Disk storage with transparent overflow to network storage

• US 6,647,415 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Olarig, Sompong P., Angelo, Michael F., Prakash, Ramkrishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUGH, APRIL L
• Application Number:
  US09/409,485
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204, 709/219, 709/240, 709/214, 709/235, 709/224, 709/232, 709/238, 711/165, 710/129, 395/600
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A computer system and method of operating a network in which data overflow from workstation or PC hard drives is automatically transferred over to a network server hard drive allowing the workstation user to continue working without interruption. Furthermore, this system minimizes the amount of time a network administrator spends on attending to users who have no remaining hard drive space on their computers.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a server, having a plurality of storage devices attached, connected to a plurality of workstations including first and second workstations, each having storage, to form a network;

wherein when said storage of the first workstation is full enough to meet a fullness test, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to one of said plurality of storage devices attached to said server;

wherein the second workstation is provided with an indication of the location of said selected data thereby permitting said second workstation to access said selected data without interacting with said first workstation;

wherein said fullness test includes a first threshold and a second threshold and when the storage of the first workstation reaches the first threshold, the selected data is moved, but not until it is convenient to move the selected data, and when the storage of the first workstation reaches the second threshold, the selected data is moved immediately.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the amount of said selected data moved is more than enough to ensure said fullness test is not met.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said fullness test compares the available percentage of capacity of said storage to a predetermined threshold.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said selected data is chosen based on an algorithm selected from the group consisting of:

least recent use;

least frequent use; and

first in first out.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said workstations is a personal computer.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said workstations is an electronic appliance.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said workstations is an internet appliance.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user of a said workstation is not notified that said selected data is moved.

9. A method of operating a network, comprising the steps of:

(a.) monitoring the usage of storage in computers connected to said network;

(b.) when said storage in any one of said computers meets a fullness test, automatically moving selected data from said storage to different storage in another computer attached to said network; and

(c.) providing information to another computer indicating the location of said selected data thereby permitting said other computer to access said selected data without interacting the computer that met the fullness test;

wherein said fullness test includes two thresholds, one of which is associated with moving the selected data at a convenient time and the other threshold is associated with moving the selected data immediately.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said fullness test compares the available percentage of capacity of said storage to a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of said selected data moved is more than enough to ensure said fullness test is not met.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of said computers is a personal computer.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of said computers is a server.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the user of a said computers is not notified that said selected data is moved.

15. A method of storing data on a network of computers comprising a plurality of computers, each computer having storage attached, wherein the computers are connected to form a network, comprising the steps of:

(a.) periodically inspecting said computer storage to determine if a fullness test has been met;

(b.) if said fullness test has been met, then selecting data from said storage;

(c.) moving said selected data to said storage of another said computer of said plurality; and

(d.) providing information to another computer indicating the location of said selected data thereby permitting said other computer to access said selected data without interacting the computer that met the fullness test;

wherein a user of said computer is not notified that said selected data has been moved; and

wherein said fullness test includes two thresholds, one of which is associated with moving the selected data at a convenient time and the other threshold is associated with moving the selected data immediately.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a network administrator that monitors said network is not notified that said selected data has been moved.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said fullness test compares the available percentage of capacity of said storage to a predetermined threshold.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the amount of said selected data moved is more than enough to ensure said fullness test is not met.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said selected data is selected based on least recent use of said data.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said selected data is selected based on least frequent use of said data.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said computers each inspect their own said storage, select said selected data, and move said selected data.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of said computers is a server.

23. A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of computers, each computer having storage attached, wherein the computers are connected to form a network, each of said computers having first and second thresholds of storage fullness;

wherein when said storage on a said computer reaches said first threshold, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to the storage on another said computer, said selected data being moved at a time when it is efficient use of network resources; and

wherein when said storage on a said computer reaches said second threshold, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to the storage on another said computer, said selected data being moved immediately.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein at least one of said computers is a server.

25. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the amount of said selected data moved is greater than the amount of data above said first predetermined threshold.

26. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the amount of said selected data moved is greater than the amount of data above said second predetermined threshold.

27. The computer system of claim 23, wherein a user of a said computer is not notified that said selected data is moved.