LARGE SCALE SUBSCRIPTION BASED DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK

• US 20110126060A1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Storage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cleversafe Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: GRUBE, GARY W., MARKISON, TIMOTHY W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1088 Reconstruction on already foreseen single or plurality of spare disks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems

Abstract

A method begins with a processing module identifying data for storage and sending a subscription request message regarding the data for storage. The method continues with the processing module receiving a subscription response message. The method continues with the processing module obtaining error coding dispersal storage function parameters when a dispersal method of the subscription response message indicates direct dispersal. The method continues with the processing module encoding at least a portion of the data in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining a plurality of storage locations and performing a dispersed storage write function to store the set of encoded data slices in the plurality of storage locations.

Claims

1. A method for execution by a computing device comprises:

identifying data for storage;

sending a subscription request message regarding the data for storage;

receiving a subscription response message; and

when the subscription response message indicates direct dispersal;

obtaining error coding dispersal storage function parameters;

encoding at least a portion of the data in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices;

determining a plurality of storage locations; and

performing a dispersed storage write function to store the set of encoded data slices in the plurality of storage locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage locations comprises at least one of:

two or more storage (DS) units; and

two or more local memories of other computing devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscription request message comprises one or more of:

a subscription request, a user device identifier, a data type, a data size, a security indicator, a performance requirement, a cost requirements, a preference, storage location type, and a command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the subscription response message further comprises:

storing the subscription response message as a subscription status, wherein the subscription status includes one or more of;

not subscribed, subscribed with the direct dispersal, subscribed with indirect dispersal, and a targeted storage type.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises at least one of:

when the subscription response message indicates that a subscription is invalid, storing the data in local memory of the computing device; and

when the subscription response message indicates indirect dispersal, outputting the data to a dispersed storage server in accordance with the subscription response message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the dispersed storage write function further comprises:

outputting a plurality of write messages to the plurality of storage locations;

receiving a negative response to one of the plurality of write messages from one of the plurality of storage locations; and

selecting another storage location to replace the one of the plurality of storage locations.

7. A method for execution by a computing device comprises:

receiving an encoded data slice access request from another computing device;

determining a subscription status regarding the encoded data slice access request; and

when the subscription status is active;

accessing an encoded data slice identified in the encoded data slice access request; and

outputting a response message regarding the encoded data slice to the other computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprises:

when the encoded data slice access request is a write request, outputting an acknowledgement regarding storage of the encoded data slice within the response message; and

when the encoded data slice access request is a read request, outputting the encoded data slice within the response message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining the subscription status further comprises at least one of:

identifying a subscription status indicator within the encoded data slice access request;

a subscription status table lookup; and

a query.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the response message comprises at least one of:

an error message; and

an encoded data slice unavailable message.

11. A computer comprises:

an interface;

a local memory; and

a processing module operable to;

identify data for storage;

send, via the interface, a subscription request message regarding the data for storage;

receive, via the interface, a subscription response message; and

when the subscription response message indicates direct dispersal;

obtain error coding dispersal storage function parameters;

encode at least a portion of the data in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices;

determine a plurality of storage locations; and

perform a dispersed storage write function to store the set of encoded data slices in the plurality of storage locations.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein the plurality of storage locations comprises at least one of:

two or more storage (DS) units; and

two or more local memories of other computers.

13. The computer of claim 11, wherein the subscription request message comprises one or more of:

a subscription request, a user device identifier, a data type, a data size, a security indicator, a performance requirement, a cost requirements, a preference, storage location type, and a command.

14. The computer of claim 11, wherein the processing module further functions to receive the subscription response message by:

storing the subscription response message as a subscription status, wherein the subscription status includes one or more of;

not subscribed, subscribed with the direct dispersal, subscribed with indirect dispersal, and a targeted storage type.

15. The computer of claim 11, wherein the processing module further functions to:

store the data in the local memory when the subscription response message indicates that a subscription is invalid; and

output, via the interface, the data to a dispersed storage server in accordance with the subscription response message when the subscription response message indicates indirect dispersal.

16. The computer of claim 11, wherein the processing module further functions to perform the dispersed storage write function by:

outputting, via the interface, a plurality of write messages to the plurality of storage locations;

receiving, via the interface, a negative response to one of the plurality of write messages from one of the plurality of storage locations; and

selecting another storage location to replace the one of the plurality of storage locations.

17. A computer comprises:

an interface;

a local memory for storing a plurality of encoded data slices; and

a processing module operable to;

receive, via the interface, an encoded data slice access request from another computer;

determine a subscription status regarding the encoded data slice access request; and

when the subscription status is active;

access the local memory regarding an encoded data slice of the plurality of encoded data slices identified in the encoded data slice access request; and

output, via the interface, a response message regarding the encoded data slice to the other computer.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein the processing module further functions to:

output, via the interface, an acknowledgement regarding storage of the encoded data slice within the response message when the encoded data slice access request is a write request; and

output, via interface, the encoded data slice within the response message when the encoded data slice access request is a read request.

19. The computer of claim 17, wherein the processing module further functions to determine the subscription status by at least one of:

identifying a subscription status indicator within the encoded data slice access request;

a subscription status table lookup; and

a query.

20. The computer of claim 17, wherein the response message comprises at least one of:

an error message; and

an encoded data slice unavailable message.