Method and system for allocating memory for a command queue

• US 6,311,257 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, John T., Ofer, Erez, Halligan, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THAN VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/290,844
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 711/111-114, 711/147-153, 711/170-173, 710/36, 710/39, 710/1
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices

Abstract

A method and data storage system using the method, provides an efficiently approach for allocating a static amount of buffer space (e.g., records) among a number of logical volumes of a data storage system on the basis of the computing environment within which the data storage system is used. The method includes providing the data storage system from logical volumes, each including a command queue. Each command queue includes records, each for storing a command request. A memory pool is established from which one or more records can be allocated to each command queue associated with each logical volume. The memory pool has a predetermined number of records which can be allocated by the command queues of the logical volumes. Based on the computing environment, one of a number of allocation schemes for allocating records to a command queue is selected.

Claims

1. A method of providing input/output allocation between a plurality of hosts and a data storage system in a computing environment, the method comprising:

providing the data storage system from a plurality of logical volumes, each logical volume including a command queue for receiving command requests from the at least one host, each command queue including a plurality of records, each record for storing a command request;

establishing a memory pool from which records can be allocated to each command queue associated with each logical volume, the memory pool having a predetermined number of records which can be allocated by the command queues of the logical volumes; and

selecting, based on the computing environment, one of a plurality of allocation schemes for allocating records to a command queue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, selecting one of the allocation schemes includes determining the type of hosts connected to the data storage system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein, determining the type of hosts connected to the data storage system includes determining whether the host can tolerate a variable-length command queue.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein, if the host cannot tolerate a variable-length command queue, using a strict allocation scheme including:

determining the number of logical devices in the data storage system; and

determining the number of records for each command queue by dividing the predetermined number of records associated with the memory pool by the total number of logical devices.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising using the strict allocation scheme if all of the hosts connected to the data storage system cannot tolerate a variable-length command queue.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein, if the host can tolerate a variable-length command queue, using a pseudo-maximum allocation scheme including:

determining the number of logical devices in the data storage system; and

determining a maximum number of records which can be added to a logical volume, the maximum number greater than the predetermined number of records associated with the memory pool divided by the number of logical devices.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising using the pseudo-maximum allocation scheme if the hosts connected to the data storage system include at least one host which can tolerate a variable-length command queue, and at least one host which cannot tolerate a variable-length command queue.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein, if the host can tolerate a variable-length command queue, using a no-maximum allocation scheme, wherein a maximum number of records which can be added to a logical volume is equal to the predetermined number of records in the memory pool.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein selecting one of the allocation schemes includes selecting from:

a strict allocation scheme including;

determining the number of logical devices in the data storage system; and

determining the number of records for each command queue by dividing the predetermined number of records associated with the memory pool by the total number of logical devices;

a pseudo-maximum allocation scheme including;

determining the number of logical devices in the data storage system; and

determining a maximum number of records which can be added to a logical volume, the maximum number greater than the predetermined number of records associated with the memory pool divided by the number of logical devices; and

a no-maximum scheme wherein a maximum number of records which can be added to a logical volume is equal to the predetermined number of records in the memory pool.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the command queues for each logical volume are configured as free list data structures.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein allocating records to a command queue is performed one record at a time.

12. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to allocate records to a command queue one record at a time.

13. A data storage system of the type connected to a plurality of hosts, the data storage system, comprising;

a plurality of logical volumes, each logical volume including a command queue for receiving command requests from the at least one host, each command queue including a plurality of records, each record for storing a command request;

a memory pool from which records can be allocated to each command queue associated with each logical volume, the memory pool having a predetermined number of records which can be allocated by the command queues of the logical volumes; and

a controller which selects one of a plurality of different allocation schemes, based on the computing environment, for allocating records to a command queue.

14. The data storage system of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to determine the type of hosts connected to the data storage system.

15. The data storage system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the host can tolerate a variable-length command queue.

16. The data storage system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to apply a strict allocation scheme, if the host cannot tolerate a variable-length command queue, the controller including:

computer instructions which determine the number of logical devices in the data storage system; and

computer instructions which determine the number of records for each command queue by dividing the predetermined number of records associated with the memory pool by the total number of logical devices.

17. The data storage system of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to apply the strict allocation scheme if all of the hosts connected to the data storage system cannot tolerate a variable-length command queue.

18. The data storage system of claim 14 wherein, the controller is configured to apply a pseudo-maximum allocation scheme, if the host can tolerate a variable-length command queue, the controller including:

computer instructions which determine the number of logical devices in the data storage system; and

computer instructions which determine a maximum number of records which can be added to a logical volume, the maximum number greater than the predetermined number of records associated with the memory pool divided by the number of logical devices.

19. The data storage system of claim 18 wherein the controller is configured to apply the pseudo-maximum allocation scheme if the hosts connected to the data storage system include at least one host which can tolerate a variable-length command queue, and at least one host which cannot tolerate a variable-length command queue.

20. The data storage system of claim 14 wherein, if the controller determines that the host can tolerate a variable-length command queue, the controller is configured to apply a no-maximum allocation scheme using wherein a maximum number of records which can be added to a logical volume is equal to the predetermined number of records in the memory pool.

21. The data storage system of claim 13 wherein the command queues for each logical volume are configured as free list data structures.