Apparatus and methods for look-ahead virtual volume meta-data processing in a storage controller
First Claim
1. A storage controller within a virtualized storage system, the virtualized storage system comprising a virtual volume, the virtual volume comprising a portion of one or more physical storage devices coupled with the storage controller, the controller adapted for processing I/O requests directed to the virtual volume, the controller comprising:
- a memory for storing meta-data regarding the virtual volume; and
an I/O processor, coupled with the memory, operable to receive a first I/O request associated with first meta-data and operable to receive a second I/O request associated with second meta-data,wherein the I/O processor is adapted to identify the first and second meta-data, and to process the first I/O request, the processing of the first I/O request comprising retrieving the identified first meta-data and identified second meta-data, the I/O processor further adapted to process the second I/O request using the previously retrieved second meta-data.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for improved efficiency in accessing meta-data in a storage controller of a virtualized storage system. Features and aspects hereof walk/retrieve meta-data for one or more other I/O requests when retrieving meta-data for a first I/O request. The meta-data may include mapping information for mapping logical addresses of the virtual volume. Meta-data may also include meta-data associated with higher level, enhanced data services provide by or in conjunction with the storage system. Enhanced data services may include features for synchronous mirroring of a volume and/or management of time-based snapshots of the content of a virtual volume.
27 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A storage controller within a virtualized storage system, the virtualized storage system comprising a virtual volume, the virtual volume comprising a portion of one or more physical storage devices coupled with the storage controller, the controller adapted for processing I/O requests directed to the virtual volume, the controller comprising:
-
a memory for storing meta-data regarding the virtual volume; and an I/O processor, coupled with the memory, operable to receive a first I/O request associated with first meta-data and operable to receive a second I/O request associated with second meta-data, wherein the I/O processor is adapted to identify the first and second meta-data, and to process the first I/O request, the processing of the first I/O request comprising retrieving the identified first meta-data and identified second meta-data, the I/O processor further adapted to process the second I/O request using the previously retrieved second meta-data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method operable in a storage controller in a storage system for accessing meta-data associated with a virtual volume of the storage system, the virtual volume comprising portions of one or more physical storage devices associated with the storage system, the method comprising:
-
receiving in the storage controller a first I/O request directed to the virtual volume, the first I/O request associated with first meta-data stored in a memory of the storage controller; receiving in the storage controller a second I/O request directed to the virtual volume, the second I/O request associated with second meta-data stored in the memory; identifying the first and second meta-data; processing the first I/O request in the storage controller to access the virtual volume based on the first meta-data, wherein the step of processing the first I/O request comprises retrieving the identified first meta-data and identified second meta-data from the memory; and processing the second I/O request in the storage controller to access the virtual volume based on the previously retrieved second meta-data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a computing device in a storage controller of a storage system, perform a method for accessing meta-data associated with a virtual volume of the storage system, the virtual volume comprising portions of one or more physical storage devices associated with the storage system, the method comprising:
-
receiving in the storage controller a first I/O request directed to the virtual volume, the first I/O request associated with first meta-data stored in a memory of the storage controller; receiving in the storage controller a second I/O request directed to the virtual volume, the second I/O request associated with second meta-data stored in the memory; identifying the first and second meta-data; processing the first I/O request in the storage controller to access the virtual volume based on the first meta-data, wherein the step of processing the first I/O request comprises retrieving the identified first meta-data and identified second meta-data from the memory; and processing the second I/O request in the storage controller to access the virtual volume based on the previously retrieved second meta-data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification