IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,396,061
Granted Patent B1
US 9,396,061 · App. 14/143,988 · Granted Jul 19, 2016

Automated repair of storage system components via data analytics

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,396,061
App. No.
14/143,988
Granted
Jul 19, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

An improved technique involves automatically applying a mapping from anomalous values of a parameter that describes the performance of a component to a defect in the component. As part of operations of a data storage system, a computer collects data related to performance metrics of components of the data storage system. Upon receiving the data, the computer determines sequences of values of the performance metrics that indicate anomalous behavior of the component. The computer than maps these values to a defect of the component, and performs a corrective operation on the component to correct the defect.

Claims (89)

1. A method of taking corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system, the method comprising:

collecting, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identifying, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

applying, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component; and

performing, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

wherein collecting the component metric data includes performing a filtering operation on the values of the parameters, the filtering operation causing the values of the set of parameters to have a minimum signal to noise ratio over a period of time previous to a period of time over which the set of values of the parameters is obtained.

2. A method of taking corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system, the method comprising:

collecting, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identifying, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

applying, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component;

performing, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

performing a verification operation, a result of the verification operation being a verification of whether the corrective operation corrects the defect;

inputting the result of the verification operation into a machine learning model configured to adjust the mapping based on the result of the verification operation; and

adjusting the mapping according to the machine learning model.

3. A method as in claim 2 ,

wherein the mapping includes a set of weights, each of the set of weights i) corresponding to a value of a parameter of the set of parameters that describe the performance of the component within the data storage system and ii) defining a significance of the parameter to an overall performance of the component;

wherein adjusting the mapping according to the machine learning model includes:

setting the value of each of the set of weights based on the result of the verification operation.

4. A method as in claim 2 ,

wherein collecting the component metric data includes:

obtaining the set of values of the parameters at instants of time over a specified period of time, the set of values including each value of the parameters and a corresponding timestamp indicating an instant of time at which that value of the parameters was obtained, and

storing the set of values in memory as the values of the parameters are obtained; and

wherein applying the mapping includes:

extracting the subset of the set of values of the parameters from memory after the set of values are obtained over the specified period of time, and

inputting the subset of the set of values into the mapping.

5. A method as in claim 4 ,

wherein storing the set of values in memory as the values of the parameters are obtained includes:

performing a filtering operation on the values of the parameters, the filtering operation causing the values of the set of parameters to have a minimum signal to noise ratio over the previous period of time.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein identifying the subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data includes identifying, as the subset of the set of the values, a sequence of the values that indicate an anomalous performance of the component.

7. An electronic apparatus constructed and arranged to take corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system, including a controller including controlling circuitry coupled to the memory, the controlling circuitry being constructed and arranged to:

collect, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identify, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

apply, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component;

perform, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

perform a verification operation, a result of the verification operation being a verification of whether the corrective operation corrects the defect;

input the result of the verification operation into a machine learning model configured to adjust the mapping based on the result of the verification operation; and

adjust the mapping according to the machine learning model.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 ,

wherein the mapping includes a set of weights, each of the set of weights i) corresponding to a value of a parameter of the set of parameters that describe the performance of the component within the data storage system and ii) defining a significance of the parameter to an overall performance of the component;

wherein the controlling circuitry constructed and arranged to adjust the mapping according to the machine learning model is further constructed and arranged to:

set the value of each of the set of weights based on the result of the verification operation.

9. An electronic apparatus constructed and arranged to take corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system, including a controller including controlling circuitry coupled to the memory, the controlling circuitry being constructed and arranged to:

collect, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identify, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

apply, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component; and

perform, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

wherein the controlling circuitry constructed and arranged to collect the component metric data is further constructed and arranged to:

obtain the set of values of the parameters at instants of time over a specified period of time, the set of values including each value of the parameters and a corresponding timestamp indicating an instant of time at which that value of the parameters was obtained, and

store the set of values in memory as the values of the parameters are obtained; and

wherein the controlling circuitry constructed and arranged to apply the mapping is further constructed and arranged to:

extract the subset of the set of values of the parameters from memory after the set of values are obtained over the specified period of time, and

input the subset of the set of values into the mapping.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 ,

wherein the controlling circuitry constructed and arranged to store the set of values in memory as the values of the parameters are obtained is further constructed and arranged to:

perform a filtering operation on the values of the parameters, the filtering operation causing the values of the set of parameters to have a minimum signal to noise ratio over the previous period of time.

11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium which stores instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to take corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system by:

collecting, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identifying, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

applying, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component;

performing, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

performing a verification operation, a result of the verification operation being a verification of whether the corrective operation corrects the defect;

inputting the result of the verification operation into a machine learning model configured to adjust the mapping based on the result of the verification operation; and

adjusting the mapping according to the machine learning model.

12. A computer program product as in claim 11 ,

wherein the mapping includes a set of weights, each of the set of weights i) corresponding to a value of a parameter of the set of parameters that describe the performance of the component within the data storage system and ii) defining a significance of the parameter to an overall performance of the component;

wherein adjusting the mapping according to the machine learning model includes:

setting the value of each of the set of weights based on the result of the verification operation.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium which stores instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to take corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system by:

collecting, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identifying, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

applying, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component; and

performing, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

wherein collecting the component metric data includes:

obtaining the set of values of the parameters at instants of time over a specified period of time, the set of values including each value of the parameters and a corresponding timestamp indicating an instant of time at which that value of the parameters was obtained, and

storing the set of values in memory as the values of the parameters are obtained; and

wherein applying the mapping includes:

extracting the subset of the set of values of the parameters from memory after the set of values are obtained over the specified period of time, and

inputting the subset of the set of values into the mapping.

14. A method of taking corrective action in connection with a component of a data storage system, the method comprising:

collecting, by a computer, component metric data from the component of the data storage system, the component metric data including a set of values of parameters that describe a performance of the component within the data storage system;

identifying, by the computer, a subset of the set of values that is indicative of an abnormal performance of the component metric data;

applying, by the computer, a mapping from the subset of the set of values to a defect in the component; and

performing, by the computer, a corrective operation on the defect in the component of the data storage system, the corrective operation being configured to correct the defect;

wherein collecting the component metric data includes:

obtaining the set of values of the parameters at instants of time over a specified period of time, the set of values including each value of the parameters and a corresponding timestamp indicating an instant of time at which that value of the parameters was obtained, and

storing the set of values in memory as the values of the parameters are obtained; and

wherein applying the mapping includes:

extracting the subset of the set of values of the parameters from memory after the set of values are obtained over the specified period of time, and

inputting the subset of the set of values into the mapping.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: EMC CORPORATION
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 040206/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2014
From: NAIR, SUDHAKARAN
To: EMC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032119/0183 →