Maintaining an aggregate including active files in a storage pool

• US 20070043785A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Howard, Cannon, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1873 Versioning file systems, temporal file systems, e.g. file system supporting different historic versions of files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for maintaining an aggregate including active files in a storage pool. One active-only storage pool is included in a plurality of storage pools. Each storage pool includes files and the active-only storage pool is intended to include only active files and not inactive versions of files. The active-only storage pool includes at least a first aggregate including a plurality of files. One file is deactivated in the first aggregate in the active only storage pool to produce an inactive version of the file, wherein the first aggregate includes the inactive version of the file. A determination is made of inactive versions of files in the first aggregate. A second aggregate is generated in the active only storage pool including the active files from the first aggregate and not including the determined inactive versions of files from the first aggregate. The second aggregate replaces the first aggregate in the active-only storage pool.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a plurality of storage pools including one active-only storage pool, wherein each storage pool includes files, wherein the active-only storage pool is intended to include only active files and not inactive versions of files, and wherein the active-only storage pool includes at least a first aggregate including a plurality of files;

deactivating one file in the first aggregate in the active only storage pool to produce an inactive version of the file, wherein the first aggregate includes the inactive version of the file;

determining inactive versions of files in the first aggregate; and

generating a second aggregate in the active only storage pool including the active files from the first aggregate and not including the determined inactive versions of files from the first aggregate, wherein the second aggregate replaces the first aggregate in the active-only storage pool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the file is deactivated as a result of an update to the file, wherein updating the file produces an active version of the file in addition to the inactive version of the file, and wherein the active version of the file is included in the active-only storage pool and not included in the second aggregate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the active-only storage pool comprises a sequential access storage pool in which files in the aggregate are written sequentially and wherein the aggregates are periodically processed to generate the second aggregate including only active files from the processed aggregate, wherein the active files in the generated second aggregate are written sequentially.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

copying the determined inactive version of files in the first aggregate to another storage pool.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a copy of the first aggregate in an additional storage pool of the plurality of storage pools, wherein the copy maintains the determined inactive version of files in the first aggregate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aggregate has a first identifier and the second aggregate has a second identifier, further comprising:

providing a data structure having information on defined aggregates including an aggregate identifier and storage pool for each indicated aggregate;

removing information on the first aggregate from the data structure in response to generating the second aggregate; and

adding information on the second aggregate to the data structure including the second identifier in response to generating the second aggregate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the file is deactivated as a result of an update to the file, wherein updating the file produces an active version of the file in addition to the inactive version of the file, further comprising:

adding information to the data structure for the active version of the file having a third identifier and indicating that the active version of the file is in the active-only storage pool.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein information for aggregates in the data structure indicates a cumulative size of all files included in the aggregate and a number of files included in the aggregate.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the data structure comprises a first data structure, further comprising:

providing a second data structure having information on files included in aggregates including the aggregate identifier of the aggregate including the file, wherein the aggregate identifier for the files is the first identifier before the second aggregate is generated; and

updating the aggregate identifier for files indicated in the second data structure having the first identifier to the second identifier in response to generating the second aggregate.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

updating the information in the second data structure for the determined inactive files having the second identifier to indicate that the files are not included in the second aggregate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein indicating that the inactive files are not included in the second aggregate comprises setting a length of the inactive files indicated in the second data structure to indicate that the file was removed.

12. A system in communication with at least one storage system, comprising:

a processor in communication with the storage pools; and

a computer readable medium including a program executed by the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

configuring a plurality of storage pools including one active-only storage pool in the at least one storage system, wherein each storage pool includes files, wherein the active-only storage pool is intended to include only active files and not inactive versions of files, and wherein the active-only storage pool includes at least a first aggregate including a plurality of files;

deactivating one file in the first aggregate in the active only storage pool to produce an inactive version of the file, wherein the first aggregate includes the inactive version of the file;

determining inactive versions of files in the first aggregate; and

generating a second aggregate in the active only storage pool including the active files from the first aggregate and not including the determined inactive versions of files from the first aggregate, wherein the second aggregate replaces the first aggregate in the active-only storage pool.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the file is deactivated as a result of an update to the file, wherein updating the file produces an active version of the file in addition to the inactive version of the file, and wherein the active version of the file is included in the active-only storage pool and not included in the second aggregate.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the active-only storage pool comprises a sequential access storage pool in which files in the aggregate are written sequentially and wherein the aggregates are periodically processed to generate the second aggregate including only active files from the processed aggregate, wherein the active files in the generated second aggregate are written sequentially.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

