Method and apparatus for dynamically managing bandwidth for clients in a storage area network

• US 20040044770A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Messick, Randall E., Ackerman, Martin L., Lutz, Michael E., Hayden, Douglas T., Peterson, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for managing bandwidth allocation in a storage area network includes receiving a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) requests from a plurality of client devices, determining a priority of each of the client devices relative to other client devices, and dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to each client device based on the priority assigned to that client device.

Claims

12. A storage area network comprising:

a plurality of client devices; and

a data storage system communicating with said plurality of client devices;

wherein said data storage system dynamically allocates bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices based on a priority assigned to each said client device.

1. A method for managing bandwidth allocation in a storage area network comprising:

receiving a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) requests from a plurality of client devices;

determining a priority of each of said client devices relative to other client devices; and

dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to each said client device based on the priority assigned to that client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices comprises:

setting an upper limit on an amount of bandwidth allocated to a priority of said client devices; and

setting a lower threshold for said priority of client devices.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising applying said limit and threshold at ports of a storage device of said storage area network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising connecting only clients of a same priority to a particular port of said storage device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said limit and threshold are applied at a logical unit of a storage device of said storage area network.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein, if I/O requests for one or more client devices drop below the corresponding lower threshold, the upper limit for one or more other client devices is released.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a priority for each of said client devices comprises receiving an indication from a user of said priority for each of said client devices.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said priority levels each require a different fee corresponding to said bandwidth allocation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said priority for each of said client devices further comprises:

obtaining information on available performance groups within a storage array;

determining if a performance cap on a performance group within said storage array prevents the addition of one of said I/O requests; and

if said performance cap does not prevent addition of one of said I/O requests, adding I/O requests from that client to said performance group.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining priority of each of said client devices comprises grouping said plurality of client devices into groups according to I/O performance requirements for said client devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each client device in one of said groups receives a same bandwidth allocation setting as other client devices in that group.

13. A storage area network according to claim 12, further comprising a resource manager of said data storage system for allocating said bandwidth resources among said client device, wherein said resource manager:

sets an upper limit on an amount of bandwidth allocated to each of said client devices; and

sets a lower threshold on an amount of bandwidth allocated to each of said client devices;

wherein if said bandwidth resources used by one or more client devices are lower than a corresponding lower threshold, upper limits for one or more other client devices are released.

14. A storage area network according to claim 13, wherein said upper limit is substantially equal to said lower threshold value.

15. A storage area network according to claim 12, wherein said data storage system comprises a disk array.

16. A storage area network according to claim 12, further comprising a fibre channel loop connected between said plurality of client devices and said data storage system.

17. A storage area network according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of client devices comprise a network server.

18. A storage area network according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of client devices are divided into groups according to said priority, wherein a group of client devices all receive a same bandwidth allocation setting.

19. A storage area network according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of ports of said data storage system, wherein all client devices of one of said groups are connected to said data storage system through a single one of said ports.

20. A storage area network according to claim 18, wherein said priority levels each require a different fee corresponding to said bandwidth allocation.

21. A storage area network according to claim 13, wherein said upper limit and lower threshold are measured in Megabytes per second.

22. A storage area network according to claim 13, wherein said upper limit and lower threshold are measured in input and output operations per second.

22-1. A storage area network according to claim 13, wherein either or both of said upper limit and lower threshold vary with time.

23. A system for managing bandwidth allocation in a storage area network comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) requests from a plurality of client devices;

means for determining a priority of each of said client devices relative to other client devices; and

means for dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to each said client device based on the priority assigned to that client device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said means for dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices comprises:

means for setting an upper limit on an amount of bandwidth allocated to a priority of said client devices; and

means for setting a lower threshold for said priority of client devices.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for applying said limit and threshold at ports of a storage device of said storage area network.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for connecting only clients of a same priority to a particular port of said storage device.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for applying said limit and threshold at a logical unit of a storage device of said storage area network.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for releasing the upper limit for one or more client devices, if I/O requests for one or more other client devices drop below the corresponding lower threshold.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein said means for determining a priority for each of said client devices comprise user interface means for receiving an indication from a user of said priority for each of said client devices.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein said means for determining said priority for each of said client devices further comprises:

means for obtaining information on available performance groups within a storage array;

means for determining if a performance cap on a performance group within said storage array prevents the addition of one of said I/O requests; and

if said performance cap does not prevent addition of one of said I/O requests, means for adding I/O requests from that client to said performance group.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein said means for determining priority of each of said client devices comprise means for grouping said plurality of client devices into groups according to I/O performance requirements for said client devices.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein each client device in one of said groups receives a same bandwidth allocation setting as other client devices in that group.

33. Computer-readable instructions stored on a medium for storing computer-readable instructions, said instructions, when executed, causing a resource manager in a data storage system to:

receive a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) requests from a plurality of client devices;

determine a priority of each of said client devices relative to other client devices; and

dynamically allocate bandwidth resources to each said client device based on the priority assigned to that client device.

34. The computer-readable instructions of claim 33, wherein said instructions further cause said resource manager to dynamically allocate bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices by:

setting an upper limit on an amount of bandwidth allocated to a priority of said client devices; and

setting a lower threshold for said priority of client devices.

35. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34, wherein said instructions further cause said resource manager to dynamically allocate bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices by applying said limit and threshold at ports of a storage device of said storage area network.

36. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34, wherein said instructions further cause said resource manager to dynamically allocate bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices by applying said limit and threshold at a logical unit of a storage device of said storage area network.

37. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34, wherein said instructions further cause said resource manager to dynamically allocate bandwidth resources to said plurality of client devices by releasing the upper limit for one or more other client devices, if I/O requests for one or more client devices drop below the corresponding lower threshold.

38. The computer-readable instructions of claim 33, further comprising a user interface for receiving an indication from a user of said priority for each of said client devices.

39. The computer-readable instructions of claim 33, further causing said resource manager to:

obtain information on available performance groups within a storage array;

determine if a performance cap on a performance group within said storage array prevents the addition of one of said I/O requests from a particular client; and

if said performance cap does not prevent addition of one of said I/O requests, add I/O requests from that client to said performance group.