Method and apparatus for dissolving hot spots in storage systems
First Claim
1. An information system comprising:
- a processor in communication with a plurality of storage mediums; and
a plurality of array groups formed on the storage mediums, wherein said processor is configured to identify a first array group of said plurality of array groups whose load exceeds a predetermined threshold, said first array group having a plurality of logical volumes created thereon,wherein said processor is configured to calculate an estimated time for migrating each of said plurality of volumes from said first array group to another array group, andwherein said processor is configured to instruct migration of a first volume of said plurality of volumes to the other array group, said first volume having a shortest estimated time for migration from among said plurality of volumes.
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Abstract
Hot spots in a storage system may be located and dissolved in a smallest feasible time. A particular volume can be selected to be migrated from a hot spot with a minimum workload, and the most appropriate destination for receiving the migration is identified prior to beginning the migration. A management computer may monitor the load of each array group in the storage system in order to detect hot spots, and calculate estimated migration times for selecting a volume to be migrated from a hot spot according to shortest estimated time. Furthermore, because the storage controller needs to re-write data that is updated in an already-migrated area by a host computer during the migration, choosing the smallest volume is not the only consideration taken into account. Write access rates by host computers to the volume be migrated are taken into consideration when determining a candidate for migration.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An information system comprising:
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a processor in communication with a plurality of storage mediums; and a plurality of array groups formed on the storage mediums, wherein said processor is configured to identify a first array group of said plurality of array groups whose load exceeds a predetermined threshold, said first array group having a plurality of logical volumes created thereon, wherein said processor is configured to calculate an estimated time for migrating each of said plurality of volumes from said first array group to another array group, and wherein said processor is configured to instruct migration of a first volume of said plurality of volumes to the other array group, said first volume having a shortest estimated time for migration from among said plurality of volumes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating an information system, comprising:
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creating a plurality of array groups on a plurality of storage mediums configured for storing data; identifying a first array group of said plurality of array groups whose load exceeds a predetermined threshold, said first array group having a plurality of logical volumes created there on; calculating an estimated time for migrating each of said plurality of volumes from said first array group to another array group of said plurality of array groups; and instructing migration of a first volume of said plurality of volumes to the other array group, said first volume being selected based at least in part upon said estimated times for migrating calculated for each of said plurality of volumes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating an information system, comprising:
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providing a management computer in communication with a storage system, said storage system having a storage controller for controlling access to a plurality of storage mediums; creating a plurality of array groups on the plurality of storage mediums; requesting, by said management computer, load information from said storage controller regarding loads on the array groups; identifying a first array group of said plurality of array groups whose load exceeds a predetermined threshold, said first array group having a plurality of logical volumes created thereon and being accessed by I/O operations; and calculating an estimated time for migrating each of said plurality of volumes from said first array group, said estimated time for migrating each particular volume being based upon a first estimated time for copying data contained in the particular volume plus a second estimated time for copying be write data comprised of data portions of the particular volume which have been updated during the migration. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification