JP2001184175A - Storage management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reconstruct logical disk structure to enable enhancement of access performance and use efficiency of a disk area. SOLUTION: An access information history database 4 stores history of access information for a storage deice 2 of a group 2 of storage devices. An access information history recording part 5 stores history information of the access information corresponding to an access request transmitted form a user to the storage device via a host computer in the access information history database 4. An access information history analyzing part 3 analyzes the history information of the access information stored in the access information history database 4 and simultaneously generates candidates for new logical disk structure based on an analysis result. A disk structure propriety diagnostic part 32 decides a degree of effect of the new logical disk structure based on the analysis result by the access information history analyzing part 33.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage management system, and more particularly to a storage management system for reconstructing a logical disk configuration in which physical disks are allocated to a plurality of logical disks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between physical disks and logical disks in a storage management system.

Conventionally, when a storage such as the storage device 8 shown in FIG. 8 is used in a computer system, the physical disk 81 in the storage device is not used in physical units as it is, but a plurality of physical disks 81 are used. Generally, a disk is shown as one logical disk, or a predetermined portion in the physical disk is shown as a plurality of logical disks. This is because, by adopting a logical disk configuration, it is possible to construct a flexible disk configuration adapted to the user's environment and usage status. Conventionally, when creating the above logical disk configuration,
By constructing a new logical disk configuration by considering only the access performance of the storage device and the remaining storage capacity,
The disk space was used efficiently.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional storage management system.

As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional storage management system comprises a plurality of host computers 6 connected to a network, a plurality of storage devices 7, a storage management device 63, a storage device information storage database 64, It comprises a logical disk configuration management unit 631 included in the storage management device 63 and a logical disk configuration database 634.

[0006] The conventional storage management system having such a configuration operates as follows.

That is, when adding a plurality of physical disks to a logical disk configuration, it is determined which physical disk is to be added to which logical disk configuration. At this time, each physical disk held in the storage device information storage database is determined. With reference to the access performance of the physical disk, the one having the highest access performance among the available physical disks is selected as a candidate. Alternatively, when a new storage device is added to the system in order to increase the capacity of an existing logical disk, it is retained in the storage device information storage database when deciding which logical disk should be added and how much disk capacity should be added. By referring to the remaining capacity of each of the logical disks, the candidate for adding each physical disk from the disk having the smaller remaining capacity is used. Ultimately, these information are combined to create a new logical disk configuration candidate.

[0008]

However, the above prior art has a problem that a logical disk is configured without reflecting the history of disk use from the past to the present. In other words, the configuration of the new logical disk has been limited to the stage where the logical disk is constructed based on the performance of the storage device and the remaining amount of the storage area at the time when the logical disk is to be configured.

Further, the above-mentioned prior art also has a problem that the configuration of the logical disk is made without reflecting the performance deterioration due to the mutual relation between a plurality of accesses. In other words, the configuration of the new logical disk has been limited to the stage where it is constructed in consideration of the average performance of access to one device, the performance value of one access, and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional storage management system, and has a logical disk configuration capable of improving access performance and increasing the use efficiency of a disk area. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage management system that can reconstruct a storage system.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a storage management system for a computer system in which a plurality of host computers and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a network. An access information history database storing information history; and an access information history storing access information history information corresponding to an access request transmitted from the user to the storage device via the host computer in the access information history database. Recording means; access information history analysis means for analyzing history information of access information stored in the access information history database and creating a new logical disk configuration candidate based on the analysis result; By means Based on the analysis result, characterized by having a disk configuration competence diagnosis means for determining the effect of the new logical disk configuration above, thereby achieving the above object.

Here, the access information history analysis means finds an access conflict among the plurality of storage devices in time series based on history information of the access information stored in the access information history database. Calculate the rate of increase of the used disk capacity of each logical disk or the rate of decrease of the remaining disk capacity over time,
A logical disk whose capacity is to be increased can be determined based on the disk capacity increment information within a predetermined period, and a new logical disk configuration candidate can be determined.

[0013] Further, the categories of the record items of the access information history database may include an access time, an identifier of a requesting host computer, an identifier of an access destination logical disk, an access type, and a write data amount. .

