Method and apparatus for optimizing computer network usage to prevent congestion
A method and apparatus for optimizing computer network bandwidth usage to prevent congestion is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises comparing a permissible bandwidth usage with a data transfer rate to produce a comparison result and adjusting the data transfer rate for performing at least one data transfer operation based on the comparison result.
1. A method comprising:
determining an action to perform with regard to a backup operation, using a processor of a computer system, wherein
the action is determined based, at least in part, on a bandwidth range of a network connection,
the action is one of a plurality of actions, and
the plurality of actions comprise
performing static throttling, and
performing dynamic throttling, wherein
the dynamic throttling uses a network throttling profile of a plurality of network throttling profiles, and
the performing the dynamic throttling comprises
comparing a permissible bandwidth usage and a data transfer rate, wherein
the permissible bandwidth usage is determined using the network throttling profile,
the backup operation comprises performing a data transfer via the network connection, and
the data transfer is performed at the data transfer rate, and
adjusting the data transfer rate based, at least in part, on a result of the comparing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the bandwidth range is determined based, at least in part, on a hardware configuration of a network adapter, and
the network connection uses the network adapter.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein
the backup operation is one of a plurality of backup operations, and
the plurality of backup operations share the network adapter.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the backup operation is one of a plurality of backup operations, and
the plurality of backup operations share the network connection.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the static throttling uses a static throttling algorithm.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the bandwidth range, wherein
the bandwidth range is one of a plurality of bandwidth ranges.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein
the plurality of network throttling profiles is one of a set of pluralities of network throttling profiles,
each plurality of network throttling profiles of the set of pluralities of network throttling profiles corresponds to one of the plurality of bandwidth ranges, and
the plurality of network throttling profiles corresponds to the bandwidth range.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
initiating the backup operation; and
if the dynamic throttling is performed,
during the backup operation,
determining a new data transfer rate of the data transfer,
performing the comparing using the new data rate, and
performing the adjusting.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actions further comprise:
preventing the backup operation from being performed; and
disabling network throttling.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the action is further determined based, at least in part, on at least one of
a network bandwidth available at the time the network backup operation is initiated,
a currently-available network bandwidth, or
a maximum network bandwidth, and
the maximum network bandwidth is a maximum bandwidth supported by a network adapter used by the network connection.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining the currently-available network bandwidth by recalculating the available bandwidth.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the data transfer is from a client to a storage subsystem, and
the network connection is between the client and the storage subsystem.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a bandwidth of each network connection of one or more network connections of the computer system; and
selecting a network connection of the one or more network connections, wherein
the selecting is based, at least in part, on a bandwidth of the network connection.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the dynamic throttling is performed,
selecting the network throttling profile from the plurality of network throttling profiles, wherein
the network throttling profile is selected based, at least in part, on the bandwidth range of the network connection,
the network throttling profile is based on information regarding the network backup operation,
the network connection is one of a plurality of network connections, and
each of the plurality of network throttling profiles is associated with at least one of the plurality of network connections.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
if the dynamic throttling is performed,
computing the permissible bandwidth usage, wherein
the permissible bandwidth usage is computed using the network throttling profile,
the permissible bandwidth usage comprises
a portion of available bandwidth of the network connection, and
the network throttling profile identifies the portion.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
computing the data transfer rate using a total data transmitted statistic and a total time elapsed statistic, wherein
the computing the available bandwidth is performed after expiration of a validity period, and
the adjusting the data transfer rate further comprises
determining a time period for which the performance of the at least one data transfer is paused.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the network throttling profile, wherein
the identifying the network throttling profile comprises
determining a network bandwidth of the network connection, wherein
the network bandwidth is based on a configured speed of the network connection,
determining the bandwidth range, wherein
the bandwidth range is determined using the network bandwidth,
the bandwidth range is one of a plurality of bandwidth ranges, and
each of the plurality of bandwidth ranges is associated with at least one of the plurality of network throttling profiles, and
identifying the network throttling profile that is associated with the bandwidth range.
18. An computer system comprising:
a processor;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor; and
a plurality of instructions, encoded in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and configured to cause the processor to
determine an action to perform with regard to a backup operation, using a processor of a computer system, wherein
the action is determined based, at least in part, on a bandwidth range of a network connection,
the action is one of a plurality of actions, and
the plurality of actions comprise
performing static throttling, and
performing dynamic throttling, wherein
the dynamic throttling uses a network throttling profile of a plurality of network throttling profiles, and
the performing the dynamic throttling comprises
comparing a permissible bandwidth usage and a data transfer rate, wherein
the permissible bandwidth usage is determined using the network throttling profile,
the backup operation comprises performing a data transfer via the network connection, and
the data transfer is performed at the data transfer rate, and
adjusting the data transfer rate based, at least in part, on a result of the comparing.
19. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
initiate the backup operation; and
if the dynamic throttling is performed,
during the backup operation,
determine a new data transfer rate of the data transfer,
perform the comparing using the new data rate, and
perform the adjusting.
20. A computer program product comprising:
a plurality of instructions, comprising
a first set of instructions, executable on a computer system, configured to
determine an action to perform with regard to a backup operation, using a processor of a computer system, wherein
the action is determined based, at least in part, on a bandwidth range of a network connection,
the action is one of a plurality of actions, and
the plurality of actions comprise
performing static throttling, and
performing dynamic throttling, wherein
the dynamic throttling uses a network throttling profile of a plurality of network throttling profiles, and
the performing the dynamic throttling comprises
comparing a permissible bandwidth usage and a data transfer rate, wherein
the permissible bandwidth usage is determined using the network throttling profile,
the backup operation comprises performing a data transfer via the network connection, and
the data transfer is performed at the data transfer rate, and
adjusting the data transfer rate based, at least in part, on a result of the comparing; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions are encoded in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.