Method and Apparatus for Automated Migration of Data Among Storage Centers

• US 20140173232A1
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Reohr, William R., Pfitzmann, Birgit M., Kingsbury, Kevin M., Richardson, Laura A., Urbanetz, Peter, Yoes, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,311,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0611 in relation to response time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• 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 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

Abstract

A method for controlling the storage of data among multiple regional storage centers coupled through a network in a global storage system is provided. The method includes steps of: defining at least one dataset comprising at least a subset of the data stored in the global storage system; defining at least one ruleset for determining where to store the dataset; obtaining information regarding a demand for the dataset through one or more data requesting entities operating in the global storage system; and determining, as a function of the ruleset, information regarding a location for storing the dataset among regional storage centers having available resources that reduces the total distance traversed by the dataset in serving at least a given one of the data requesting entities and/or reduces the latency of delivery of the dataset to the given one of the data requesting entities.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a storing of data among a plurality of regional storage centers operatively coupled through a network in a global storage system, the apparatus comprising:

memory; and

at least one processor connected with the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

(i) to receive a request for at least one dataset comprising at least a subset of the data stored in the global storage system;

(ii) to receive at least one ruleset for determining where to store the at least one dataset;

(iii) to obtain information regarding a demand for the at least one dataset through one or more data requesting entities operating in the global storage system; and

(iv) to determine, as a function of the at least one ruleset, information regarding a location for storing the at least one dataset among a plurality of regional storage centers having available resources that reduces at least one of a total distance traversed by the at least one dataset in serving at least one of the one or more data requesting entities and a latency of delivery of the at least one dataset to the at least one of the one or more data requesting entities.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether a migration of the at least one dataset is worthwhile, and, when it is determined that migration is not worthwhile, continue to obtain information regarding the demand for the at least one dataset.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to migrate the at least one dataset to the location determined to reduce the total distance traversed by the dataset, among the plurality of regional storage centers having available resources, in serving the at least one of the one or more data requesting entities when it is determined that migration is worthwhile.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one address redirection module, the address redirection module being operative to at least one of transform and route a request for the at least one dataset to a corresponding one of the plurality of regional storage centers in which at least one of the at least one dataset and a copy of the at least one dataset is stored.

5. A computer program product for controlling a storing of data among a plurality of regional storage centers operatively coupled through a network in a global storage system, the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code configured to define at least one dataset comprising at least a subset of the data stored in the global storage system;

computer readable program code configured to define at least one ruleset for determining where to store the at least one dataset;

computer readable program code configured to obtain information regarding a demand for the at least one dataset through one or more data requesting entities operating in the global storage system; and

computer readable program code configured to determine, as a function of the at least one ruleset, information regarding a location for storing the at least one dataset among a plurality of regional storage centers having available resources that reduces at least one of (i) total distance traversed by the at least one dataset in serving at least one of the one or more data requesting entities and (ii) latency of delivery of the at least one dataset to the at least one of the one or more data requesting entities.