Logical partitioning method for storage system
View Patent ↗When a static logical partition is set in a storage system, wasted resources are generated depending on the load state of the logical partition. Thus, after a logical partition is created, the storage system reconfigures the assignment of resources to the logical partition based on a predetermined configuration. The timing of a resource assignment reconfiguration is based on a job execution schedule, which is associated with a predetermined configuration, and which is executed by a computer utilizing the logical partition. There is also a constitution, wherein a computer sends a predetermined command to the storage system to instruct the storage system to reconfigure the resource assignment. There is also a constitution of a storage system, wherein a resource required for reconfiguring the resource assignment to the logical partition is reserved beforehand, and this reservation is canceled after the passage of a predetermined period of time.
1. A storage system comprising:
a control unit;
a plurality of disk devices connected to the control unit; and
a plurality of ports connectable to a plurality of computers and connected to the control unit,
wherein the control unit configures a plurality of logical partitions used for a plurality of the computers by using resources which the storage system includes,
wherein the control unit re-configures the resources of one of the plurality of logical partitions based on one of predetermined patterns,
wherein said one of the patterns includes information which indicates a combination of the resources to be assigned to the one of the plurality of logical partitions,
wherein the control unit has resource information which includes information whether the resources are assigned to the plurality of logical partitions or not, and
wherein the control unit re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions by using part of the resources which are not assigned to the plurality of logical partitions based on the resource information and the one of the patterns.
2. A storage system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions when the control unit receives a command from one of the plurality of computers that uses the one of the plurality of logical partitions.
3. A storage system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the one of the patterns is related to one of a plurality of jobs which is executed in the one of the plurality of computers.
4. A storage system according to claim 3 ,
wherein the command is issued when the one of the plurality of jobs is executed in the one of the plurality of computers, and
wherein the control unit selects the one of patterns for re-configuring when the control unit receives the command.
5. A storage system according to claim 4 ,
wherein the resources include a plurality of the ports, a plurality of processors which the control unit includes, and a memory area of a cache memory which the control unit includes.
6. A storage system according to claim 5 ,
wherein the control unit secures a predetermined amount of the resources which is sufficient for the one of the patterns from the part of resources which are not assigned to the plurality of logical partitions by using the resource information before receiving the command, and
wherein the control unit re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions based on the predetermined amount of resources when the control unit receives the command.
7. A storage system according to claim 6 ,
wherein the control unit releases the predetermined amount of resources after execution of the one of the jobs.
8. A storage system according to claim 7 ,
wherein the control unit secures or releases the predetermined amount of resources based on a schedule of execution of the one of the jobs.
9. A storage system according to claim 8 ,
wherein the patterns include a basic pattern which includes information of an average amount of resources to be used in the plurality of logical partitions.
10. A storage system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one of the patterns is related to the one of the jobs which is executed in the one of the plurality of computers, and
wherein the control unit re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions synchronized with a schedule of execution of the one of the jobs.
11. A system comprising:
a plurality of computers; and
a storage system connected to the plurality of computers,
wherein the storage system configures a plurality of logical partitions used for the plurality of the computers by using resources which the storage system includes,
wherein the storage system re-configures the resources of one of the plurality of logical partitions based on one of predetermined patterns,
wherein said one of the patterns includes information which indicates a combination of the resources to be assigned to the one of the plurality of logical partitions,
wherein the storage system has resource information which includes information whether the resources are assigned to the plurality of logical partitions or not, and
wherein the storage system re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions by using part of the resources which are not assigned to the plurality of logical partitions based on the resource information and the one of the patterns.
12. A system according to claim 11 ,
wherein one of the plurality of computers executes a plurality of jobs by using the one of the plurality of logical partitions,
wherein the one of the patterns has a connection with one of the plurality of jobs, and
wherein the storage system re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions when the one of the plurality of computers is about to start the one of the plurality of jobs.
13. A system according to claim 12 ,
wherein the one of the computers issues a command to the storage system when the one of the plurality of jobs is started, and
wherein the storage system re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions when the storage system receives the command.
14. A system according to claim 13 ,
wherein the one of the plurality of computers includes job information that includes information of a schedule of execution of the one of the plurality of jobs,
wherein the one of the plurality of computers issues a second command before executing the one of the plurality of jobs based on the job information,
wherein the storage system secures a predetermined amount of the resources which is sufficient for the one of patterns from the part of resources which are not assigned to the plurality of logical partitions by using the resource information when the storage system receives the second command, and
wherein the storage system re-configures the one of the plurality of logical partitions based on the predetermined amount of resources when the storage system receives the command.
15. A system according to claim 14 ,
wherein the one of the plurality of computers issues a third command after execution of the one of the plurality of jobs based on the job information, and
wherein the storage system releases the predetermined amount of resources when the storage system receives the third command.