Further, the access information history analyzing means and the disk configuration validity diagnosing means have a request for a system reconfiguration which includes addition and deletion of a new storage device or a structural review for improving system efficiency. Can be started at that point.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute a storage management method of a computer system in which a plurality of host computers and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a network. Wherein the method stores the access information history information corresponding to the access request transmitted from the user to the storage device via the host computer in an access information history database. An access information history recording step of analyzing the access information history information stored in the access information history database and creating a new logical disk configuration candidate based on the analysis result; Access information history solution Based on the analysis result by means, characterized by having a disk configuration competence diagnosis determining the effect of the new logical disk configuration above,
Thereby, the above object can be achieved.

In the access information history analyzing step, an access conflict among the plurality of storage devices in time series is found based on history information of the access information stored in the access information history database. Along with it, calculate the rate of increase of the used disk capacity of each logical disk or the rate of decrease of the remaining disk capacity over time,
A logical disk whose capacity is to be increased can be determined based on the disk capacity increment information within a predetermined period, and a new logical disk configuration candidate can be determined.

The record items of the access information history database may include an access time, an identifier of a requesting host computer, an identifier of an access destination logical disk, an access type, and a write data amount. .

Further, in the access information history analyzing step and the disk configuration validity diagnosing step, there is a request for a system reconfiguration which includes addition and deletion of a new storage device or a structural review for improving system efficiency. It can be performed at the time.

That is, in the present invention, the configuration of a logical disk to be newly constructed is determined from the past access status (ie, access history) to a physical disk. Or the host computer has access information history recording means capable of storing access information together with elapsed time information in an access information history database in response to an access request from a user. Based on the information history, the access information history analysis means on the computer for managing the storage in the system operating as a storage management device accesses the physical disk in a time series and establishes the relationship between multiple storage devices. Discovery of access information with The validity diagnosis means determines the validity of the newly constructed logical disk configuration, and if the newly constructed logical disk configuration is valid, adopts this as a new logical disk configuration in the system. With such a configuration, the access performance of the computer system is improved, and the use efficiency of the disk area is improved.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The storage management system according to the present embodiment includes a host computer group 1, a storage device group 2, a storage management device 3, an access information history database 4, a logical disk configuration database connected to a network. 34.

Each of the host computers in the host computer group 1 and each of the storage devices in the storage device group 2 include an access information history recording unit 5 that operates under program control.

The storage management device 3 includes a logical disk management unit 31, an access information history analysis unit 33, and a disk configuration validity diagnosis unit 32. The storage in the system (that is, the storage device group 2) is controlled by the logical disk management unit 31. The physical disk 21 held by the logical disk 2
2 is shown to the user (that is, the host computer 1).

The function of each component of the storage management system according to this embodiment will be described below.

The access information history recording unit 5 records a history of access information indicating what kind of access was made during the elapsed time when each of the host computers 1 accessed each of the above storage devices. The access information history analysis unit 5 refers to the access information history database 4 in which the history of the access information is stored and the logical disk configuration database 34 controlled by the logical disk management unit 31 to determine the disk access performance and the storage capacity. Logical disk configuration corresponding to the access information that is considered to be inefficient in assigning
Create a new logical disk configuration candidate. The disk configuration validity diagnosing unit 32 checks whether the disk access performance and the storage capacity allocation of the entire system are improved when the created logical disk configuration candidates are adopted, and checks the logical disk configuration. Considering the work overhead associated with the change, if you can judge it is appropriate,
The logical disk configuration is adopted as a subsequent logical disk configuration, or a message is sent to the storage administrator to adopt it as a system configuration.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the recorded contents of the access information history database of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The record items of the access information history database 4 can include, for example, an access time, an identifier of a requesting host computer, an identifier of an access destination logical disk, an access type, a write data amount, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the operation of the access information history database will be described with reference to FIGS.

At the time of system construction, in step S1,
A logical disk configuration is generated on a physical disk of each of the storage devices in the system, and operation is started.

