Method and apparatus for dynamic performance evaluation of data storage systems
First Claim
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1. A method for evaluating performance of a RAID for streaming data, said method comprising:
- (a) identifying a configured RAID including at least a plurality of disk drives;
(b) evaluating data transfer performance of the disk drives of the configured RAID;
(c) comparing the data transfer performance with minimum performance criteria; and
(d) certifying the configured RAID as suitable for streaming data when said comparing (c) indicates that the data transfer performance of the disk drives of the configured RAID exceeds the minimum performance criteria,wherein said evaluating (b) comprises;
(b1) determining an average transfer time for at least one of the disk drives;
(b2) transferring a first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives;
(b3) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (a) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives;
(b4) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time;
(b5) increasing a performance error count when said determining (b4) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and
(b6) repeating at least said transferring (b2) through said increasing (b5) for subsequent transfers of the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives, said repeating (b6) continuing until all the data blocks of the one of the disk drives has undergone data transfer therefrom.
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Abstract
Improved approaches for evaluating performance of data storage systems used with computers are disclosed. The performance evaluation of the data storage systems utilizes dynamic performance evaluation by use of data throughput as a diagnostic. The data storage systems include, for example, either disk drives or RAIDs. In one embodiment, the invention identifies a sustained performance rate for a disk drive or RAID.
39 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating performance of a RAID for streaming data, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying a configured RAID including at least a plurality of disk drives; (b) evaluating data transfer performance of the disk drives of the configured RAID; (c) comparing the data transfer performance with minimum performance criteria; and (d) certifying the configured RAID as suitable for streaming data when said comparing (c) indicates that the data transfer performance of the disk drives of the configured RAID exceeds the minimum performance criteria, wherein said evaluating (b) comprises; (b1) determining an average transfer time for at least one of the disk drives; (b2) transferring a first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives; (b3) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (a) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives; (b4) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; (b5) increasing a performance error count when said determining (b4) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and (b6) repeating at least said transferring (b2) through said increasing (b5) for subsequent transfers of the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives, said repeating (b6) continuing until all the data blocks of the one of the disk drives has undergone data transfer therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for evaluating performance of a RAID for streaming data, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying a configured RAID including at least a plurality of disk drives; (b) evaluating data transfer performance of the disk drives of the configured RAID; (c) comparing the data transfer performance with minimum performance criteria; and (d) certifying the configured RAID as suitable for streaming data when said comparing (c) indicates that the data transfer performance of the disk drives of the configured RAID exceeds the minimum performance criteria, wherein said identifying (a) comprises configuring a RAID including at least the plurality of disk drives, wherein said evaluating (b) comprises; (b1) determining an average transfer time for at least one of the disk drives; (b2) transferring a first number of data blocks from one of the disk drives; (b3) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (a) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives; (b4) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; (b5) increasing a performance error count when said determining (b4) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and (b6) repeating at least said transferring (b2) through said increasing (b5) for subsequent transfers of the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives, said repeating (b6) continuing until all the data blocks of the one of the disk drives has undergone data transfer therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for evaluating performance of a RAID having a plurality of disk drives for streaming data, said method comprising:
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(a) producing an average transfer time for at least one of the disk drives, wherein said producing (a) includes at least (a1) performing a predetermined number of data transfers from the one of the disk drives;
(a2) determining transfer times for each of the predetermined number of data transfers being performed by said performing (a1); and
(a3) averaging the transfer times to produce the average transfer time for the one of the disk drives;(b) transferring a first number of data blocks from one of the disk drives; (c) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (b) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives; (d) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and (e) increasing a performance error count when said determining (d) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for evaluating performance of a RAID having a plurality of disk drives for streaming data, said method comprising:
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(a) producing an average transfer time for at least one of the disk drives, wherein said producing (a) includes at least (a1) performing a predetermined number of data transfers from the one of the disk drives;
(a2) determining transfer times for each of the predetermined number of data transfers being performed by said performing (a1);
(a3) discarding at least one of the transfer times; and
(a4) averaging the transfer times that have not been discarded to produce the average transfer time for the one of the disk drives;(b) transferring a first number of data blocks from one of the disk drives; (c) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (b) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the one of the disk drives; (d) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and (e) increasing a performance error count when said determining (d) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for evaluating performance of a disk drive, said method comprising:
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(a) obtaining an average transfer time for the disk drive, wherein said obtaining (a) includes at least (a1) performing a predetermined number of data transfers from the disk drive;
(a2) determining transfer times for each of the predetermined number of data transfers being performed by said performing (a1); and
(a3) averaging the transfer times to produce the average transfer time for the disk drive;(b) transferring a first number of data blocks from the disk drive; (c) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (b) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the disk drive; (d) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and (e) increasing a performance error count when said determining (d) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for evaluating performance of a disk drive, said method comprising:
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(a) obtaining an average transfer time for the disk drive, wherein said obtaining (a) includes at least (a1) performing a predetermined number of data transfers from the disk drive;
(a2) determining transfer times for each of the predetermined number of data transfers being performed by said performing (a1);
(a3) discarding at least one of the transfer times; and
(a4) averaging the transfer times that have not been discarded to produce the average transfer time for the disk drive;(b) transferring a first number of data blocks from the disk drive; (c) determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for said transferring (b) to transfer the first number of data blocks from the disk drive; (d) determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and (e) increasing a performance error count when said determining (d) determines that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A server for streaming data, comprising:
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a plurality of disk drives; and a drive controller operatively connected to said disk drives, said drive controller controlling operation of said disk drives, obtaining data transfer time performance of each of said disk drives, comparing the data transfer time performance of each of said disk drives with minimum performance requirements, and certifying suitability of said disk drives for use in streaming data when it is determined that the data transfer time performance of each of said disk drives meets or exceeds the minimum performance requirements, wherein said comparing of the data transfer performance with the minimum performance requirements includes at least;
determining an average transfer time for at least one of said disk drives;
transferring a first number of data blocks from the one of said disk drives;
determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes to transfer the first number of data blocks from the one of said disk drives;
determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and
increasing a performance error count when it is determined that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A tangible computer readable medium including at least computer program code for evaluating performance of an arrangement of disk drives for streaming data, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for producing an average transfer time for at least one of the disk drives, wherein said computer program code for producing operates to at least (a1) perform a predetermined number of data transfers from the one of the disk drives, (a2) determine transfer times for each of the predetermined number of data transfers, and (a3) averaging the transfer times to produce the average transfer time for the one of the disk drives; computer program code for transferring a first number of data blocks from one of the disk drives; computer program code for determining a measured transfer time for the time it takes for the first number of data blocks to be transferred from the one of the disk drives; computer program code for determining whether the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time; and computer program code for increasing a performance error count when it is determined that the measured transfer time is substantially greater than the average transfer time.
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Specification