Storage Technology Corporation

Charles Patrick Schafer

George A Rudeseal

Jeffrey Steven Laughlin

Mark Alan Bakke

Stephen Henry Blendermann

Steven Michael Halladay

Thomas David West

Michael C Wojnar

Steven A Johnson

Jay S Belsan

Patrick James Tomsula

Robert J Raicer

Mogens H Pedersen

Nathan E Walsh

Barbara L Steele

John C Hoffecker

Harry E Smith

Alan R McNamara

The intelligent data storage manager functions to combine the non-homogeneous physical devices contained in a data storage subsystem to create a logical device with new and unique quality of service characteristics that satisfy the criteria for the policies appropriate for the present data object. In particular, if there is presently no logical device that is appropriate for use in storing the present data object, the intelligent data storage manager defines a new logical device using existing physical and/or logical device definitions as component building blocks to provide the appropriate characteristics to satisfy the policy requirements. The intelligent data storage manager uses weighted values that are assigned to each of the presently defined logical devices to produce a best fit solution to the requested policies in an n-dimensional best fit matching algorithm. The resulting logical device definition is then implemented by dynamically interconnecting the logical devices that were used as the components of the newly defined logical device to store the data object.

Intelligent data storage manager

This file server system appears to the host computer to be a plurality of data storage devices which are directly addressable by the host computer using the native data management and access structures of the host computer. The file server however is an intelligent data storage subsystem that defines, manages and accesses synchronized sets of data and maintains these synchronized sets of data external from the host computer system's data management facilities in a manner that is completely transparent to the host computer. This is accomplished by the use of the snapshot application data group that extends the traditional sequential data set processing concept of generation data groups.

File server having snapshot application data groups

The intelligent storage manager includes a number of data bases which are used by the expert system software to manage the computer system data storage devices. One element provided in this apparatus is a set of data storage device configuration data that provides a description of the various data storage devices and their interconnection in the computer system. A second element is a knowledge data base that includes a set of functional rules that describe the data storage device management function. These rules indicate the operational characteristics of the various data storage devices and the steps that need to be taken to provide the various functions required to improve the performance of the computer system memory. In addition, various mathematical models are used to determine data relating to the operation of the data storage devices. These models not only assist in the identification of conflicts, but are also used to predict the effect of proposed conflict solutions. The models are also used to manage the addition of data storage devices to the computer system memory by identifying a plan to migrate existing data sets to this additional data storage devices.

Intelligent storage manager for data storage apparatus having simulation

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Louisville, CO, United States of America

Charles Patrick Schafer