Method and apparatus for managing and archiving performance information relating to storage system

• US 8,073,821 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Zahavi, William, Sapiro, Lee W., Thammavong, Saymai, Arnan, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US12/609,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709215-224, 715/716, 715/700, 345/55, 345/619, 345/595, 345/594, 345440-4402, 707804-805, 707/802, 707/798, 707/725, 707/668, 707/661, 707/609, 707/625, 707/627, 707/634, 707/640, 707/687, 707/688, 707/690, 707/694, 707821-825, 711161-164, 711/112, 711/114, 702179-183, 702187-188, 370230-234
• US Class Current: 707/688
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3452 Performance evaluation by statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3485 for I/O devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/88 Monitoring involving counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A data management and archive method and apparatus, such as for implementation in an automated system to monitor and manage status, performance and configuration data for a plurality of networked storage components. Analysis and cross-correlation of data related to the plurality of storage components can be done individually, collectively and/or comparatively. A collection manager component of a workload analyzer is implemented to start and stop data collection in the context of a system comprising at least one storage component (or at least two networked storage components). The collection manager includes a command and control module that coordinates requests of data from at least one collection agent configured on at least one host connected to the storage component(s). The collection manager manages collection of data and effects file transfer of collected data according to a user specified policy, and maintains status of the data collected. The user specified policy allows the user to specify data collection “shifts” (i.e. periodicity).

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing performance information relating to a plurality of storage components, comprising:

at least one collection agent configured to collect storage system performance information from at least one of said storage system components;

a command and control module interfaced to said at least one collection agent automatically issuing commands to said at least one collection agent to start or stop collection of said storage system performance information in accordance with a user-specified policy, said command and control module coordinating request of data from said at least one collection agent;

a policy engine communicating with said command and control module, said policy engine responsive to said user-specified policy for collection of storage system performance information in accordance with at least one of user specified data collection timing intervals and start and stop times;

a performance view component comprising a correlation component having an autocorrelation mode adapted to receive a selection of a set of objects and a selection of associated set of metrics from a user, and generate a first table of said objects and metrics sorted by respective coefficients of correlation for said selected objects and metrics, and having a second mode of correlation adapted to receive a selection of two independent lists of objects and/or metrics from a user, and generate a second table of said objects and metrics in said two independent lists sorted by respective coefficients of correlation for said selected objects and metrics; and

a user selection and policy interface communicating with said policy engine and configured for a user to specify said user-specified policy by specifying at least one of said data collection timing intervals, said start and stop times for collection of said storage system performance information, where to store said storage system performance information, and how long to retain said storage system performance information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said policy engine includes a policy file for storing user defined policies.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a policy interface screen for a user to interface with said policy engine and said policy file.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data manager configured to perform computation and conversion of said storage system performance information to generate computed metrics and converted metrics.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising archives receiving and storing at least one of said computed metrics and converted metrics from said data manager.