IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,423,712
Granted Patent B2
US 8,423,712 · App. 13/466,771 · Granted Apr 16, 2013

Methods and systems for releasing and re-allocating storage segments in a storage volume

Inventors: Brian D. Hatfield (Tucson, AZ); Kurt A. Lovrien (Tucson, AZ); Oladimeji O. Omoniyi (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,423,712
App. No.
13/466,771
Granted
Apr 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Storage segments in a storage volume coupled to a cache memory are released and re-allocated. A processor receives notice to release a segment allocated to the storage volume. A release pending status is assigned to the segment while preparing the segment for release. The storage volume is enabled to re-claim the segment while the segment includes the release pending status.

Claims (46)

1. A method for releasing and re-allocating storage segments in a storage volume coupled to a cache memory, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, notice to release a segment allocated to the storage volume;

assigning a release pending status to the segment while preparing the segment for release;

enabling the storage volume to re-claim the segment while the segment includes the release pending status; and

denying a reclaim request from another storage volume while the segment includes the release pending status.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

releasing the segment;

removing the release pending status from the segment after releasing the segment; and

enabling a different storage volume or the storage volume to claim the segment after removal of the release pending status.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing the release pending status for the segment;

releasing the segment after removing the release pending status; and

enabling a different storage volume or the storage volume to claim the segment after removal of the release pending status.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the storage volume is able to re-claim the segment until the release pending status for the segment is removed.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the segment after removing the release pending status for the segment, wherein the storage volume is able to re-claim the segment until the release pending status for the segment is removed.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

releasing the segment;

removing the release pending status from the segment after releasing the segment; and

enabling a different storage volume to claim the segment after removal of the release pending status.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein releasing the segment comprises releasing the segment after the release pending status for the segment is removed, wherein the storage volume is able to re-claim the segment until the release pending status for the segment is removed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising destaging metadata representing the segment while the segment includes the release pending status.

9. A method for releasing and re-allocating storage segments in a storage volume coupled to a cache memory, the method comprising:

setting up a thin provisioning environment comprising a plurality of storage volumes including the storage volume and one or more ranks including one or more segments;

receiving, by a processor device, a write request to the storage volume;

determining, by the processor device, if a segment is allocated to the storage volume;

processing the write request, if the segment is allocated to the storage volume;

receiving, by the processor device, notice to release the segment allocated to the storage volume;

assigning a release pending status to the segment while preparing the segment for release;

enabling the particular storage volume to re-claim the segment while the segment includes the release pending status; and

denying a reclaim request from another storage volume while the segment includes the release pending status.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

releasing the segment;

removing the release pending status from the segment after releasing the segment; and

enabling a different storage volume or the storage volume to claim the segment after removal of the release pending status.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

removing the release pending status for the segment;

releasing the segment after removing the release pending status; and

enabling a different storage volume or the storage volume to claim the segment after removal of the release pending status.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the storage volume is able to re-claim the segment until the release pending status for the segment is removed.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising releasing the segment after removing the release pending status for the segment, wherein the storage volume is able to re-claim the segment until the release pending status for the segment is removed.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

releasing the segment;

removing the release pending status from the segment after releasing the segment; and

enabling a different storage volume to claim the segment after removal of the release pending status.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein releasing the segment comprises releasing the segment after the release pending status for the segment is removed, wherein the storage volume is able to re-claim the segment until the release pending status for the segment is removed.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising destaging metadata representing the segment while the segment includes the release pending status.

Continuity (2)
Continuation 12859137 · Aug 18, 2010
Related Publication 20120226886A1 · Sep 6, 2012