System and method for optimally creating storage objects in a storage system

• US 9,285,992 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Inventors: Forgette, Eric P., Sarisky, Daniel A., Rippy, Jonathan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chappell, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US13/328,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20130159637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 711/171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Systems and methods that enable the optimal creation of a storage object within a virtual storage system are disclosed. In accordance with embodiments, an optimal location with the storage system is determined in response to receiving an indication that a storage object is to be created within the storage system. The system and method prioritize physical storage resources in which to create the storage object, prioritize components to be provided access to the created storage object, and prioritize the interface between the physical storage resources and the accessing component. The storage object is optimally created within the storage system based on the priorities and based, at least in part, on other created storage objects.

Claims

1. A method for configuring logical storage resources within a storage system node, said method comprising:

receiving, at a storage system device, a request to create a new virtual storage object,

wherein the request includes a service level requirement that is associated with the new virtual storage object;

in response to the request;

identifying, with the storage system device, one or more physical storage resources for the new virtual storage object based on said service level requirement; and

identifying, with the storage system device, one or more storage controller, and one or more network interfaces to be used with the new virtual storage object based on said service level requirement;

ranking, with the storage system device, the identified physical storage resource, storage controllers, and network interfaces, wherein the physical storage resources are ranked based on;

a degree of similarity between an expected data access pattern of the new virtual storage object and a data access pattern of a virtual storage object configured within the storage system node; and

a degree of similarity between a type of data stored by the physical storage resources and a type of data to be stored by the new virtual storage object;

determining, with the storage system device, an optimal configuration based on the ranking, the optimal configuration comprising one or more of the physical storage resources, one of the storage controllers, and one or the network interfaces; and

creating, with the storage system device, said new virtual storage object within the storage system node based on the optimal configuration and from at least one of said one or more physical storage resources of the optimal configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating further comprises creating said new virtual storage object from a highest ranking one of the physical storage resources, wherein said ranking is based, at least in part, on other storage objects previously created in said physical storage resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said request further comprises a request for additional storage or a notification that storage is to be rebalanced.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, with the storage system device, data received from a client device to one or more physical storage resources included in the determined optimal configuration according to said service level requirement via a network interface included in the optimal configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reconfiguring, with the storage system device, said created new virtual storage object, wherein said reconfiguring is based, at least in part, on other created storage objects.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the storage system device, that no network interface satisfies the service level requirement; and

in response to determining that no network interface satisfies the service level requirement, creating, with the storage system device, at least a new network interface or a new physical storage resource.

7. A storage system device for configuring logical storage resources, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory and configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory to perform steps comprising;

receiving a request to create a new virtual storage object, wherein the request includes a service level requirement that is associated with the new virtual storage object;

in response to the request;

identifying, with the storage system device, one or more physical storage resources for the new virtual storage object based on the service level requirement; and

identifying, with the storage system device, one or more storage controllers, and one or more network interfaces to be used with the new virtual storage object based on said service level requirement;

ranking the identified physical storage resources, storage controllers, and network interfaces, wherein the physical storage resources are ranked based on;

a degree of similarity between an expected data access pattern of the new virtual storage object and a data access pattern of a virtual storage object configured within the storage system node; and

a degree of similarity between a type of data stored by the physical storage resources and a type of data to be stored by the new virtual storage object;

determining an optimal configuration based on the ranking, the optimal configuration comprising one or more of the physical storage resources, one of the storage controllers, and one of the network interfaces; and

creating said new virtual storage object within the storage system node based on the optimal configuration and from at least one of said one or more physical storage resources of the optimal configuration.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the creating further comprises creating said new virtual storage object from a highest ranking one of the physical storage resources, wherein said ranking is based, at least in part, on other storage objects previously created in said physical storage resources.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said request further comprises a request for additional storage or a notification that storage is to be rebalanced.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor coupled to the memory is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory to perform steps further comprising providing data received from a client device to one or more physical storage resources included in the determined optimal configuration according to said service level requirement via a network interface included in the optimal configuration.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor coupled to the memory is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory to perform steps further comprising reconfiguring said created new virtual storage object, wherein said reconfiguring is based, at least in part, on other created storage objects.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor coupled to the memory is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory to perform steps further comprising:

determining, that no network interface satisfies the service level requirement; and

in response to determining that no network interface satisfied the service level requirement, creating at least a new network interface or a new physical storage resource.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for creating storage objects comprising machine executable code which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving a request to create a new virtual storage object, wherein the request includes a service level requirement that is associated with the new virtual storage object;

in response to the request;

identifying, with the storage system device, one or more physical storage resources for the new virtual storage object based on the service level requirement; and

identifying, with the storage system device, one or more storage controllers, and one or more network interfaces to be used with the new virtual storage object based on said service level requirement;

ranking the identified physical storage resources, storage controllers, and network interfaces, wherein the physical storage resources are ranked based on;

a degree of similarity between an expected data access pattern of the new virtual storage object and a data access pattern of a virtual storage object configured within the storage system node; and

a degree of similarity between a type of data stored by the physical storage resources and a type of data to be stored by the new virtual storage object;

determining an optimal configuration based on the ranking, the optimal configuration comprising one or more of the physical storage resources, one of the storage controllers, and one of the network interfaces; and

creating said new virtual storage object within the storage system node based on the optimal configuration and from at least one or said one or more physical storage resources of the optimal configuration.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the creating further comprises creating said new virtual storage object from a highest ranking one of the physical storage resources, wherein said ranking is based, at least in part, on other storage objects previously created in said physical storage resources.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein said request further comprises a request for additional storage or a notification that storage is to be rebalanced.

16. The medium of claim 13, further having stored thereon instructions comprising machine executable code which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform steps further comprising providing data received from a client device to one of more physical storage resources included in the determined optimal configuration according to said service level requirement via a network interface included in the optimal configuration.

17. The medium of claim 13, further having stored thereon instructions comprising machine executable code which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform steps further comprising reconfiguring said created new virtual storage object, wherein said reconfiguring is based, at least in part, on other created storage objects.

18. The medium of claim 13, further having stored thereon instructions comprising machine executable code which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform steps further comprising:

determining, that no network interface satisfies the service level requirement; and

in response to determining that no network interface satisfies the service level requirement, creating at least a new network interface or a new physical storage resource.