Power-aware redundant array of independent disks (PARAID) and related methods

• US 8,140,751 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: Florida State University (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Wang, An-I Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/424,656
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 711/114, 711/154, 711/170, 714/6.22, 713/300, 713/320, 713/324
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1076 Parity data used in redundant arrays of independent storages, e.g. in RAID systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/302 where the computing system component is a software system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system defining a power-aware redundant array of identical disks (PARAID) is provided. The PARAID includes multiple data-storing disks that store multiple data blocks in a skewed stripping pattern. The PARAID further includes a PARAID disk manager for selectively powering on the plurality of disks based upon user demand. A PARAID disk driver is also provided. The PARAID disk driver includes a PARAID level module for instantiating a PARAID to operate within a computing environment by segmenting data among the array of independent disks in a skewed striping pattern. The skewed striping pattern creates multiple distinct sets of the array of independent disks, each set defining a unique gear in which the PARAID can operate. Additionally, the PARAID disk driver includes a PARAID gear-shifting logic module for selectively causing the PARAID to operate in a particular gear. The PARAID disk driver further includes a PARAID monitoring module for determining in which gear the PARAID operates.

Claims

1. A system defining a power-aware redundant array of identical disks (PARAID), the system comprising

a plurality of disks, each disk storing at least one of a plurality of data blocks, wherein the data blocks are allocated among the plurality of disks in a skewed striping pattern, said skewed striping pattern comprising replicating a portion of said plurality of data blocks to provide different predetermined sets of disks, wherein each of said different sets of disks provides access to said plurality of data blocks using a different number of disks, wherein said different predetermined sets of disks define a series of gears within said plurality of disks, each gear in the series of gears having a progressively higher capacity;

and

a PARAID disk manager for selectively powering on one or more combinations of the plurality of disks to transition between the series of gears according to an order of the series of gears, wherein the combinations are based upon system-user demand usage.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of disks corresponding to different sets of disks operate in different modes of operation.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein each of the different modes of operation corresponds to unique gears in the series of gears, and wherein the PARAID disk manager selectively causes the PARAID to operate in one of the unique gears based upon user demand.

4. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein the one of the unique gears is selected so as to optimize a trade-off between power consumption by the PARAID and a performance level of the PARAID.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the different predetermined sets of disks provides access to a uniform striping pattern of said plurality of disks.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the PARAID manager is further configured during said selectively powering for iteratively performing the acts of:

determining a disk utilization for one of the series of gears currently powered;

powering on a lower one of the series of gears with respect to the one of the gears currently powered responsive to the utilization indicating under utilization; and

powering on a higher one of the series of gears with respect to the one of the gears currently powered responsive to the utilization indicating over utilization.

7. A power-aware redundant array of independent disks (PARAID) disk driver, the PARAID disk driver comprising:

a controller adapted for instantiating a PARAID to operate within a computing environment by segmenting data among the array of independent disks in a skewed striping pattern, the skewed striping pattern replicating a portion of the data to create multiple distinct sets of the array of independent disks, each set comprising a different number of the independent disks, wherein said multiple distinct sets define a series of gears within said array of independent disks, each gear in the series of gears having progressively higher capacity in which the PARAID operate;

wherein the controller selectively causes the PARAID to operate in a particular gear by transitioning between the series of gears according to an order of the series of gears; and

wherein the controller determines in which gear the PARAID operates.

8. The PARAID disk driver as defined in claim 7, wherein the controller manages a life expectancy of each disk device belonging to the array of independent disks.

9. The PARAID disk driver as defined in claim 8, wherein the controller handles discrete disk device failures.

10. The PARAID disk driver as defined in claim 7, wherein the controller provides a system administrator a mechanism for adjusting the PARAID.

11. A method of instantiating and operating a power-aware redundant array of identical disks (PARAID), the method comprising:

storing a plurality of data blocks in a skewed striping pattern on various disks belonging to the array of identical disks, said skewed striping pattern comprising replicating a portion of said plurality of data blocks to provide different predetermined combinations of disks, wherein each of said different combinations of disks provides access to said plurality of data blocks using a different number of disks, wherein said different predetermined sets of disks define a series of gears within said plurality of disks, each gear in the series of gears having a progressively higher capacity; and

selectively powering on one or more of said combinations of disks to transition between the series of gears according to an order of the series of gears, wherein the combinations are based upon user demand.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising operating the plurality of disks in different modes of operation, each of the different mode of operation corresponding to unique gears in the series of gears.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the PARAID to operate in one of the unique gears based upon user demand.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the one of the unique gears so as to optimize a trade-off between power consumption by the PARAID and a performance level of the PARAID.

15. A computer-readable storage medium, the storage medium comprising computer instructions for:

storing a plurality of data blocks in a skewed striping pattern on various disks belonging to the array of identical disks, said skewed striping pattern comprising replicating a portion of said plurality of data blocks to provide different predetermined combinations of disks, wherein each of said different combinations of disks provides access to said plurality of data blocks using a different number of disks, wherein said different predetermined sets of disks define a series of gears within said plurality of disks, each gear in the series of gears having a progressively higher capacity; and

selectively powering on one or more of said combinations of disks to transition between the series of gears according to an order of the series of gears, wherein the combinations are based upon user demand.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising computer instructions for operating the plurality of disks in different modes of operation, each mode of operation corresponding to unique gears in the series of gears.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising computer instructions for causing the PARAID to operate in one of the unique gears based upon user demand.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising computer instructions for selecting the one of the unique gears so as to optimize a trade-off between power consumption by the PARAID and a performance level of the PARAID.