Performance estimation tool for data storage systems

• US 7,184,933 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Prekeges, David, Long, Woodson, Wake, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sun, Xiuqin
• Application Number:
  US10/376,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 702/186, 702/182, 702/184, 702/120, 711/54, 711/114, 405/13, 700/17, 709/223, 365/189.05, 365/185.22, 370/342, 375/152
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3452 Performance evaluation by statistical analysis

Abstract

A tool for estimating performance of a data storage system includes a database containing performance data for a plurality of possible data storage system configurations; and a computer or processor for receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration, retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to the data storage system configuration from the database, and calculating estimated performance data for the data storage system configuration based on the data from the database.

Claims

1. A tool for estimating performance of a data storage system, said tool comprising:

a database comprising performance data for a plurality of possible data storage system configurations; and

a computer or processor for receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration, retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from said database, calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the recorded performance data from said database, and outputting at least a portion of the estimated performance data to a user;

wherein said database comprises;

performance points obtained from testing a plurality of data storage system configurations; and

data points obtained by interpolating between said performance points.

2. Software stored on a medium for storing computer-readable instructions, said software, when executed, causing a computer or processor to:

receive user input defining a data storage system configuration including system components and RAID type or types;

retrieve recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

calculate estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

display at least a portion of said estimated performance data in a user interface.

3. The software of claim 2, wherein said software, when executed, further causes a computer or processor to display said estimated performance data as a graph of performance plotting variables specified by a user.

4. The software of claim 2, wherein said software, when executed, further causes a computer or processor to display a graph of said estimated performance data.

5. The software of claim 4, wherein a variable to be represented by each of two axes of said graph are specified by user input.

6. The software of claim 2, wherein said user input comprises disk type data for said data storage system;

RAID type data for said data storage system; and

a number of array controllers for said data storage system.

7. The software of claim 6, wherein said user input further comprises anticipated workload data for said data storage system.

8. The software of claim 2, wherein said estimated performance data is calculated for a plurality of workloads.

9. Software stored on a medium for storing computer-readable instructions, said software, when executed, causing a computer or processor to evaluate a data storage system by:

receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration;

retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

outputting at least a portion of the estimated performance data to a user;

wherein said software, when executed, further causes a computer or processor to calculate said estimated performance data by;

calculating a total number of disks in said data storage system based on said user input;

calculating a total raw capacity of said data storage system based on said user input; and

calculating a total useable capacity of said data storage system based on said user input.

10. A method of estimating performance of a data storage system, said method comprising:

receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration including system components and RAID type or types;

retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

displaying the estimated performance data to a user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying said estimated performance data in a user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said displaying said estimated performance data comprising displaying a graph of said estimated performance data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying said estimated performance data in a graph with user-specified axes.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said user input comprises disk type data for said data storage system;

RAID type data for said data storage system; and

a number of array controllers for said data storage system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said user input further comprises anticipated workload data for said data storage system.

16. A method of estimating performance of a data storage system, said method comprising:

receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration;

retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

performing one of outputting performance results to a user or storing at least a portion of the estimated performance data;

further comprising compiling said database by;

testing a plurality of data storage system configurations to obtain a plurality of performance points; and

interpolating between said performance points to complete said database.

17. A method of estimating performance of a data storage system, said method comprising:

receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration;

retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

outputting performance results to a user or storing the estimated performance data;

wherein calculating said estimated performance data includes;

calculating a total number of disks in said data storage system based on said user input;

calculating a total raw capacity of said data storage system based on said user input; and

calculating a total useable capacity of said data storage system based on said user input.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising calculating said estimated performance data for a plurality of workloads.

19. A device for estimating performance of a data storage system, said device comprising:

means for receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration including system components and RAID type or types;

means for retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

means for calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

means for displaying the estimated performance data to a user.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said user input comprises disk type data for said data storage system;

RAID type data for said data storage system; and

a number of array controllers for said data storage system.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said user input further comprises anticipated workload data for said data storage system.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein said means for calculating said estimated performance data calculated estimated performance data for a plurality of workloads.

23. A device for estimating performance of a data storage system, said device comprising:

means for receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration;

means for retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

means for calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database;

means for displaying the estimated performance data to a user; and

means for compiling said database including;

means for testing a plurality of data storage system configurations to obtain a plurality of performance points; and

means for interpolating between said performance points to complete said database.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said means for displaying said estimated performance data comprising means for displaying one of (1) an estimation of Input/Output of the data storage system and (2) response time of the data storage system.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said means for displaying said estimated performance data comprising means for displaying a graph of said estimated performance data.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising means for displaying said estimated performance data in a graph with user-specified axes.

27. A device for estimating performance of a data storage system, said device comprising:

means for receiving user input defining a data storage system configuration;

means for retrieving recorded performance data corresponding to said data storage system configuration from a database;

means for calculating estimated performance data for said data storage system configuration based on the data from said database; and

means for outputting performance results to a user or storing the estimated performance data;

wherein said means for calculating said estimated performance data comprise;

means for calculating a total number of disks in said data storage system based on said user input;

means for calculating a total raw capacity of said data storage system based on said user input; and

means for calculating a total useable capacity of said data storage system based on said user input.