Storage cluster utilizing differing load balancers
A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together and a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together. The system includes an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster and a first pathway coupling the interconnect to each storage cluster. The system includes a second pathway, the second pathway coupling at least one fabric module within a chassis to each blade within the chassis.
1 . A storage system, comprising:
a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together;
a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together;
an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster, the interconnect configured to perform a first load balancing operation to identify which storage cluster the data should be transmitted, wherein the identified storage cluster comprises:
a load balancer to perform a second load balancing operation to identify a storage node among the plurality of storage nodes for the identified storage cluster to which the data should be transmitted.
2 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of storage nodes of the first storage cluster has a differing network bandwidth than another one of the plurality of storage nodes of the first storage cluster.
3 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first load balancing operation is based on a number of storage nodes in respective storage clusters.
4 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first load balancing operation is based on aggregate bandwidth of storage nodes in respective storage clusters.
5 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the second load balancing operation is based on a table accessed by a fabric module, and wherein the fabric module is configurable to forward data to a storage node in a differing storage cluster.
6 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the interconnect is a pair of redundant switches.
7 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the storage system presents a single media access control address to external networks.
8 . A method of load balancing for a storage system, comprising:
receiving an input/output (I/O) request at a switch coupled to multiple storage clusters, each of the multiple storage clusters having multiple storage nodes;
forwarding the I/O request from the switch to a fabric module of one of the multiple storage clusters based on a first load balancing mechanism; and
forwarding the I/O request from the fabric module of the one of the multiple storage clusters based upon a second load balancing mechanism, the second load balancing mechanism differing from the first load balancing mechanism.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first load balancing mechanism is based on an amount of storage nodes within each of the multiple storage clusters.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second load balancing mechanism is based on a table accessed by the fabric module, and wherein the fabric module is configurable to forward data to a storage node in a differing storage cluster.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the multiple storage nodes within one of the multiple storage clusters have differing network bandwidth rates.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first load balancing mechanism is based on aggregate bandwidth of storage nodes within one of the storage clusters.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the storage system presents a single media access control address to external networks.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein storage clusters with differing storage node populations receive differing traffic loads.
15 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
receiving an input/output (I/O) request at a switch coupled to multiple storage clusters, each of the multiple storage clusters having multiple storage nodes;
forwarding the I/O request from the switch to a fabric module of one of the multiple storage clusters based on a first load balancing mechanism; and
forwarding the I/O request from the fabric module of the one of the multiple storage clusters based upon a second load balancing mechanism, the second load balancing mechanism differing from the first load balancing mechanism.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first load balancing mechanism is based on an amount of storage nodes within each of the multiple storage clusters.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second load balancing mechanism is based on a table accessed by the fabric module, and wherein the fabric module is configurable to forward data to a storage node in a differing storage cluster.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the multiple storage nodes within one of the multiple storage clusters have differing network bandwidth rates.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first load balancing mechanism is based on aggregate bandwidth of storage nodes within one of the storage clusters.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the storage system presents a single media access control address to external networks.