Smart Storage Control Creates Effortless Data

Introduction

This innovative storage apparatus and its control method are crafted for organizations that demand optimized data allocation with consistent reliability. Equipped with intelligent control capabilities, this technology is designed to manage data storage with precision, automatically allocating resources to match operational demands. It introduces a level of flexibility and dependability to storage management, essential for industries that handle large volumes of data and require a responsive approach to resource allocation.

The Common Issue: Storage Inefficiency and System Overloads

In many industries, storage systems face the dual challenges of under-utilization and overloading due to static allocation methods that fail to adapt to shifting data demands. Data overload can lead to downtime, data bottlenecks, and, ultimately, loss of productivity. Traditional storage systems lack the control mechanisms necessary to respond dynamically to fluctuating usage patterns, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs as systems struggle to keep up with real-time demands.

Precision-Controlled Storage for Optimal Efficiency

This patented technology addresses these challenges with a method that combines sophisticated monitoring and adaptive allocation. The system’s control method continuously tracks storage usage, dynamically adjusting resources to ensure peak performance while minimizing unused capacity. This flexibility reduces the risks of system overload and maximizes data accessibility. It also allows for controlled resource reallocation based on real-time data demands, making it ideal for environments with variable data loads. The system integrates easily with existing infrastructure, offering an adaptable, scalable solution suited to modern data environments.

Industry Benefits and Operational Gains

Cloud computing and data centers will find this system invaluable for balancing storage loads across their infrastructure, ensuring higher availability and resilience. IT infrastructure managers benefit from the reduced need for constant manual oversight, freeing up resources to focus on strategic tasks. In enterprise sectors, especially those requiring strict data availability like finance and healthcare, this technology provides a robust solution to meet data management requirements without compromising reliability. Furthermore, businesses in technology and telecommunications can scale with ease, as the system adapts to changing data requirements seamlessly.

Step Ahead with Smarter Data Control

Licensing this advanced storage and control system enables your organization to embrace smarter, more efficient data management. By dynamically controlling storage allocation in response to real-time needs, your company achieves both operational flexibility and cost savings. This technology offers a forward-looking approach to data management that can redefine performance standards, supporting high-performance environments with unmatched efficiency and reliability.

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Abstract
Claims

Improvement of read/write access performance with respect to a disk is proposed. A controller manages a first volume format LDEV, in which each distributed user data area and each distributed information area among a plurality of the distributed user data areas for storing a data part and a plurality of the distributed control information area for storing a control information part, are targets that capacity is changed. The controller also manages a second format LDEV, which include a plurality of groups each of which is formed from one distributed user data area and one distributed control information area, and in which each group is a unit that capacity is expanded in a real storage area. The controller converts a data address of the data part belonging to the first volume format LDEV into a data address of a data part of the second volume format LDEV in order to execute input/output processing with respect to the data part, when received an request for access to the data part belonging to the first volume format LDEV.

What is claimed:

1. A storage system comprising:

a storage controller configured to form a virtual volume which is a virtual storage area configured to be a plurality of given size pages, and configured to be a data area and a control information area on the virtual volume, the data area is configured to be a plurality of data parts each of which stores data and the control information area is configured to be a plurality of control information parts each of which stores control information for accessing each of the data parts, respectively; and

a storage medium providing the virtual volume with physical storage areas,

wherein the storage controller is configured to perform the steps of:

expanding the virtual volume on a group basis where the group is a set of the data area and the control information area, where the data area and the control information area each has a given size, respectively; and

when receiving a write request for a first data part of the plurality of data parts, allocating a first physical storage area of the physical storage areas to a first page including the first data part if a physical storage area is not already allocated to the first page, and allocating a second physical storage area of the physical storage areas to a second page including a first control information part of the plurality of control information parts if a physical storage area is not already allocated to the second page, where the first control information part stores control information for accessing to the first data part.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data area which is configured to be a plurality of data parts each of which stores data and the control information area which is configured to be a plurality of control information parts each of which stores control information for accessing each of the data parts, respectively, are each managed by the controller such that the virtual volume is expanded in units of the data area and the control information area on the group basis where the group is a set of the data area and the control information area.

Title

Storage apparatus and control method thereof

Inventor(s)

Kohei Tatara, Yoshiaki Eguchi, Hisaharu Takeuchi

Assignee(s)

Hitachi Ltd

Patent #

8832400

Patent Date

September 9, 2014