Method and apparatus for providing a host computer with information relating to the mapping of logical volumes within an intelligent storage system

• US 6,457,139 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1998
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ofer, Erez, Blumenau, Steven M., DʼErrico, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/223,126
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 714/5-7, 714/41, 714/42-47, 711/112-114, 710/15-21, 710/33-35, 710/72-74, 710/128-129, 710/305, 710/306, 710/311, 710/313, 710/10
• US Class Current: 714/5.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices

Abstract

Method and apparatus directed to a computer system including a host computer and an intelligent storage system that stores data accessed by the host computer, the computer system including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system including a plurality of physical storage devices and at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices. One aspect of the invention is directed to providing the host computer with information identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes. The host computer can use this information in configuring data blocks among the plurality of logical volumes.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a host computer and an intelligent storage system that is coupled to the host computer and stores data accessed by the host computer, the computer system including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system including a plurality of physical storage devices and at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices, a method comprising a step of:

(A) providing the host computer with information identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (A) includes a step of providing the host computer with information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in each of the plurality of logical volumes.

3. The method of claim 1, further including a step of:

(B) providing the host computer with information concerning at least one characteristic of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer system implements a protection scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has an associated protection level, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of providing the host computer with information concerning the protection levels of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer system implements a fault tolerant scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices is associated with a fault tolerant technique, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of providing the host computer with information concerning the fault tolerant techniques associated with the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has a performance characteristic that impacts performance of the storage device, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of providing the host computer with information concerning the performance characteristics of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

7. The method of claim 6, further including a step of:

(C) using the information provided in the steps (A) and (B) to configure the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes so that the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that have common performance characteristics.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system includes a configuration of data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, and wherein the method further includes a step of:

(B) using the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to reconfigure the data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

9. The method of claim 1, further including a step of:

(B) using the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes in determining a configuration of data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one logical volume is divided into multiple contiguous stripes, and wherein the method further includes a step of:

(B) using the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to ensure that each pair of contiguous stripes is stored on different ones of the plurality of physical storage devices.

11. The method of claim 4, further including a step of:

(C) using the information provided in the steps (A) and (B) to ensure that the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored entirely on one or more of the plurality of physical storage devices including a common protection level.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes includes a single logical volume stored on a single one of the plurality of physical storage devices, so that the step (A) includes a step of providing the host computer with information identifying the single one of the plurality of physical storage devices that stores data included in the single logical volume.

13. The method of claim 1, further including a step of:

(B) providing the host computer with information identifying, for each one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified in the step (A) as storing data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, a location on the one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified in the step (A) wherein the data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored.

14. A computer readable medium encoded with a program for execution on a computer system including a host computer and an intelligent storage system that is coupled to the host computer and stores data accessed by the host computer, the computer system further including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the intelligent storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system including a plurality of physical storage devices and at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices, the program, when executed on the computer system, performing a method comprising a step of:

(A) providing the host computer with information identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step (A) includes a step of providing the host computer with information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in each of the plurality of logical volumes.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further including a step of:

(B) providing the host computer with information concerning at least one characteristic of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer system implements a protection scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has an associated protection level, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of providing the host computer with information concerning the protection levels of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer system implements a fault tolerant scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices is associated with a fault tolerant technique, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of providing the host computer with information concerning the fault tolerant techniques associated with the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has a performance characteristic that impacts performance of the storage device, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of providing the host computer with information concerning the performance characteristics of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes includes a single logical volume stored on a single one of the plurality of physical storage devices, so that the step (A) includes a step of providing the host computer with information identifying the single one of the plurality of physical storage devices that stores data included in the single logical volume.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further including a step of:

(B) providing the host computer with information identifying, for each one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified in the step (A) as storing data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, a location on the one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified in the step (A) wherein the data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored.

22. A computer readable medium encoded with a program for execution on a computer system including a host computer and an intelligent storage system that is coupled to the host computer and stores data accessed by the host computer, the computer system further including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the intelligent storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system including a plurality of physical storage devices and at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices, the program, when executed on the host computer, performing a method comprising a step of:

(A) receiving information from the storage system identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the step (A) includes a step of receiving information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in each of the plurality of logical volumes.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further including a step of:

