Clearing metadata tracks in a storage system
First Claim
1. A method for clearing metadata in a storage subsystem of a storage controller coupled to a host device and at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the direct access storage device configured into tracks having customer data and metadata, the method comprising:
- identifying one or more of a plurality of types of metadata tracks, stored on a direct access storage device in the storage subsystem, to clear, the type of metadata selected from a group consisting of a storage controller level, a logical subsystem level and a volume level;
receiving a clear metadata tracks (CMT) request from a client to clear metadata tracks, the CMT request including an identification of a metadata type and an identification of one or more metadata tracks associated with the metadata type;
after receipt of the CMT request, quiescing any processes active in the storage subsystem;
clearing the identified metadata tracks substantially in parallel; and
resuming the quiesced processes after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, computer program products and methods for deploying computing infrastructure for clearing metadata in a storage subsystem. The method includes identifying one or more metadata tracks to clear, receiving a request from a client to clear the identified tracks, quiescing any active processes, clearing the identified tracks and resuming the quiesced processes. The request may be a single request operable to clear all metadata tracks. Alternatively, target volumes having metadata tracks to be cleared are identified and a request is received from a client for each target volume. A dynamic function list may also be created for each target volume, the list including a list of functions in which the target volume is associated. After active processes are quiesced, each function in the dynamic function list of each target volume is invoked whereby the metadata tracks are cleared. The quiesced processes are then resumed.
41 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for clearing metadata in a storage subsystem of a storage controller coupled to a host device and at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the direct access storage device configured into tracks having customer data and metadata, the method comprising:
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identifying one or more of a plurality of types of metadata tracks, stored on a direct access storage device in the storage subsystem, to clear, the type of metadata selected from a group consisting of a storage controller level, a logical subsystem level and a volume level; receiving a clear metadata tracks (CMT) request from a client to clear metadata tracks, the CMT request including an identification of a metadata type and an identification of one or more metadata tracks associated with the metadata type; after receipt of the CMT request, quiescing any processes active in the storage subsystem; clearing the identified metadata tracks substantially in parallel; and resuming the quiesced processes after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for clearing global metadata (metadata) in a storage subsystem of a storage controller coupled to a host device and at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the direct access storage device configured into tracks having customer data and metadata, the method comprising:
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receiving a single clear metadata tracks (CMT) request from a client to clear all global metadata (metadata) tracks associated with the storage subsystem, the metadata tracks being stored on a direct access storage device in the storage subsystem; quiescing any processes active in the storage subsystem after receipt of the CMT request; clearing the metadata tracks substantially in parallel without affecting storage subsystem configuration data; and resuming the quiesced processes after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for clearing metadata a storage subsystem of a storage controller coupled to a host device and at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the storage device configured into tracks having customer data and metadata, the method comprising:
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identifying one or more target volumes having one or more metadata tracks, stored on a direct access storage device in the storage subsystem, to clear; receiving a clear metadata tracks (CMT) request from a client for each target volume; generating a dynamic function list for each target volume, the dynamic function list including a list of functions in which the target volume is associated; quiescing any processes active in the storage subsystem after receipt of the CMT request; for each target volume, invoking each function in the dynamic function list on the respective target volumes whereby the metadata tracks are cleared substantially in parallel; and resuming the quiesced processes after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A storage subsystem for clearing metadata, comprising:
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a storage controller coupled to a host device; at least one direct access storage device (DASD) configured into tracks having customer data and metadata; a cache storage; a nonvolatile journaling storage; means for receiving a request to clear identified metadata stored on the at least one direct access storage device (DASD), the request including an identification of a metadata type and an identification of one or more metadata tracks associated with the metadata type, the type of metadata selected from a group consisting of a storage controller level, a logical subsystem level and a volume level; and metadata management code, comprising; means for directing that any processes active in the storage subsystem be quiesced after receipt of the CMT request; means for directing that the identified metadata tracks be cleared substantially in parallel; and means for directing that the quiesced processes be resumed after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product of a non-transitory computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, the computer program product having computer-readable code embodied therein for clearing metadata in a storage subsystem, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for:
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identifying one or more of a plurality of types of metadata tracks, stored on a direct access storage device (DASD) in the storage subsystem, to clear, the direct access storage device configured into tracks having customer data and metadata and the type of metadata selected from a group consisting of a storage controller level, a logical subsystem level and a volume level; receiving a clear metadata tracks (CMT) request from a client to clear metadata tracks, the CMT request including an identification of a metadata type and an identification of one or more metadata tracks associated with the metadata type; quiescing any processes active in the storage subsystem after receipt of the CMT request; clearing the identified metadata tracks substantially in parallel; and resuming the quiesced processes after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system, wherein the code, in combination with the computing system, is capable of performing the following:
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identifying one or more of a plurality of types of metadata tracks, stored on a storage device in the storage subsystem, to clear, the type of metadata selected from a group consisting of a storage controller level, a logical subsystem level and a volume level; receiving a clear metadata tracks (CMT) request from a client to clear metadata tracks, the CMT request including an identification of a metadata type and an identification of one or more metadata tracks associated with the metadata type; quiescing any processes active in the storage subsystem after receipt of the CMT request; clearing the identified metadata tracks substantially in parallel; and resuming the quiesced processes after the identified metadata tracks have been cleared. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification