Generalized architecture for automatic storage configuration for diverse server applications

• US 7,017,023 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Veritas Operating Corporation (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Knight, Margaret E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peugh, Brian R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DILLER, JESSE DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/388,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 711/710, 711/114, 707/1, 707/102
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A software architecture for automatically (i.e., programmatically) determining a storage configuration of a storage system for a certain software application. Software programs which determine the storage configuration may have a modular software architecture that allows the software programs to be used for a plurality of different types of software applications. A storage configurator core engine program may be executable to perform the automatic storage configuration function that is independent of, or generic to, a plurality of possible software applications. The core engine program may be configured to interface with one of a plurality of possible application specific programs, depending on the software application for which the storage configuration is being determined. The core engine program may also be configured to interface with other programs or files in performing the automatic storage configuration function, such as a rule information file, a free space file, and user input.

Claims

1. A memory medium, wherein the memory medium stores:

a first program which is executable to perform at least a portion of an automatic storage configuration function for a storage system, wherein the first program is executable to perform the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function independent of a plurality of possible software applications;

a second program comprising program instructions which are executable to perform at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function, wherein the second program is specific to a first application;

wherein the first program and the second program are executable together to perform the automatic storage configuration function for the first application.

2. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first program is operable to interface with one of a plurality of possible second programs;

wherein each of the possible second programs comprises program instructions which are executable in performing at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function, and wherein each of the possible second programs is specific to a respective application.

3. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the second program is modularly separate from the first program.

4. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the second program is operable to create information regarding names and sizes of objects in the first application which require storage, wherein the information is used by the first program in performing the automatic storage configuration function.

5. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first program and the second program are executable together to perform the automatic storage configuration function for the first application without direct user input specifying the storage configuration.

6. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the storage system comprises a plurality of storage devices coupled together over a network.

7. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the memory medium further stores:

a third program comprising program instructions which are executable in performing at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function, wherein the third program is specific to a second application;

wherein the first program and the third program are executable together to perform the automatic storage configuration function for the second application.

8. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first program comprises a storage configurator core engine that is generic to the plurality of possible software applications.

9. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first program and the second program are executable together to:

determine existing storage capabilities in the storage system;

receive information regarding the application;

automatically determine a storage configuration for the storage system based on the existing storage capabilities in the storage system and the information regarding the application;

store the storage configuration, wherein the storage configuration is useable in configuring the storage system.

10. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the memory medium further stores:

a first data structure which specifies rule information used in determining the storage configuration;

wherein the first program is operable to access the rule information in the first data structure in performing the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function.

11. The memory medium of claim 10,

wherein the first data structure further specifies priority information which specifies a priority in application of rules in the rule information.

12. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the memory medium further stores:

a first data structure which specifies free space information regarding available free space in the storage system;

wherein the first program is operable to access the free space information in the first data structure in performing the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function.

13. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first program comprises:

a parser program for performing parsing functions; and

a core logic engine program which are executable to generate a storage configuration based on one or more inputs.

14. The memory medium of claim 13,

wherein the first program further comprises:

a discoverer program for automatically determining existing storage in the storage system.

15. The memory medium of claim 13, wherein the first program further comprises:

implementor instructions for implementing a generated storage configuration in the storage system.

16. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the memory medium further stores:

a first data structure which specifies rule information used in determining the storage configuration;

a second data structure which specifies free space information regarding available free space in the storage system;

wherein the first program is operable to access the rule information in the first data structure in performing the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function;

wherein the first program is operable to access the free space information in the second data structure in performing the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function;

wherein the first program comprises;

a parser program for performing parsing functions of the first data structure and the second data structure; and

a core logic engine program which is executable to generate a storage configuration based on results of the parser program.

17. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the second program comprises a data structure which stores information related to the first application.

18. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the second program is at least partly created based on user input.

19. A memory medium, wherein the memory medium stores:

first program instructions which are executable to perform a first portion of an automatic storage configuration function;

wherein the first program instructions are executable to perform the first portion of the automatic storage configuration function independent of a plurality of possible applications;

wherein the first program instructions are operable to interface with one of a plurality of possible sets of second program instructions;

wherein each of the possible sets of second program instructions is executable to perform a second portion of the automatic storage configuration function, and wherein each of the possible sets of second program instructions is specific to a respective application of the plurality of possible applications.

20. The memory medium of claim 19,

wherein the first program instructions and one of the plurality of possible sets of second program instructions are executable to perform the automatic storage configuration function without direct user input specifying the storage configuration.

21. The memory medium of claim 19,

wherein the first program instructions and one of the plurality of possible sets of second program instructions are executable to perform the automatic storage configuration function for a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices coupled together over a network.

22. A memory medium, wherein the memory medium stores:

a storage configuration program which is executable to perform at least a portion of an automatic storage configuration function, wherein the storage configuration program is executable to perform the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function independent of a plurality of possible applications;

an application specific program layer which comprises program instructions that are executable to perform the automatic storage configuration function, wherein the application specific program layer is specific to a first application;

wherein the storage configuration program and the application specific program layer are executable together to perform the automatic storage configuration function for the first application.

23. The memory medium of claim 22,

wherein the storage configuration program is operable to interface with one of a plurality of possible application specific program layers;

wherein each of the possible application specific program layers comprises program instructions that are executable to perform at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function, and wherein each of the possible application specific program layers is specific to a respective application.

24. The memory medium of claim 22,

wherein the application specific program layer is modularly separate from the storage configuration program.

25. A system, comprising:

a storage system comprising one or more storage devices;

a computer system coupled to the storage system, wherein the computer system comprises a memory medium, wherein the memory medium stores;

first program instructions which are executable to perform at least a portion of an automatic storage configuration function, wherein the first program instructions are executable to perform the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function independent of a plurality of possible software applications;

second program instructions which are executable to perform at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function, wherein the second program instructions are specific to a first application;

wherein the first program instructions and the second program instructions are executable together to perform the automatic storage configuration function for the first application.

26. A system for automatically determining a storage configuration for a storage system, wherein the system comprises:

a storage system comprising one or more storage devices;

first means comprising program instructions executable to perform at least a portion of an automatic storage configuration function, wherein the first means is executable to perform the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function independent of a plurality of possible software applications;

second means comprising program instructions executable to perform at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function, wherein the second means is specific to a first application;

wherein the first means and the second means are executable together to perform the automatic storage configuration function for the first application.

27. A memory medium, wherein the memory medium stores:

first program instructions which are executable to perform at least a portion of an automatic storage configuration function for a storage system, wherein the first program instructions are executable to perform the at least a portion of the automatic storage configuration function independent of a plurality of possible software applications;

a plurality of program modules, wherein each of the program modules contains instructions and data that is specific to an application;

wherein the first program instructions are executable to use a selected one of the program modules to perform the automatic storage configuration function for an application corresponding to the selected one of the program modules;

wherein the first program instructions are modularly separate from each of the plurality of program modules.

28. A method for automatically configuring a storage system, the method comprising:

executing first program instructions to perform at least a portion of automatically configuring the storage system, wherein the first program instructions execute to perform the at least a portion of automatically configuring the storage system independent of a plurality of possible software applications;

wherein the first program instructions are operable to interface with one of a plurality of possible application specific modules;

wherein each of the possible application specific modules is specific to a respective application;

wherein said executing the first program instructions includes accessing and using a first application specific module, wherein the first application specific module comprises second program instructions, wherein the second program instructions are specific to a first application;

wherein the first program instructions and the second program instructions are executable together to automatically configure the storage system for the first application.