as an intermediary between physical storage devices and business applications. This virtualization layer abstracts the complexity of per-device management while maintaining the ability to precisely control individual devices when needed. The virtual storage pools and arrays serve as mediators that simplify management operations without sacrificing device-level control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments storage resources into virtual storage pools and virtual storage arrays that can be independently managed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain device-level control precision while reducing overall management complexity by working with aggregated virtual entities rather than individual physical devices for routine management tasks.
2Productivity
If storage resources are aggregated into virtual storage pools, then storage utilization efficiency and resource sharing are improved, but control granularity over individual devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a virtualization dimension to storage management, creating a multi-layered architecture where physical devices map to virtual pools, which in turn map to virtual arrays. This dimensional transformation enables simultaneous achievement of aggregate resource efficiency and individual device controllability by operating at different levels of the hierarchy as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual storage pools and arrays serve multiple functions: they enable efficient resource aggregation and sharing while simultaneously providing controlled access to individual underlying devices. The system can switch between managing resources as aggregated pools for efficiency and as individual devices for precise control, making the management interface universal and adaptable to different operational requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical storage pools are federated into a unified virtual storage array, then resource sharing and flexibility are improved, but management complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies and abstractions of physical storage pools through virtual storage pools and arrays. These virtual representations simplify the management interface by presenting a unified view of federated resources without requiring direct management of each underlying physical pool's complexity. The virtual layer copies the essential characteristics needed for resource sharing while filtering out the coordination overhead of individual device management.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, a system, and a computer program product for aggregating physical storage pools and ports into a virtual storage array. The method includes selecting a plurality of physical storage pools in a storage environment, selecting a plurality of ports in the storage environment, and aggregating the physical storage pools and ports into a virtual storage array. Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, a system, and a computer program product for aggregating a plurality of storage resource from a plurality of physical storage pools into a virtual storage pool. The method includes selecting a plurality of storage resource from a plurality of physical storage pools and aggregating the plurality of resources from the plurality of physical storage pools into a virtual storage pool.