During normal operation, in steps S2 and S3,
In response to access from one of the host computers 1 to the storage device group 2,
The processing of the access information history recording unit 5 is executed, and the access time and the access information are recorded in the access information history database 4. The recording in the access information history database 4 is executed in parallel with the original access processing (ie, the processing of returning a result in response to the access request), so that the influence on the access performance can be avoided. is there. Details of the processing of the access information history recording unit 5 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not to review the existing logical disk configuration at a point in time when a request for addition or deletion of a new storage device or a review of the structure for efficiency is made. If the above-described review is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S5; otherwise, the process returns to step S2.

In step S5, the processing of the access information history analysis unit 33 is executed. Access information history analysis unit 33
The details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

In steps S6 and S7, the process of the disk configuration validity diagnosis unit 32 is executed to determine whether a valid logical disk configuration candidate has been generated. Details of the processing of the disk configuration validity diagnosis unit 32 will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the access information history recording unit 5 of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Here, the identifier of the requesting host computer, the identifier of the access destination logical disk, the type of access, the write data amount, and the access time are recorded in the access information history database 4 as access information. This operation is performed in cooperation with the host computers and storage devices in the system during normal operation.
The execution is performed in parallel with the original access processing (ie, processing for returning a result in response to an access request).

Step A1 corresponds to step S2 shown in FIG.
This is a process corresponding to the above process, and receives a request from a host computer to access a certain logical disk by a user.

Step A2 is the above-mentioned original access processing (that is, processing in which the above-mentioned logical disk returns a result in response to the above-mentioned access request). This processing is executed in parallel with the processing of the following steps A3 to A5.

In step A3, the access information history recording unit 5 relating to the access source host computer of the host computer group 1 and the access destination storage apparatus stores the identifier of the access request source host computer, the identifier of the access destination logical disk, The type of access, the amount of write data, and the like are specified.

In step A4, the identifier of the access requesting host computer, the identifier of the logical disk of the access destination, the type of access, the amount of write data, etc., and the access time are stored in the computer where the access information history database 4 exists. (Ie, to the storage management device 3).

In step A5, the storage management device 3
Store the transmitted history information in the access information history database 4.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the access information history analysis unit 33 of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Here, the access information stored in the access information history database 4 is analyzed and new logical disk configuration candidates are created.

In step B1, the access information history analysis unit 33 searches the data in the access information history database 4 and detects a logical disk whose access time falls within a predetermined time. Here, the time interval for detecting the access conflict is given to the system in advance.

Next, in step B2, a combination of logical disks using the same physical disk is detected with reference to a physical disk as an element constituting the detected logical disk. In step B3, the logical disk configuration is changed so that the detected combinations are reduced as much as possible, and new logical disk configuration candidates are created. At this time, a predetermined threshold is set in advance so that too many physical disks are not set as one logical disk, and when adding a physical disk to the logical disk, the total count is set. Does not exceed the threshold.

Next, in step B4, access information for each logical disk is similarly extracted from the access information history database, and in step B5, the increasing rate of the used disk capacity of each logical disk (or the remaining disk capacity). Reduction rate).

Finally, in steps B6 and B7, a logical disk whose capacity is to be increased is determined from the above-mentioned increase rate according to how much the disk capacity has increased during a certain period, and a new logical disk configuration candidate is determined. . This decision is made by estimating the capacity change from the time from the previous review of the disk configuration to the present review to the next review of the disk configuration, and if the disk capacity becomes insufficient beyond a predetermined threshold (remaining capacity ratio). By adding a new physical disk to the logical disk configuration.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the disk configuration validity diagnosis section 32 of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Here, it is diagnosed whether or not applying the generated logical disk configuration candidates to the present system is effective as a whole system.

In step C1, the disk configuration validity diagnosis unit 32 calculates, for each of the generated logical disk configurations, an efficiency factor when the logical disk configuration is adopted as a pair of a performance component and a capacity component ( Performance improvement rate due to removal of access conflicts and remaining capacity reduction rate due to additional disk capacity). In addition, an overhead element (restore time of a physical disk and maintenance time for adding a physical disk) when the system configuration is changed to each of the above logical disk configurations is calculated. Then, the degree of effectiveness of the logical disk configuration candidate is calculated from the above efficiency factor and overhead element. The effect degree can be obtained, for example, by the following formula.

