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Smart Storage Allocation for Peak Performance

Introduction

Imagine a system that intelligently manages storage allocation, adjusting on the fly to ensure each virtual volume receives the precise resources it needs. This advanced computing system uses a sophisticated controller to handle storage area allocation within a logical volume pool, seamlessly providing each virtual volume with the necessary capacity. Designed to meet the demands of data-intensive industries, this technology offers a flexible, resource-efficient solution to storage allocation challenges.

The Challenge: Inefficient and Static Storage Allocation

As businesses grow, data requirements surge, and traditional methods for storage allocation can quickly become outdated, leading to inefficient resource use and increased operational costs. Conventional systems lack the adaptability to handle diverse data patterns, causing either over-allocation of resources or lack of storage for critical operations. Companies face the burden of high infrastructure costs and limited flexibility, which restricts their ability to scale and manage resources efficiently.

Dynamic Storage Control that Adapts to Your Needs

This system’s intelligent controller actively manages storage allocation by tracking data requirements within virtual volumes and adjusting resources accordingly. The controller seamlessly allocates storage from the logical pool, offering flexible control over storage areas to meet real-time data needs. Whether handling high-volume transaction data or specialized, low-frequency files, the system adapts its storage allocation to optimize performance and reduce waste. This functionality not only maximizes efficiency but also enhances data accessibility and operational reliability.

Key Advantages for High-Performance Industries

For cloud computing and data management providers, this system streamlines data operations by minimizing unused storage and reducing unnecessary infrastructure costs. IT infrastructure teams benefit from a highly adaptable solution that strengthens system performance and ensures that resources are directed where they are most needed. Enterprise technology users across finance, healthcare, and technology industries will find this system invaluable for managing growing data loads with flexibility, reducing the need for constant manual adjustments.

License to Lead in Storage Efficiency

Licensing this intelligent storage allocation system empowers your organization to manage data with adaptability and precision. By implementing a solution that dynamically adjusts resources to fit real-time needs, your company gains a competitive edge in efficient storage management, maximizing both performance and cost-effectiveness. This technology is an essential tool for industries committed to high-speed, flexible data management, meeting today’s complex storage demands with an intelligent and forward-thinking approach.

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The computer system includes a storage device, a virtual volume, a plurality of logical volumes each including a storage area and constituting a pool, and a controller for controlling the allocation of the storage area from the logical volumes in the pool to the virtual volume. The controller is configured to: manage, for each of the plurality of logical volumes in the pool, a capacity of the logical volume and a number of units of storage areas allocated to the virtual volume; allocate one or more units of storage area not allocated to virtual volume from the plurality of logical volumes in the pool to the virtual volume when it is necessary; detect a state where an imbalance occurs between the numbers of units of allocated storage areas of the logical volumes in the pool based on the managed information; and change the allocation in order to achieve a balance.

What is claimed is:

1. A computer system, comprising:

a storage device including a storage area;
a virtual volume to which access from a host system is permitted;
a plurality of logical volumes each including a storage area and constituting a pool; and
a controller for controlling allocation of the storage areas from the plurality of logical volumes in the pool to the virtual volume,
wherein the controller is configured to:
manage, for each of the plurality of logical volumes in the pool, information regarding a capacity of each of the plurality of logical volumes and a number of units of storage areas allocated to the virtual volume;
allocate at least one unit of storage area not allocated to the virtual volume from the plurality of logical volumes in the pool to the virtual volume when the host system accesses the virtual volume;
detect a state where an imbalance of a usage rate occurs in the number of units of storage areas among the plurality of logical volumes; and
change the allocation of at least one allocated unit of storage area of the plurality of logical volumes based on the information regarding a capacity of each of the plurality of logical volumes and a number of units of storage areas allocated to the virtual volume to balance the usage rate among the plurality of logical volumes in the pool.

2. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to:
determine to add a new logical volume to the pool when the imbalance occurs;
consider an allocation ratio of the each of the plurality of logical volumes and change the allocation of the units of storage areas to balance the usage rate among the plurality of logical volumes;
suspend changing the allocation of the at least one allocated unit of storage area of the logical volumes when the host system accesses an area of the virtual volume corresponding to the at least one allocated unit of storage area; and
if the at least one unit of allocated storage area stores a fixed pattern data, change an attribute of the at least one unit of allocated storage area to an unallocated attribute, and allocate an exclusive area for storing the fixed pattern data to the virtual volume.

3. The computer system according to claim 2,

wherein the controller releases the allocation of a first unit of storage area to the virtual volume in relation to a first storage area with an allocation ratio that is greater than a threshold among the plurality of logical volumes, and sets that allocation in a second unit of storage area of a second storage area.

4. The computer system according to claim 3,

wherein the controller changes the attribute of the first unit of storage area from which the allocation to the virtual volume was released to be unallocated.

5. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller determines the allocation of the plurality of logical volumes to the virtual volume as the pool and an addition of a new logical volume to the pool in a state where the imbalance occurs.

6. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller considers a capacity ratio of the plurality of logical volumes, and changes the allocation of the units of storage areas so that the allocation ratio of the units of the storage areas is balanced among the plurality of logical volumes.

7. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller determines the allocation of the plurality of logical volumes as the pool and deletion of at least one logical volume of the plurality of logical volumes from the pool in the state where the imbalance occurs.

8. The computer system according to claim 7,

wherein the controller changes the allocation of a third unit of storage area of a deleted storage area from the at least one deleted logical volume of the plurality of logical volumes to another logical volume of the plurality of logical volumes that remains without being deleted from the pool, and changes the allocation of the third unit of the storage area among the remaining plurality of logical volumes.

9. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller suspends, upon allocating the at least one unit of allocated storage area, the changing of the allocation of the at least one unit of allocated storage area when the host system accesses an area of the virtual volume corresponding to the at least one allocated unit of storage area.

10. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller determines whether the at least one unit of allocated storage area stores a fixed pattern data, changes an attribute of the at least one unit of allocated storage area to an unallocated attribute, and allocates an exclusive area for storing the fixed pattern data to the virtual volume.

11. The computer system according to claim 10,

wherein the fixed pattern data is all configured from zero (0) data.

12. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the virtual volume is not directly allocated with the storage area of the storage device.

13. The computer system according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to:
calculate a value of:
the number of units of storage areas allocated to the virtual volume in the pool·(a capacity of one logical volume of the plurality of logical volumes in the pool/a capacity of the plurality of logical volumes in the pool) for each of the logical volumes of the plurality of logical volumes; and
change the allocation of the at least one unit of allocated storage area based on the calculated value.
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Title

Computing system having a controller for controlling allocation of a storage area of a logical volume in a pool to a virtual volume and controlling methods for the same

Inventor(s)

Ai Satoyama, Yoshiaki Eguchi

Assignee(s)

Hitachi Ltd

Patent #

8516215

Patent Date

August 20, 2013

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