Virtual Storage Volume Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face increased management complexity and performance bottlenecks due to the need for load distribution across multiple disk array devices, requiring temporary suspension of operations for LVM setup, complex SAN zoning configurations, and increased administrative effort for managing access control and volume migration.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves virtualizing logical volumes across multiple storage devices to distribute IO loads and simplify network settings, allowing for automated access permission management without requiring coordination between host and network administrators, thereby enhancing storage performance and reducing management burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple disk array devices are arranged to distribute IO loads, then storage performance is improved, but management complexity increases due to complex SAN zoning configurations and coordination between administrators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple disk array devices into a unified storage pool managed by a single storage system. The storage system presents a single virtual volume to the host, merging the complexity of managing multiple devices into a single management interface, thereby improving storage performance through load distribution while reducing management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system acts as an intermediary between the host and multiple disk array devices. It handles SAN zoning configurations and access control internally, shielding the administrator from complex networking details while maintaining high storage performance through optimized data distribution across multiple devices.
2Productivity
If LVM setup is performed to show volumes across systems as logical volumes, then load distribution is achieved, but operations must be temporarily suspended and administrative effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system performs preliminary configuration of load distribution across multiple disk array devices before presenting the virtual volume to the host. The storage pool is pre-configured with data distribution policies, allowing seamless load distribution without requiring temporary suspension of operations or complex LVM setup procedures.
3Reliability
If access control settings are configured for each physical storage device, then security is maintained, but coordination between host and network administrators is required increasing management burden
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system merges access control settings into a unified management interface. Instead of requiring separate configurations for each physical storage device, the system presents a single virtual volume with centralized access control policies, maintaining security while eliminating the need for coordination between multiple administrators.
Data Source
AI summary
An administrator instructs creation of a volume to a virtual storage device and registration of a host port for providing access permission to the volume. The virtual storage device searches a candidate of a physical storage device capable of reaching the host port and a candidate of the target port based on the access permission information, and creates a distributed volume astride the candidate physical storage device. The distributed volume is composed of a plurality of partial volumes, and the partial volumes inherit the functions of the storage device and the access permission information set for the distributed volume. The virtual storage device distributes an access permission to the physical storage device, constitutes the access permission information of the host port and the volume with respect to the candidate target port, and registers the access permission information of the host port and the target port to the SAN switch.