Controlling computer storage systems
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a computer storage system, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining deterministic component availability information pertaining to said system;
obtaining probabilistic component availability information pertaining to said system;
checking for violation of availability goals based on both said deterministic component availability information and said probabilistic component availability information;
determining replication parameters, responsive to said checking indicating a violation of said availability goals; and
placing a set of storage volumes on a set of storage controllers, wherein said placement satisfies said availability goals, said placing comprising;
determining an initial placement of said storage volumes on said storage controllers based on capacity and performance goals; and
replicating said storage volumes, responsive to said availability goals.
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Abstract
Goal-based availability and change management are handled over groups of heterogeneous storage controllers. Probabilistic and deterministic methods are employed to determine the allocation and placement of storage volumes to storage controllers, as well as the degree of data redundancy necessary to achieve data availability goals The probabilistic methods can take into account past observations of controller availability, and operator beliefs, as well as the state of storage controller configuration, in coming up with a probabilistic estimate of future availability.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a computer storage system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining deterministic component availability information pertaining to said system; obtaining probabilistic component availability information pertaining to said system; checking for violation of availability goals based on both said deterministic component availability information and said probabilistic component availability information; determining replication parameters, responsive to said checking indicating a violation of said availability goals; and placing a set of storage volumes on a set of storage controllers, wherein said placement satisfies said availability goals, said placing comprising; determining an initial placement of said storage volumes on said storage controllers based on capacity and performance goals; and replicating said storage volumes, responsive to said availability goals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling a computer storage system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a request for change due to a violation of availability goals based on both said deterministic component availability information and said probabilistic component availability information; obtaining an estimated replication time associated with a replication to accommodate said change; determining whether sufficient time is available to replicate to accommodate said request for change; and taking said estimated replication time into account in evaluating said request for change. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product comprising a tangible computer readable recordable storage medium having computer useable program code for controlling a computer storage system, said computer program product including:
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computer useable program code for obtaining deterministic component availability information pertaining to said system; computer useable program code for obtaining probabilistic component availability information pertaining to said system; computer useable program code for checking for violation of availability goals based on both said deterministic component availability information and said probabilistic component availability information; computer useable program code for determining replication parameters, responsive to said checking indicating a violation of said availability goals; and computer useable program code for placing a set of storage volumes on a set of storage controllers, wherein said placement satisfies said availability goals, said placing comprising; determining an initial placement of said storage volumes on said storage controllers based on capacity and performance goals; and replicating said storage volumes, responsive to said availability goals. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A computer program product comprising a tangible computer readable recordable storage medium having computer useable program code for controlling a computer storage system, said computer program product including:
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computer useable program code for obtaining a request for change due to a violation of availability goals based on both said deterministic component availability information and said probabilistic component availability information; computer useable program code for obtaining an estimated replication time associated with a replication to accommodate said change; computer useable program code for determining whether sufficient time is available to replicate to accommodate said request for change; and computer useable program code for taking said estimated replication time into account in evaluating said request for change. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for controlling a computer storage system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining deterministic component availability information pertaining to said system, said obtaining said deterministic component availability information pertaining to said system comprising obtaining a request for change; obtaining probabilistic component availability information pertaining to said system; checking for violation of availability goals based on both said deterministic component availability information and said probabilistic component availability information; determining replication parameters, responsive to said checking indicating a violation of said availability goals; obtaining an estimated replication time; taking said estimated replication time into account in evaluating said request for change, said taking into account comprising; determining whether sufficient time is available to replicate to accommodate said request for change; and responsive to said determining step indicating that sufficient time is available, developing a change plan, said change plan comprising; preparation information indicative of replica locations, relationships, and timing; execution information indicative of replication performance; failover detection information indicative of how to execute necessary failover actions no later than a time of an action associated with said request for change; completion information indicative of replication relationship maintenance and discard, and information indicative of how to execute necessary failback actions no earlier than a time of another action associated with said request for change; and placing a set of storage volumes on a set of storage controllers, responsive to said availability goals, said placing comprising; determining an initial placement of said storage volumes on said storage controllers based on capacity and performance goals; and replicating said storage volumes, responsive to said availability goals.
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Specification