Effectiveness = √ (aA ² + bB ² ) −√ (cC ² + dD ² ) where A is the performance improvement rate, B is the remaining capacity reduction rate, C is the restoration time, and D is the maintenance time. Variable and coefficient
a, b, c, and d are constants indicating weights. The weighting factors a, b,
c, d, the above A, B, C, of the D, and shall depend whether advance which element is important.

In step C2, the logical disk configuration candidates that give the above-mentioned effect degree equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value are discarded.

Finally, in step C3, the logical disk configuration corresponding to the calculated degree of effect is incorporated as a new logical disk configuration in the order of the calculated degree of effect.

A program for causing the storage management device to perform the above-described processing, such as a program for executing the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
The program may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a D-ROM or a magnetic tape. A computer including at least a microcomputer, a personal computer, and a general-purpose computer may read the program from the recording medium and execute the program.

[0056]

According to the present invention described above, the disk area can be used efficiently by reducing the unnecessary physical disk area included in the logical disk configuration.

Further, the number of occurrences of contention for access to a physical disk is reduced by physically separating storage devices that are frequently accessed simultaneously, so that access performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of recorded contents of an access information history database of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the access information history recording unit 5 of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of an access information history analysis unit 33 of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a disk configuration validity diagnosis unit 32 of the storage management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a conventional storage management system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a physical disk and a logical disk in the storage management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 host computer group 2 storage device group 3 storage management device 4 access information history database 5 access information history recording unit 21 physical disk 22 logical disk 31 logical disk management unit 32 disk configuration validity diagnosis unit 33 access information history analysis unit 34 logical disk Configuration database

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A storage management system for a computer system in which a plurality of host computers and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a network, wherein an access information history database for storing a history of access information to the storage device; Access information history recording means for storing, in the access information history database, history information of access information corresponding to an access request transmitted to the storage device via a host computer; Access information history analysis means for analyzing history information and creating a new logical disk configuration candidate based on the analysis result; and the new logical disk structure based on the analysis result by the access information history analysis means. Storage management system characterized by having a disk configuration competence diagnosis means for determining the effect of the. 2. The access information history analysis unit finds an access conflict among the plurality of storage devices in a time series based on history information of the access information stored in the access information history database. Along with
Calculate the increase rate of the used disk capacity or the decrease rate of the remaining disk capacity of each logical disk with the passage of time, determine the logical disk whose capacity is to be increased based on the disk capacity increase information within a predetermined fixed period, and calculate a new The storage management system according to claim 1, wherein a logical disk configuration candidate is determined. 3. The category of record items of the access information history database includes an access time, an identifier of a requesting host computer, an identifier of an access destination logical disk, an access type, and a write data amount. The storage management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the access information history analysis unit and the disk configuration validity diagnosis unit include a request for a system reconfiguration that includes, in its category, addition and deletion of a new storage device or a structural review for improving system efficiency. The storage management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage management system is started at a point in time. 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute a method for storage management of a computer system in which a plurality of host computers and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a network is recorded. An access information history recording step of storing, in an access information history database, history information of access information corresponding to an access request transmitted from a user to the storage device via the host computer; and the access information history. An access information history analysis step of analyzing the history information of the access information stored in the database and creating a new logical disk configuration candidate based on the analysis result, based on the analysis result by the access information history analysis means, The above A computer-readable recording medium characterized by having a disk configuration competence diagnosis determining the effect of the Tana logical disk configuration. 6. In the access information history analysis step,
Based on the access information history information accumulated in the access information history database, access conflicts among the plurality of storage devices are discovered in time series, and the used disk capacity of each logical disk over time is detected. Calculating an increase rate or a decrease rate of the remaining disk capacity, determining a logical disk whose capacity is to be increased based on the disk capacity increase information within a predetermined period, and determining a new logical disk configuration candidate. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein: 7. A category of record items of the access information history database includes an access time, an identifier of a requesting host computer, an identifier of an access destination logical disk, an access type, and a write data amount. 7. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein: 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the access information history analysis step and the disk configuration validity diagnosis step include a request for a system reconfiguration that includes addition and deletion of a new storage device or a structural review for improving system efficiency. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the recording medium is executed at a point in time.