VERSIONING A CONFIGURATION OF DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT

• US 20200133527A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhao, Junping, Chen, Xiangping
• Granted Patent: US 10,976,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/601 Reconfiguration of cache memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7202 Allocation control and policies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7206 Reconfiguration of flash memory system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions

Abstract

A technique versions a configuration of data storage equipment. The technique involves receiving, while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with a first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, a configuration change command to change the configuration of the data storage equipment. The technique further involves changing the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment to a second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment in response to the configuration change command. The technique further involves, while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment and the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment.

Claims

1. In data storage equipment, a method of versioning a configuration of the data storage equipment, the method comprising:

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with a first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, receiving a configuration change command to change the configuration of the data storage equipment;

in response to the configuration change command, changing the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment to a second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment; and

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment and the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the data storage equipment performs host input/output (I/O) operations on behalf of a set of host computers when the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the first version of the configuration and the second version of the configuration;

wherein the configuration of the data storage equipment includes different operating features; and

wherein changing the first version of the configuration to the second version of the configuration includes;

modifying at least one of the different operating features of the configuration while the data storage equipment performs the host I/O operations.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising:

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the first version of the configuration and while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration, recording behavior of the data storage equipment.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration and the second version of the configuration includes:

storing, in non-volatile memory, a first version entry within a series of version entries that identifies changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment over time, the first version entry identifying a first change made to the configuration of the data storage equipment at a first time, and

storing, in the non-volatile memory, a second version entry within the series of version entries that identifies changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment over time, the second version entry identifying a second change made to the configuration of the data storage equipment at a second time that is after the first time.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein recording the behavior of the data storage equipment includes:

storing, in the non-volatile memory, a series of behavior entries that identifies behavior events occurring within the data storage equipment over time.

6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising:

performing a set of correlation operations based on the series of behavior entries and the series of version entries to generate a set of correlation results that identify correlations between the behavior events occurring within the data storage equipment and the changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising:

based on the set of correlation results, electronically outputting a user notification that identifies a particular configuration change as a cause of a particular behavior event occurring within the data storage equipment.

8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising:

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, receiving another configuration change command to change the configuration of the data storage equipment;

in response to the other configuration change command, changing the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment to a third version of the configuration of the data storage equipment; and

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the third version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, and the third version of the configuration of the data storage equipment.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein storing the first version entry within the series of version entries that identifies changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment over time includes:

appending the first version entry to a first string of version entries that identifies previous changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment to form a second string of version entries;

wherein storing the second version entry within the series of version entries that identifies changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment over time includes;

appending the second version entry to the second string of version entries to form a third string of version entries;

wherein concurrently maintaining access to the first version, the second version, and the third version includes;

appending a third version entry to the third string of version entries to form a fourth string of version entries, the third version entry identifying a third change made to the configuration of the data storage equipment at a third time that is after the second time, and the fourth string of version entries defining the third version of the configuration of the data storage equipment.

10. A method as in claim 2 wherein the different operating features include operating parameters that control allocation of data storage equipment resources;

wherein modifying at least one of the different operating features of the configuration includes;

adjusting a set of the operating parameters to modify allocation of a set of the data storage equipment resources, the adjustment to the set of the operating parameters causing a change in host I/O operation performance.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein adjusting the set of the operating parameters to modify allocation of the set of the data storage equipment resources includes:

changing a memory management setting to modify use of semiconductor memory of the data storage equipment.

12. A method as in claim 10 wherein adjusting the set of the operating parameters to modify allocation of the set of the data storage equipment resources includes:

changing a storage device assignment setting to modify assignment of storage devices to host data storage objects within the data storage equipment.

13. A method as in claim 10 wherein adjusting the set of the operating parameters to modify allocation of the set of the data storage equipment resources includes:

changing a snapshot setting to modify operation of a snapshot service of the data storage equipment.

14. A method as in claim 10 wherein adjusting the set of the operating parameters to modify allocation of the set of the data storage equipment resources includes:

changing a replication setting to modify operation of a replication service of the data storage equipment.

15. Data storage equipment, comprising:

memory; and

control circuitry coupled with the memory, the memory storing instructions which, when carried out by the control circuitry, cause the control circuitry to;

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with a first version of a configuration of the data storage equipment, receiving a configuration change command to change the configuration of the data storage equipment,

in response to the configuration change command, changing the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment to a second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, and

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment and the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment.

16. Data storage equipment as in claim 15, further comprising:

a host interface coupled with the control circuitry, the host interface being constructed and arranged to communicate with a set of host computers;

wherein the data storage equipment performs host input/output (I/O) operations through the host interface on behalf of a set of host computers when the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the first version of the configuration and the second version of the configuration;

wherein the configuration of the data storage equipment includes different operating features;

wherein the control circuitry, when changing the first version of the configuration to the second version of the configuration, is constructed and arranged to;

modify at least one of the different operating features of the configuration while the data storage equipment performs the host I/O operations; and

wherein the control circuitry, when concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration and the second version of the configuration, is constructed and arranged to;

store, in the memory, a first version entry within a series of version entries that identifies changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment over time, the first version entry identifying a first change made to the configuration of the data storage equipment at a first time, and

store, in the memory, a second version entry within the series of version entries that identifies changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment over time, the second version entry identifying a second change made to the configuration of the data storage equipment at a second time that is after the first time.

17. Data storage equipment as in claim 16 wherein the different operating features include operating parameters that control allocation of data storage equipment resources;

wherein the control circuitry, when modifying at least one of the different operating features of the configuration, is constructed and arranged to;

adjust a set of the operating parameters to modify allocation of a set of the data storage equipment resources, the adjustment to the set of the operating parameters causing a change in host I/O operation performance.

18. Data storage equipment as in claim 17 wherein the control circuitry is further constructed and arranged to:

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the first version of the configuration and while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration, record behavior of the data storage equipment;

wherein the control circuitry, when recording the behavior of the data storage equipment, is constructed and arranged to;

store, in the memory, a series of behavior entries that identifies behavior events occurring within the data storage equipment over time; and

wherein the control circuitry is further constructed and arranged to;

perform a set of correlation operations based on the series of behavior entries and the series of version entries to generate a set of correlation results that identify correlations between the behavior events occurring within the data storage equipment and the changes to the configuration of the data storage equipment, and

based on the set of correlation results, electronically output a signal indicating that a particular configuration change is a cause of a particular behavior event occurring within the data storage equipment.

19. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions to version a configuration of data storage equipment;

the set of instructions, when carried out by computerized circuitry of the data storage equipment, causing the computerized circuitry to perform a method of;

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with a first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, receiving a configuration change command to change the configuration of the data storage equipment;

in response to the configuration change command, changing the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment to a second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment; and

while the data storage equipment operates in accordance with the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment, concurrently maintaining access to the first version of the configuration of the data storage equipment and the second version of the configuration of the data storage equipment.