(B) receiving from the storage system information concerning at least one characteristic of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer system implements a protection scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has an associated protection level, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of receiving from the storage system information concerning the protection levels of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer system implements a fault tolerant scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices is associated with a fault tolerant technique, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of receiving from the storage system information concerning the fault tolerant techniques associated with the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has a performance characteristic that impacts performance of the storage device, and wherein the step (B) includes a step of receiving from the storage system information concerning the performance characteristics of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes includes a single logical volume stored on a single one of the plurality of physical storage devices, so that the step (A) includes a step of receiving from the storage system information identifying the single one of the plurality of physical storage devices that stores data included in the single logical volume.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further including a step of:

(B) receiving information from the storage system identifying, for each one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified in the step (A) as storing data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, a location on the one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified in the step (A) wherein the data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further including a step of:

(B) using the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes in determining a configuration of data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one logical volume is divided into multiple contiguous stripes, and wherein the method further includes a step of:

(B) using the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to ensure that each pair of contiguous stripes is stored on different ones of the plurality of physical storage devices.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further including a step of:

(C) using the information received in the steps (A) and (B) to ensure that the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored entirely on one or more of the plurality of physical storage devices including a common protection level.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further including a step of:

(C) using the information received in the steps (A) and (B) to configure the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes so that the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that have common performance characteristics.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer system includes a configuration of data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, and wherein the method further includes a step of:

(B) using the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to reconfigure the data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

35. An intelligent storage system for use in a computer system including a host computer and the intelligent storage system to store data accessed by the host computer, the computer system including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system comprising:

a plurality of physical storage devices;

at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices; and

at least one controller to provide the host computer with information identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

36. The intelligent storage system of claim 35, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in each of the plurality of logical volumes.

37. The intelligent storage system of claim 35, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information concerning at least one characteristic of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

38. The intelligent storage system of claim 37, wherein the computer system implements a protection scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has an associated protection level, and wherein the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information concerning the protection levels of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

39. The intelligent storage system of claim 37, wherein the computer system implements a fault tolerant scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices is associated with a fault tolerant technique, and wherein the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information concerning the fault tolerant techniques associated with the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

40. The intelligent storage system of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has a performance characteristic that impacts performance of the physical storage device, and wherein the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information concerning the performance characteristics of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

41. The intelligent storage system of claim 35, wherein the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes includes a logical volume stored on a single one of the plurality of physical storage devices, so that the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information identifying the single one of the plurality of physical storage devices that stores data included in the logical volume.

42. The intelligent storage system of claim 35, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to provide the host computer with information identifying, for each one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified as storing data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, a location on the one of the plurality of physical storage devices wherein the data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored.

43. The intelligent storage system of claim 35, wherein the at least one controller includes means for providing the host computer with the information identifying, for the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

44. A host computer for use in a computer system including the host computer and an intelligent storage system that is coupled to the host computer and stores data accessed by the host computer, the computer system including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system including plurality of storage devices and at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices, the host computer comprising:

at least one controller to receive information from the storage system identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

45. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to receive information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in each of the plurality of logical volumes.

46. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to receive from the storage system information concerning at least one characteristic of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

47. The host computer of claim 46, wherein the computer system implements a protection scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has an associated protection level, and wherein the at least one controller is adapted to receive from the storage system information concerning the protection levels of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

48. The host computer of claim 46, wherein the computer system implements a fault tolerant scheme wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices is associated with a fault tolerant technique, and wherein the at least one controller is adapted to receive from the storage system information concerning the fault tolerant techniques associated with the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

49. The host computer of claim 46, wherein each of the plurality of physical storage devices has a performance characteristic that impacts performance of the storage device, and wherein the at least one controller is adapted to receive from the storage system information concerning the performance characteristics of the ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

50. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes includes a logical volume stored on a single one of the plurality of physical storage devices, so that the at least one controller is adapted to receive from the storage system information identifying the single one of the plurality of physical storage devices that stores data included in the logical volume.

51. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to receive information from the storage system identifying, for each one of the plurality of physical storage devices identified as storing data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, a location on the one of the plurality of physical storage devices wherein the data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored.

52. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to use the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to determine a configuration of data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

53. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the at least one logical volume is divided into multiple contiguous stripes, and wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to use the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to ensure that each pair of contiguous stripes is stored on different ones of the plurality of physical storage devices.

54. The host computer of claim 47, wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to use the information received from the storage system to ensure that the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored entirely on one or more of the plurality of physical storage devices including a common protection level.

55. The host computer of claim 49, wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to use the information received from the storage system to configure the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes so that the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on ones of the plurality of physical storage devices that have common performance characteristics.

56. The host computer of claim 44, wherein the computer system includes a configuration of data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, and wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to use the information identifying which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes to reconfigure the data blocks among the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.