copying the determined inactive version of files in the first aggregate to another storage pool.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a copy of the first aggregate in an additional storage pool of the plurality of storage pools, wherein the copy maintains the determined inactive version of files in the first aggregate.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first aggregate has a first identifier and the second aggregate has a second identifier, further comprising:

a memory;

wherein the operations further comprise;

providing a data structure in the memory having information on defined aggregates including an aggregate identifier and storage pool for each indicated aggregate;

removing information on the first aggregate from the data structure in response to generating the second aggregate; and

adding information on the second aggregate to the data structure including the second identifier in response to generating the second aggregate.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the file is deactivated as a result of an update to the file, wherein updating the file produces an active version of the file in addition to the inactive version of the file, and wherein the operations further comprise:

adding information to the data structure for the active version of the file having a third identifier and indicating that the active version of the file is in the active-only storage pool.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein information for aggregates in the data structure indicates a cumulative size of all files included in the aggregate and a number of files included in the aggregate.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the data structure comprises a first data structure, and wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a second data structure in the memory having information on files included in aggregates including the aggregate identifier of the aggregate including the file, wherein the aggregate identifier for the files is the first identifier before the second aggregate is generated; and

updating the aggregate identifier for files indicated in the second data structure having the first identifier to the second identifier in response to generating the second aggregate.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise:

updating the information in the second data structure for the determined inactive files having the second identifier to indicate that the files are not included in the second aggregate.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein indicating that the inactive files are not included in the second aggregate comprises setting a length of the inactive files indicated in the second data structure to indicate that the file was removed.

23. An article of manufacture including code capable of communicating with at least one storage system and causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

configuring a plurality of storage pools including one active-only storage pool in the at least one storage system, wherein each storage pool includes files, wherein the active-only storage pool is intended to include only active files and not inactive versions of files, and wherein the active-only storage pool includes at least a first aggregate including a plurality of files;

deactivating one file in the first aggregate in the active only storage pool to produce an inactive version of the file, wherein the first aggregate includes the inactive version of the file;

determining inactive versions of files in the first aggregate; and

generating a second aggregate in the active only storage pool including the active files from the first aggregate and not including the determined inactive versions of files from the first aggregate, wherein the second aggregate replaces the first aggregate in the active-only storage pool.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the file is deactivated as a result of an update to the file, wherein updating the file produces an active version of the file in addition to the inactive version of the file, and wherein the active version of the file is included in the active-only storage pool and not included in the second aggregate.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the active-only storage pool comprises a sequential access storage pool in which files in the aggregate are written sequentially and wherein the aggregates are periodically processed to generate the second aggregate including only active files from the processed aggregate, wherein the active files in the generated second aggregate are written sequentially.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

copying the determined inactive version of files in the first aggregate to another storage pool.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a copy of the first aggregate in an additional storage pool of the plurality of storage pools, wherein the copy maintains the determined inactive version of files in the first aggregate.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the first aggregate has a first identifier and the second aggregate has a second identifier, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a data structure having information on defined aggregates including an aggregate identifier and storage pool for each indicated aggregate;

removing information on the first aggregate from the data structure in response to generating the second aggregate; and

adding information on the second aggregate to the data structure including the second identifier in response to generating the second aggregate.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the file is deactivated as a result of an update to the file, wherein updating the file produces an active version of the file in addition to the inactive version of the file, and wherein the operations further comprise:

adding information to the data structure for the active version of the file having a third identifier and indicating that the active version of the file is in the active-only storage pool.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein information for aggregates in the data structure indicates a cumulative size of all files included in the aggregate and a number of files included in the aggregate.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the data structure comprises a first data structure, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a second data structure having information on files included in aggregates including the aggregate identifier of the aggregate including the file, wherein the aggregate identifier for the files is the first identifier before the second aggregate is generated; and

updating the aggregate identifier for files indicated in the second data structure having the first identifier to the second identifier in response to generating the second aggregate.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein the operations further comprise:

updating the information in the second data structure for the determined inactive files having the second identifier to indicate that the files are not included in the second aggregate.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein indicating that the inactive files are not included in the second aggregate comprises setting a length of the inactive files indicated in the second data structure to indicate that the file was removed.