Storage area network workload balancing

• US 9,979,662 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Astigarraga, Tara, Jones, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Davoud
• Application Number:
  US14/689,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20160308774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 709223, 709224, 709226, 709230, 709232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Storage area network (SAN) load balancing process is disclosed. The load balancing process can include monitoring an input/output workload within the SAN. The input/output workload of a first source to first destination is monitored by an analyzing unit. The analyzing unit gathers a source identifier (S_ID) and a destination identifier (D_ID) to determine the location of a first source and a first destination. An input/output workload of the first source and the first destination can be tracked by the analyzing unit. The analyzing unit can be used to determine if the first input/output workload is above an upper threshold. A first condition can be logged based on the determination of the first input/output workload being above the upper threshold. The determination of the first condition is communicated to a first user.

Claims

1. A method for load balancing an input/output workload within a storage area network environment, the method comprising:

determining a first input/output workload between a first source and a first destination of a storage area network;

determining a location of the first source with a source identifier;

determining a location of the first destination with a destination identifier;

tracking the input/output workload between the first source and the first destination with an analyzing unit;

determining that the first input/output workload is above an upper threshold;

logging the first input/output workload as a first condition into a storage table in response to the determination of the first input/output workload being above the upper threshold;

communicating the determination of the first condition to a first user;

determining a second input/output workload between a second source and a second destination of a storage area network;

determining a location of the second source with a source identifier;

determining a location of the second destination with a destination identifier;

tracking the second input/output workload between the second source and the second destination with an analyzing unit;

determining that the second input/output workload is below a lower threshold;

logging the second input/output workload as a second condition into a storage table in response to the determination of the second input/output workload being below the lower threshold;

communicating the determination of the second condition to a first user;

monitoring the determination of the second condition to the storage table; and

determining a status of the second input/output workload of the second source to the second destination, wherein the determining the status comprises;

monitoring a second duration of time where the second input/output workload from the second source to the second destination is below the lower threshold;

monitoring a second frequency of how often the second input/output workload from the second source to the second destination is below the lower threshold; and

determining a third condition of an underactive second input/output workload based on the frequency of the second condition.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the determination of the first condition to the storage table; and

determining a status of the first input/output workload of the first source to the first destination.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the status of the input/output workload further comprises:

monitoring a first duration of time where the first input/output workload is above the upper threshold;

determining a first frequency that the first input/output workload is above the upper threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating includes transmitting a mobile phone message to the first user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating includes displaying the determination on a graphical user interface to the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency is relative to a percentage of time the second input/output workload is below the lower threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency is relative to how often the second input/output workload is below the lower threshold within a set period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the first condition, distributing a portion the input/output workload of the first source to the first destination to an input/output workload of a second source to a second destination.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the second condition, distributing a portion the input/output workload of the second source to the second destination to an input/output workload of a first source to a first destination.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the location of the first source results in the location of a source within a single source chassis.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the source is a blade of a blade server of the single source chassis.