Path selection using a service level objective

• US 9,258,242 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Balakrishnan, Ajith, Mallick, Sanjib
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, SAI MING
• Application Number:
  US14/133,705
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45579 I/O management, e.g. providing access to device drivers or storage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/121 by minimising delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/125 based on throughput or bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2425 for supporting services specification, e.g. SLA

Abstract

In one aspect, a method includes measuring performance parameters for each path, determining classifications of each path based on a service level objective and sending I/Os using load balancing by the classifications determined. In another aspect, an apparatus includes electronic hardware circuitry configured to measure performance parameters for each path, determine classifications of each path based on a service level objective and send I/Os using load balancing by the classifications determined. In a further aspect, an article includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions. The instructions cause a machine to measure performance parameters for each path, determine classifications of each path based on a service level objective and send I/Os using load balancing by the classifications determined.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

measuring performance parameters of each path to one or more storage devices;

determining which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on a service level objective (SLO) and the performance parameters measured, the SLO being a required level of performance of the performance parameters by class;

determining load balancing on the paths by class; and

sending input/output requests (I/Os) using the load balancing determined.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

waiting an interval of time; and

measuring current performance parameters after waiting the period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising changing the number of paths in a class if the current performance parameters measured exceed the SLO for that class or another class.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein measuring the current performance parameters comprises measuring an average performance value during at least a portion of the time interval.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein measuring an average performance value comprises measuring at least one of average latency or average throughput.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring performance parameters for each path comprises measuring performance parameters comprising at least one of latency or throughput.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a new service level objective (SLO) for each LUN or sub-LUN;

measuring the performance parameters after receiving the new SLO; and

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on the new SLO and the performance parameters measured after receiving the new SLO.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an alert if a service level objective (SLO) is not being met.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a new service level objective (SLO) for a virtual machine;

measuring the performance parameters after receiving the new SLO; and

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on the new SLO and the performance parameters measured after receiving the new SLO.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

electronic hardware circuitry configured to;

measure performance parameters of each path to one or more storage devices;

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on a service level objective (SLO) and the performance parameters measured, the SLO being a required level of performance of the performance parameters by class;

determine load balancing on the paths by class; and

send input/output requests (I/Os) using the load balancing determined.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the circuitry comprises at least one of a processor, a memory, a programmable logic device or a logic gate.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising circuitry configured to:

wait an interval of time;

measure current performance parameters after waiting the period of time; and

change the number of paths in a class if the current performance parameters measured exceed the SLO for that class or another class,

wherein measuring the current performance parameters comprises measuring an average performance value during at least a portion of the time interval, and

wherein measuring an average performance value comprises measuring at least one of average latency or average throughput.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the circuitry configured to measure performance parameters for each path comprises circuitry configured to measure performance parameters comprising at least one of latency or throughput.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising circuitry configured to:

receive a new service level objective (SLO) for each LUN or sub-LUN;

measure the performance parameters after receiving the new SLO; and

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on the new SLO and the performance parameters measured after receiving the new SLO.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising circuitry configured to:

receive a new service level objective (SLO) for a virtual machine;

measure the performance parameters after receiving the new SLO; and

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on the new SLO and the performance parameters measured after receiving the new SLO.

16. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions, the instructions causing a machine to;

measure performance parameters of each path to one or more storage devices;

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on a service level objective (SLO) and the performance parameters measured, the SLO being a required level of performance of the performance parameters by class;

determine load balancing on the paths by class; and

send input/output requests (I/Os) using the load balancing determined.

17. The article of claim 16, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

wait an interval of time;

measure current performance parameters after waiting the period of time; and

change the number of paths in a class if the current parameters measured exceed the SLO for that class or another class,

wherein measuring the current performance parameters comprises measuring an average performance value during at least a portion of the time interval, and

wherein measuring an average performance value comprises measuring at least one of average latency or average throughput.

18. The article of claim 16 wherein the instructions causing the machine to measure performance parameters for each path comprises instructions causing the machine to measure performance parameters comprising at least one of latency or throughput.

19. The article of claim 16, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

receive a new service level objective (SLO) for each LUN or sub-LUN;

measure the performance parameters after receiving the new SLO; and

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on the new SLO and the performance parameters measured after receiving the new SLO.

20. The article of claim 16, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

receive a new service level objective (SLO) for a virtual machine;

measure the performance parameters after receiving the new SLO; and

determine which paths, to the one or more storage devices, are associated with each class based on the new SLO and the performance parameters measured after receiving the new SLO.