Highly scalable storage array management with reduced latency
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- collecting at an array manager, over at least a first network, state information about a configuration of at least one storage array in a plurality of storage arrays, wherein the collecting includes;
selecting, from a thread pool comprising a plurality of storage array handlers accessible to the array manager, a handler corresponding to the at least one storage array; and
using the selected handler to obtain the storage array state information, wherein the using includes establishing a read connection between the selected handler and the at least one storage array via the first network and obtaining the storage array state information over the read connection; and
storing the storage array state information of the at least one storage array in a cache of the array manager, for later communication over a second network to a user, wherein the storing comprises storing the storage array state information of the at least one storage array as an instance of a respective object bundle of storage array state information as stored at the at least one storage array.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for increasing scalability and reducing latency in relation to managing large numbers of storage arrays of a storage network. Separate, dedicated, communication channels may be established between an array manager running on a server and each of a number of storage arrays for respectively performing reading and writing operations to limit the delays imposed by repeated array connection setup and teardown and improve array communication stability (e.g., as compared to performing read/write operations over the same array connection). The read connection can be used to maintain current state information (e.g., volumes, capacities, and the like) for a plurality of storage arrays in a local cache of the array manager that can be quickly accessed by the array manager, such as for presenting substantially current, summary-type state information of the various storage arrays to a user (e.g., upon the user requesting to configure a particular storage array).
7 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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collecting at an array manager, over at least a first network, state information about a configuration of at least one storage array in a plurality of storage arrays, wherein the collecting includes; selecting, from a thread pool comprising a plurality of storage array handlers accessible to the array manager, a handler corresponding to the at least one storage array; and using the selected handler to obtain the storage array state information, wherein the using includes establishing a read connection between the selected handler and the at least one storage array via the first network and obtaining the storage array state information over the read connection; and storing the storage array state information of the at least one storage array in a cache of the array manager, for later communication over a second network to a user, wherein the storing comprises storing the storage array state information of the at least one storage array as an instance of a respective object bundle of storage array state information as stored at the at least one storage array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, storing program instructions that when executed on a computer cause the computer to perform:
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collecting at an array manager, over at least a first network, state information about a configuration of each of a plurality of storage arrays of a storage area network; storing the storage array state information of the plurality of storage arrays in a cache of the array manager as a respective plurality of instances of object bundles of storage array state information as stored at the plurality of storage arrays; making the storage array state information available for transmission to a user over a second network; accessing a most recent one of the plurality of instances of one of the object bundles from the array manager cache; and sending the storage array state information of the most recent one of the plurality of instances of the one of the object bundles over the second network for presentation to the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification