IP Library Granted Patent US 11,157,172
Granted Patent B2
US 11,157,172 · App. 16/836,362 · Granted Oct 26, 2021

Method for managing storage devices, electronic device and computer-readable medium

Inventors: Haiying Tang (Beijing, CN); Geng Han (Beijing, CN); Lifeng Yang (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
G06F3/0607G06F3/0631G06F3/0689
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,157,172
App. No.
16/836,362
Granted
Oct 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for managing storage devices involve: combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) into a group of devices in an order of physical storage capacities; determining a first number of device sets based on a number of devices in the group and a threshold number of devices to be divided into each set, the number of the devices being greater than the threshold number; selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group, each capacity promotion set including a second number of devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the RAID and a number of devices in each set that is reserved; and forming the first number of sets by combining each of capacity promotion set and devices in the group other than each capacity promotion set.

Claims (91)

1. A method of managing storage devices, comprising:

combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks into a group of storage devices in an order of physical capacities of the storage devices;

determining a first number of sets of storage devices based on a number of the storage devices in the group and a threshold number of storage devices to be divided into each of the sets, the number of the storage devices being greater than the threshold number;

selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices, each of the at least one capacity promotion set comprising a second number of storage devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the redundant array of independent disks and a number of storage devices in each of the sets that are reserved; and

forming the first number of sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set and other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set;

wherein forming the first number of sets comprises:

forming a plurality of groups of candidate sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set with the other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set, each of the groups of candidate sets comprising the first number of candidate sets;

determining an effective capacity of each of the groups of candidate sets; and

determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has a maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has a maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets comprises:

in response to determining that a first group of candidate sets and a second group of candidate sets in the plurality of groups of candidate sets both have the maximum effective capacity, selecting a first set having a maximum effective capacity from the first group of candidate sets and a second set having a maximum effective capacity from the second group of candidate sets; and

in response to an effective capacity of the first set being greater than an effective capacity of the second set, determining the first group of candidate sets as the first number of the sets.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the group of storage devices at least comprises a first subgroup of storage devices having a first physical capacity and a second subgroup of storage devices having a second physical capacity, the first physical capacity being different from the second physical capacity; and

selecting the at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices comprises: for each of the first subgroup of storage devices and the second subgroup of storage devices,

in response to a number of storage devices in a respective subgroup of storage devices being above the second number, selecting the second number of storage devices from the respective subgroup of storage devices as one of the at least one capacity promotion set.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has the maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets includes:

using a first storage device dividing option over a second storage device dividing option in response to evaluating the first storage device dividing option and the second storage device dividing option, the first storage device dividing option including a first redundant array of independent disks (RAID) resiliency set (RRS) and a second RRS, the second storage device dividing option including a third RRS and a fourth RRS, and the first RRS having a greatest effective capacity among the second RRS, the third RRS, and the fourth RRS.

5. A method of managing storage devices, comprising:

combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks into a group of storage devices in an order of physical capacities of the storage devices;

determining a first number of sets of storage devices based on a number of the storage devices in the group and a threshold number of storage devices to be divided into each of the sets, the number of the storage devices being greater than the threshold number;

selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices, each of the at least one capacity promotion set comprising a second number of storage devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the redundant array of independent disks and a number of storage devices in each of the sets that are reserved; and

forming the first number of sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set and other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set;

wherein:

the group of storage devices at least comprises a first subgroup of storage devices having a first physical capacity and a second subgroup of storage devices having a second physical capacity, the first physical capacity being different from the second physical capacity; and

selecting the at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices comprises: for each of the first subgroup of storage devices and the second subgroup of storage devices,

in response to a number of storage devices in a respective subgroup of storage devices being above the second number, selecting the second number of storage devices from the respective subgroup of storage devices as one of the at least one capacity promotion set.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein combining storage devices in the redundant array of independent disks into the group of storage devices in the order of physical capacities of the storage devices comprises:

combining the storage devices in the redundant array of independent disks into the group of storage devices in a descending order of the physical capacities of the storage devices.

7. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer programs which, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform acts comprising:

combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks into a group of storage devices in an order of physical capacities of the storage devices;

determining a first number of sets of storage devices based on a number of the storage devices in the group and a threshold number of storage devices to be divided into each of the sets, the number of the storage devices being greater than the threshold number;

selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices, each of the at least one capacity promotion set comprising a second number of storage devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the redundant array of independent disks and a number of storage devices in each of the sets that are reserved; and

forming the first number of sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set and other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set;

wherein forming the first number of sets comprises:

forming a plurality of groups of candidate sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set with the other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set, each of the groups of candidate sets comprising the first number of candidate sets;

determining an effective capacity of each of the groups of candidate sets; and

determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has a maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has a maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets comprises:

in response to determining that a first group of candidate sets and a second group of candidate sets in the plurality of groups of candidate sets both have the maximum effective capacity, selecting a first set having a maximum effective capacity from the first group of candidate sets and a second set having a maximum effective capacity from the second group of candidate sets; and

in response to an effective capacity of the first set being greater than an effective capacity of the second set, determining the first group of candidate sets as the first number of the sets.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the group of storage devices at least comprises a first subgroup of storage devices having a first physical capacity and a second subgroup of storage devices having a second physical capacity, the first physical capacity being different from the second physical capacity; and

selecting the at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices comprises: for each of the first subgroup of storage devices and the second subgroup of storage devices,

in response to a number of storage devices in a respective subgroup of storage devices being above the second number, selecting the second number of storage devices from the respective subgroup of storage devices as one of the at least one capacity promotion set.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has the maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets includes:

using a first storage device dividing option over a second storage device dividing option in response to evaluating the first storage device dividing option and the second storage device dividing option, the first storage device dividing option including a first redundant array of independent disks (RAID) resiliency set (RRS) and a second RRS, the second storage device dividing option including a third RRS and a fourth RRS, and the first RRS having a greatest effective capacity among the second RRS, the third RRS, and the fourth RRS.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer programs which, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform acts comprising:

combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks into a group of storage devices in an order of physical capacities of the storage devices;

determining a first number of sets of storage devices based on a number of the storage devices in the group and a threshold number of storage devices to be divided into each of the sets, the number of the storage devices being greater than the threshold number;

selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices, each of the at least one capacity promotion set comprising a second number of storage devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the redundant array of independent disks and a number of storage devices in each of the sets that are reserved; and

forming the first number of sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set and other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set;

wherein:

the group of storage devices at least comprises a first subgroup of storage devices having a first physical capacity and a second subgroup of storage devices having a second physical capacity, the first physical capacity being different from the second physical capacity; and

selecting the at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices comprises: for each of the first subgroup of storage devices and the second subgroup of storage devices,

in response to a number of storage devices in a respective subgroup of storage devices being above the second number, selecting the second number of storage devices from the respective subgroup of storage devices as one of the at least one capacity promotion set.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein combining storage devices in the redundant array of independent disks into the group of storage devices in the order of physical capacities of the storage devices comprises:

combining the storage devices in the redundant array of independent disks into the group of storage devices in a descending order of the physical capacities of the storage devices.

13. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions to manage storage devices; the set of instructions, when carried out by computerized circuitry, causing the computerized circuitry to perform a method of:

combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks into a group of storage devices in an order of physical capacities of the storage devices;

determining a first number of sets of storage devices based on a number of the storage devices in the group and a threshold number of storage devices to be divided into each of the sets, the number of the storage devices being greater than the threshold number;

selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices, each of the at least one capacity promotion set comprising a second number of storage devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the redundant array of independent disks and a number of storage devices in each of the sets that are reserved; and

forming the first number of sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set and storage devices in the group of storage devices other than the at least one capacity promotion set;

wherein forming the first number of sets comprises:

forming a plurality of groups of candidate sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set with the other storage devices in the group of storage devices than the at least one capacity promotion set, each of the groups of candidate sets comprising the first number of candidate sets;

determining an effective capacity of each of the groups of candidate sets; and

determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has a maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has a maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets comprises:

in response to determining that a first group of candidate sets and a second group of candidate sets in the plurality of groups of candidate sets both have the maximum effective capacity, selecting a first set having a maximum effective capacity from the first group of candidate sets and a second set having a maximum effective capacity from the second group of candidate sets; and

in response to an effective capacity of the first set being greater than an effective capacity of the second set, determining the first group of candidate sets as the first number of the sets.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein:

the group of storage devices at least comprises a first subgroup of storage devices having a first physical capacity and a second subgroup of storage devices having a second physical capacity, the first physical capacity being different from the second physical capacity; and

selecting the at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices comprises: for each of the first subgroup of storage devices and the second subgroup of storage devices,

in response to a number of storage devices in a respective subgroup of storage devices being above the second number, selecting the second number of storage devices from the respective subgroup of storage devices as one of the at least one capacity promotion set.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein determining one of the plurality of groups of candidate sets that has the maximum effective capacity as the first number of sets includes:

using a first storage device dividing option over a second storage device dividing option in response to evaluating the first storage device dividing option and the second storage device dividing option, the first storage device dividing option including a first redundant array of independent disks (RAID) resiliency set (RRS) and a second RRS, the second storage device dividing option including a third RRS and a fourth RRS, and the first RRS having a greatest effective capacity among the second RRS, the third RRS, and the fourth RRS.

17. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions to manage storage devices; the set of instructions, when carried out by computerized circuitry, causing the computerized circuitry to perform a method of:

combining storage devices in a redundant array of independent disks into a group of storage devices in an order of physical capacities of the storage devices;

determining a first number of sets of storage devices based on a number of the storage devices in the group and a threshold number of storage devices to be divided into each of the sets, the number of the storage devices being greater than the threshold number;

selecting at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices, each of the at least one capacity promotion set comprising a second number of storage devices having a same physical capacity, the second number being equal to a sum of a width of the redundant array of independent disks and a number of storage devices in each of the sets that are reserved; and

forming the first number of sets by combining each of the at least one capacity promotion set and storage devices in the group of storage devices other than the at least one capacity promotion set;

wherein:

the group of storage devices at least comprises a first subgroup of storage devices having a first physical capacity and a second subgroup of storage devices having a second physical capacity, the first physical capacity being different from the second physical capacity; and

selecting the at least one capacity promotion set from the group of storage devices comprises: for each of the first subgroup of storage devices and the second subgroup of storage devices,

in response to a number of storage devices in a respective subgroup of storage devices being above the second number, selecting the second number of storage devices from the respective subgroup of storage devices as one of the at least one capacity promotion set.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein combining storage devices in the redundant array of independent disks into the group of storage devices in the order of physical capacities of the storage devices comprises:

combining the storage devices in the redundant array of independent disks into the group of storage devices in a descending order of the physical capacities of the storage devices.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0081) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0441 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0917) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0509 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052852/0022) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052771 FRAME 0906 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0298 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0917 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0081 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052852/0022 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052771/0906 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2020
From: TANG, HAIYING; HAN, GENG; YANG, LIFENG
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 052748/0464 →
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 →