Managing a quorum device for a storage system

1 . A computer implemented method for managing a quorum device for a storage system comprising a network of storage controllers of storage clusters, the computer implemented method comprising:

designating a first storage controller as a volume-based quorum device for a second storage controller, wherein the first storage controller is aware of being designated and functions as the volume-based quorum device based on a message received by the first storage controller from the second storage controller, and wherein the message is indicative of the first storage controller being designated as the volume-based quorum device and responsive to receipt of the message, the first storage controller functions as the volume-based quorum device;

taking snapshots of cluster state metadata at known points and saving the snapshots as quorum volumes; and

recovering a storage cluster from the cluster state metadata.

2 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the cluster state metadata comprises cluster configuration data or cluster volume content data, and wherein the computer implemented method further comprise:

selecting recovery points for taking the snapshots depending on the cluster state metadata.

3 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

dynamically provisioning the quorum volumes between the first and second storage controllers.

4 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transferring the quorum volumes to another cluster when a quorum-providing cluster is decommissioned.

5 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to designating the first storage controller as the volume-based quorum device for the second storage controller, requiring authentication for the first storage controller to be designated as the volume-based quorum device, wherein the authentication meets authentication requirements of the second storage controller.

6 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

requiring authentication to enable operations associated with the quorum volumes.

7 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

integrating storage-centric actions into a control flow of the volume-based quorum device, wherein the storage-centric actions include one or more of: volume snapshotting, safeguarded copies, and migration.

8 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein taking the snapshots of the cluster state metadata further comprises:

creating a safeguarded copy of the quorum volumes.

9 . The computer implemented method of claim 8 , wherein creating the safeguarded copy occurs at significant configuration actions upon the quorum volumes.

10 . The computer implemented method of claim 9 , wherein more than one safeguarded copy is retained and is used for a point-in-time recovery of the quorum volumes.

11 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically discovering and selecting the volume-based quorum device.

12 . A system for managing a quorum device for a storage system having a network of storage controllers of storage clusters, the system comprising:

a processor and a memory that comprises program instructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

designate a first storage controller as a volume-based quorum device for a second storage controller, wherein the first storage controller is aware of being designated and functions as the volume-based quorum device based on a message received by the first storage controller from the second storage controller, and wherein the message is indicative of the first storage controller being designated as the volume-based quorum device and responsive to receipt of the message, the first storage controller functions as the volume-based quorum device;

take snapshots of cluster state metadata at known points and save the snapshots as quorum volumes; and

recover a storage cluster from the cluster state metadata.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cluster state metadata comprises cluster configuration data or cluster volume content data, and wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

select recovery points for taking the snapshots depending on the cluster state metadata.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

dynamically provision the quorum volumes between the first and second storage controllers.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

transfer the quorum volumes to another cluster when a quorum-providing cluster is decommissioned.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

prior to the designation of the first storage controller as the volume-based quorum device for the second storage controller, require authentication for the first storage controller to be designated as the volume-based quorum device, wherein the authentication meets authentication requirements of the second storage controller.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

integrate storage-centric actions into a control flow of the volume-based quorum device, wherein the storage-centric actions include one or more of: volume snapshotting, safeguarded copies, and migration.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to take snapshots of the cluster state metadata, the instructions further cause the processor to:

create a safeguarded copy of the quorum volumes.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

automatically discover and select the volume-based quorum device.

20 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to:

designate a first storage controller as a volume-based quorum device for a second storage controller, wherein the first storage controller is aware of being designated and functions as the volume-based quorum device based on a message received by the first storage controller from the second storage controller, and wherein the message is indicative of the first storage controller being designated as the volume-based quorum device and responsive to receipt of the message, the first storage controller functions as the volume-based quorum device;

take snapshots of cluster state metadata at known points and save the snapshots as quorum volumes; and

recover a storage cluster from the cluster state metadata.