MANAGING A STORAGE SYSTEM

• US 20150026311A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Doster, Bard A., Reed, David C., Smith, Max D., Niederbrach, Sharon M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,654,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• 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]

Abstract

A method of and system for managing a storage system is disclosed. The method and system may include determining a first operational characteristic of a first configuration. The determination may be made using first data of the first configuration of the storage system and second data related to element interactions of the storage system. The method and system may include generating, using the second data, at least a second configuration of the storage system that differs from the first configuration. The method and system may include predicting, using the second data, at least a second operational characteristic of the second configuration.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing a storage system, the method comprising:

determining, using first data of a first configuration of the storage system and second data related to element interactions of the storage system, a first operational characteristic of the first configuration;

generating, using the second data, at least a second configuration of the storage system that differs from the first configuration; and

predicting, using the second data, at least a second operational characteristic of the second configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting the first data of the first configuration of the storage system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, using the second data, at least a third configuration of the storage system that differs from the first and second configurations; and

predicting, using the second data, at least a third operational characteristic of the third configuration of the storage system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising proposing a suggested configuration for the storage system based on a preferred operational characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a chosen configuration for the storage system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes at least one of a group consisting of:

a storage-construct category of information that includes a storage group, a management class, and a storage class;

an automatic-class-selection (ACS) routine category of information that includes transition outcomes for the management class and the storage class;

an administration category of information that includes naming information;

a directory category of information that includes metadata about objects;

a parameter-settings category of information that includes client preferences, delay information, and allocation choices;

an exit category of information that includes object expiration permissions; and

a client preference category of information related to a performance factor and a storage usage factor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data related to element interactions of the storage system includes information related to an interaction of components of the storage system and is associated with at least one of a storage-construct category of information, an automatic-class-selection (ACS) routine category of information, an administration category of information, a directory category of information, a parameter-settings category of information, an exit category of information, and a client preference category of information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second configurations include at least one value for at least one of a storage-construct category of information, an automatic-class-selection (ACS) routine category of information, an administration category of information, a directory category of information, a parameter-settings category of information, an exit category of information, and a client preference category of information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second operational characteristics include at least one of a performance factor and a storage usage factor.

10. A computer-implemented method for managing a storage system, the method comprising:

collecting first data of a first configuration of the storage system;

determining, using the first data of the first configuration of the storage system and second data related to element interactions of the storage system, a first operational characteristic of the first configuration that includes a first performance factor and a first storage usage factor;

generating, using the second data, at least a second configuration of the storage system that differs from the first configuration;

predicting, using the second data, at least a second operational characteristic of the second configuration that includes a second performance factor and a second storage usage factor;

generating, using the second data, at least a third configuration of the storage system that differs from the first and second configurations; and

predicting, using the second data, at least a third operational characteristic of the third configuration of the storage system that includes a third performance factor and a third storage usage factor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising proposing to configure the storage system in one of the first, second, and third configurations based on the first, second, and third performance factors and the first, second, and third storage usage factors.

12. A system for managing a storage facility, comprising:

a remote device; and

a host device, at least one of the remote device and the host device including a managing module, the managing module comprising;

a determining module that determines, using first data of a first configuration of the storage system and second data related to element interactions of the storage system, a first operational characteristic of the first configuration;

a generating module that generates, using the second data, at least a second configuration of the storage system that differs from the first configuration; and

a predicting module that predicts, using the second data, at least a second operational characteristic of the second configuration.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a collection module that collects the first data of the first configuration of the storage system.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the generating module generates, using the second data, at least a third configuration of the storage system that differs from the first and second configurations and the predicting module predicts, using the second data, at least a third operational characteristic of the third configuration of the storage system.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a suggestion module that proposes a suggested configuration for the storage system based on a preferred operational characteristic.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one of:

an establishing module that establishes a chosen configuration for the storage system; and

a training module that trains how to establish at least one possible configuration for the storage system.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first data includes at least one of a group consisting of:

a storage-construct category of information that includes a storage group, a management class, and a storage class;

an automatic-class-selection (ACS) routine category of information that includes transition outcomes for the management class and the storage class;

an administration category of information that includes naming information;

a directory category of information that includes metadata about objects;

a parameter-settings category of information that includes client preferences, delay information, and allocation choices;

an exit category of information that includes object expiration permissions; and

a client preference category of information related to a performance factor and a storage usage factor.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the second data related to element interactions of the storage system includes information related to an interaction of components of the storage system and is associated with at least one of a storage-construct category of information, an automatic-class-selection (ACS) routine category of information, an administration category of information, a directory category of information, a parameter-settings category of information, an exit category of information, and a client preference category of information.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second configurations include at least one value for at least one of a storage-construct category of information, an automatic-class-selection (ACS) routine category of information, an administration category of information, a directory category of information, a parameter-settings category of information, an exit category of information, and a client preference category of information.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second operational characteristics include at least one of a performance factor and a storage usage factor.