Allocation of heterogeneous storage devices to spares and storage arrays
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- providing a plurality of storage devices of a plurality of storage device types;
associating a plurality of criteria for each of the plurality of storage devices, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of criteria can be used to determine whether a selected storage device is a compatibility spare for a storage device in a storage device array, and whether the selected storage device is an availability spare for the storage device in the storage device array;
determining, by a spare management application, based on at least the plurality of criteria and at least one optimality condition, a first set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated to a plurality of storage device arrays, and a second set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated as spares for the plurality of storage device arrays;
allocating the first set of storage devices to the plurality of storage device arrays; and
allocating the second set of storage devices as spares for the plurality of storage device array, wherein a selected compatibility spare for a first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device and a rotational speed that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, wherein a selected availability spare for the first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, and wherein while allocating the second set of storage devices as spares, satisfying the following conditions;
ensuring that all storage device types have a first number of compatibility spares and a second number of availability spares, while limiting number of spares of any selected storage device type to one per a third number of storage devices;
allocating spares first to storage device types that have greatest potential of being compatibility or availability spares for other storage device types; and
allowing the first number or the second number to be selected such that there are more spares allocated than required to meet availability criteria to allow deferral of repair actions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of storage devices of a plurality of types is provided. A plurality of criteria is associated for each of the plurality of storage devices, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of criteria can be used to determine whether a selected storage device is a compatibility spare for a storage device in a storage device array, and whether the selected storage device is an availability spare for the storage device in the storage device array. A determination is made by a spare management application, based on at least the plurality of criteria and at least one optimality condition, of a first set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated to a plurality of storage device arrays, and of a second set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated as spares for the plurality of storage device arrays. An allocation is made of the first set of storage devices to the plurality of storage device arrays. An allocation made of the second set of storage devices as spares for the plurality of storage device array.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing a plurality of storage devices of a plurality of storage device types; associating a plurality of criteria for each of the plurality of storage devices, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of criteria can be used to determine whether a selected storage device is a compatibility spare for a storage device in a storage device array, and whether the selected storage device is an availability spare for the storage device in the storage device array; determining, by a spare management application, based on at least the plurality of criteria and at least one optimality condition, a first set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated to a plurality of storage device arrays, and a second set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated as spares for the plurality of storage device arrays; allocating the first set of storage devices to the plurality of storage device arrays; and allocating the second set of storage devices as spares for the plurality of storage device array, wherein a selected compatibility spare for a first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device and a rotational speed that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, wherein a selected availability spare for the first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, and wherein while allocating the second set of storage devices as spares, satisfying the following conditions; ensuring that all storage device types have a first number of compatibility spares and a second number of availability spares, while limiting number of spares of any selected storage device type to one per a third number of storage devices; allocating spares first to storage device types that have greatest potential of being compatibility or availability spares for other storage device types; and allowing the first number or the second number to be selected such that there are more spares allocated than required to meet availability criteria to allow deferral of repair actions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices of a plurality of storage device types; memory; a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor performs operations, the operations comprising; (i) associating a plurality of criteria for each of the plurality of storage devices, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of criteria can be used to determine whether a selected storage device is a compatibility spare for a storage device in a storage device array, and whether the selected storage device is an availability spare for the storage device in the storage device array; (ii) determining, by a spare management application, based on at least the plurality of criteria and at least one optimality condition, a first set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated to a plurality of storage device arrays, and a second set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated as spares for the plurality of storage device arrays; (iii) allocating the first set of storage devices to the plurality of storage device arrays; and (iv) allocating the second set of storage devices as spares for the plurality of storage device array, wherein a selected compatibility spare for a first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device and a rotational speed that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, wherein a selected availability spare for the first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage, and wherein while allocating the second set of storage devices as spares, satisfying the following conditions; ensuring that all storage device types have a first number of compatibility spares and a second number of availability spares, while limiting number of spares of any selected storage device type to one per a third number of storage devices; allocating spares first to storage device types that have greatest potential of being compatibility or availability spares for other storage device types; and allowing the first number or the second number to be selected such that there are more spares allocated than required to meet availability criteria to allow deferral of repair actions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
if r> - =R and (r+d)>
=(R+D).
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10. The system of claim 9, wherein the given type is compatibility or availability.
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11. A computer readable storage medium, wherein code stored in the computer readable storage medium when executed by a processor causes operations, the operations comprising:
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providing a plurality of storage devices of a plurality of storage device types; associating a plurality of criteria for each of the plurality of storage devices, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of criteria can be used to determine whether a selected storage device is a compatibility spare for a storage device in a storage device array, and whether the selected storage device is an availability spare for the storage device in the storage device array; determining, by a spare management application, based on at least the plurality of criteria and at least one optimality condition, a first set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated to a plurality of storage device arrays, and a second set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated as spares for the plurality of storage device arrays; allocating the first set of storage devices to the plurality of storage device arrays; and allocating the second set of storage devices as spares for the plurality of storage device array, wherein a selected compatibility spare for a first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device and a rotational speed that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, wherein a selected availability spare for the first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, and wherein while allocating the second set of storage devices as spares, satisfying the following conditions; ensuring that all storage device types have a first number of compatibility spares and a second number of availability spares, while limiting number of spares of any selected storage device type to one per a third number of storage devices; allocating spares first to storage device types that have greatest potential of being compatibility or availability spares for other storage device types; and allowing the first number or the second number to be selected such that there are more spares allocated than required to meet availability criteria to allow deferral of repair actions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer-readable code into a computer, wherein the code in combination with the computer is capable of performing:
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providing a plurality of storage devices of a plurality of storage device types; associating a plurality of criteria for each of the plurality of storage devices, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of criteria can be used to determine whether a selected storage device is a compatibility spare for a storage device in a storage device array, and whether the selected storage device is an availability spare for the storage device in the storage device array; determining, by a spare management application, based on at least the plurality of criteria and at least one optimality condition, a first set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated to a plurality of storage device arrays, and a second set of storage devices selected from the plurality of storage devices to be allocated as spares for the plurality of storage device arrays; allocating the first set of storage devices to the plurality of storage device arrays; and allocating the second set of storage devices as spares for the plurality of storage device array, wherein a selected compatibility spare for a first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device and a rotational speed that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, wherein a selected availability spare for the first storage device has a storage capacity that is greater than or equal to the first storage device, and wherein while allocating the second set of storage devices as spares, satisfying the following conditions; ensuring that all storage device types have a first number of compatibility spares and a second number of availability spares, while limiting number of spares of any selected storage device type to one per a third number of storage devices; allocating spares first to storage device types that have greatest potential of being compatibility or availability spares for other storage device types; and allowing the first number or the second number to be selected such that there are more spares allocated than required to meet availability criteria to allow deferral of repair actions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification