Management system for a virtualized storage environment
First Claim
1. A method of allocating a storage volume to a host computer in a system including a plurality of storage systems able to communicate with a plurality of storage virtualizers via a first network, said storage virtualizers being able to communicate with said host computer via a second network, and a management computer able to communicate with said storage systems and said storage virtualizers via a third network, the method comprising:
- collecting, by the management computer, storage system information on the storage systems in the system and array groups available for each storage system, including available storage space in each array group;
collecting by the management computer virtualizer information on the virtualizers in the system;
receiving at the management computer an instruction for a storage volume of a specified size to be allocated to the host computer;
selecting, by the management computer, a first array group out of said array groups on said storage systems for which said information was collected;
requesting that a logical volume be allocated for the specified size in said first array group selected by the management computer;
sending a request by the management computer to each virtualizer in the system to determine a virtualizer out of said virtualizers having a lightest current workload; and
requesting that the virtualizer having the lightest current workload create a virtual volume mapping to said logical volume and accessible by said host computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method to automate configuration of a storage virtualized environment in a system that includes one or more storage systems having array groups and one or more storage virtualizers, a management terminal selects an array group that is able to meet specifications for allocating a logical volume. The management terminal requests that the volume be allocated in the selected array group on a selected storage system. The management terminal determines the storage virtualizer that meets predetermined criteria, such as having the lightest workload, and selects an appropriate virtualizer. The management terminal requests that a virtual volume be created on the selected virtualizer, with the virtual volume mapping to the newly-allocated logical volume on the storage system and to one or more specified client hosts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of allocating a storage volume to a host computer in a system including a plurality of storage systems able to communicate with a plurality of storage virtualizers via a first network, said storage virtualizers being able to communicate with said host computer via a second network, and a management computer able to communicate with said storage systems and said storage virtualizers via a third network, the method comprising:
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collecting, by the management computer, storage system information on the storage systems in the system and array groups available for each storage system, including available storage space in each array group; collecting by the management computer virtualizer information on the virtualizers in the system; receiving at the management computer an instruction for a storage volume of a specified size to be allocated to the host computer; selecting, by the management computer, a first array group out of said array groups on said storage systems for which said information was collected; requesting that a logical volume be allocated for the specified size in said first array group selected by the management computer; sending a request by the management computer to each virtualizer in the system to determine a virtualizer out of said virtualizers having a lightest current workload; and requesting that the virtualizer having the lightest current workload create a virtual volume mapping to said logical volume and accessible by said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a host computer; a management computer; a plurality of storage virtualizers, each configured to present a virtual volume to the host computer, said virtual volume mapping to a logical volume on a storage system, each said virtualizer including a front end interface for communicating with the host computer, a management interface for communicating with the management computer, and a back end interface; and one or more said storage systems, each said storage system including storage media for storing data and a storage controller for controlling transfer of data to and from the storage media, each said storage controller including a back end interface for communicating with the storage virtualizers and a management interface for communicating with the management computer, wherein each said storage controller has one or more array groups implemented thereon and is configured to allocate a logical volume with one of said array groups, wherein, said management computer is configured to determine an array out of said one or more array groups that meets a specified condition for allocating a logical volume in response to a request to allocate a logical volume to the host computer, and wherein said management computer is further configured to determine a first virtualizer out of said virtualizers that meets predetermined criteria, and request that the first virtualizer create a virtual volume mapped to the logical volume and to the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of allocating a storage volume to a host computer in a system including one or more storage systems able to communicate with a plurality of storage virtualizers, said storage virtualizers being able to communicate with said host computer, and a management computer able to communicate with said storage systems and said storage virtualizers, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for allocation of a storage volume meeting a specified condition; selecting an array group out of a plurality of array groups on said one or more storage systems able to satisfy the specified condition; requesting that a logical volume be allocated in said array group selected according to the specified condition; determining a first virtualizer out of said virtualizers meeting a predetermined performance criteria; and requesting that said first virtualizer create a virtual volume mapping to said logical volume and accessible by said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification