TECHNIQUES FOR STORAGE CONTROLLER QUALITY OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT

• US 20150106532A1
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: NORTH, GERAINT, JARVIS, MATTHEW J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,397,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 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: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

A technique for managing a data network includes monitoring data transfer rates and data transfer thresholds for data transferred between storage and an application. Feedback on the suitability of the data transfer rate is collected from the application. A data transfer threshold for the application is changed based on the monitored data transfer rate and the collected feedback.

Claims

1. A network controller, comprising:

monitor logic configured to monitor a data transfer rate and a data transfer threshold for data transferred between storage and an application;

collector logic configured to collect feedback on the suitability of the transfer data rate from the application; and

threshold adjuster logic configured to change the data transfer threshold for the application based on the monitored data transfer rate and the collected feedback.

2. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the data transfer threshold corresponds to a data transfer threshold in a storage controller.

3. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the data transfer threshold corresponds to a data transfer threshold in a network switch.

4. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the network controller is further configured to set a minimum data transfer rate as the monitored data transfer rate for the application, in response to the application indicating that a required performance level has been reached.

5. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the feedback includes an application programming interface (API) message that indicates that a required performance level has been reached for the application.

6. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the network controller is further configured to request feedback from the application.

7. The network controller of claim 1, wherein communication between the application and the storage controller is performed using a same channel that is used for data transfer.

8. The network controller of claim 1, wherein communication between the application and the storage controller is out-of-band with storage traffic.

9. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the storage is not directly attached to a server that is executing the application.

10. The network controller of claim 1, wherein the network controller controls a level of the data transfer threshold based on quality of service (QoS) requirements.

11. A method of managing a data network comprising:

monitoring, using a processor, data transfer rates and data transfer thresholds for data transferred between storage and an application;

collecting, using the processor, feedback on the suitability of the data transfer rate from the application; and

changing, using the processor, a data transfer threshold for the application based on the monitored data transfer rate and the collected feedback.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data transfer threshold corresponds to a data transfer threshold in a storage controller.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the data transfer threshold corresponds to a data transfer threshold in a network switch.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

setting a minimum data transfer rate as the monitored data transfer rate for the application, in response to the application indicating that a required performance level has been reached.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the feedback includes an application programming interface (API) message for indicating that a required performance level has been reached.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

requesting the feedback from the application.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein communication between the application and the storage controller is performed using a same channel as is used for data transfer or is out-of-band with storage traffic.

18. A computer program product for controlling network communication, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage device;

computer-readable program code embodied on the computer-readable storage device, wherein the computer-readable program code, when executed by a processor, configures the processor to;

monitor data transfer rates and data transfer thresholds for data transferred between storage and an application;

collect feedback on the suitability of the data transfer rate from the application; and

change a data transfer threshold for the application based on the monitored data transfer rate and the collected feedback.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the data transfer threshold corresponds to a data transfer threshold in a storage controller or a data transfer threshold in a network switch.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein communication between the application and the storage controller is performed using a same channel as is used for data transfer or is out-of-band with storage traffic.