Virtual volume management system and method
OwnerRavi K. Kavuri, John Chelikowsky +2inventors
InventorsRavi K. Kavuri, John Chelikowsky, Renae M. Weber, Timothy J. Kuik
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Abstract
A virtual volume management system and method includes a storage area network having multiple disparate types of storage devices and multiple virtual storage volumes available to a user for use in storage and retrieval of user data. The virtual volume management system and method further include a storage pool linked to at least one of the virtual storage volumes, and a controller for automatically allocating at least two of the storage devices to the pool. The controller partitions and concatenates the storage devices of the pool for storage and retrieval of user data.
Claims20
In a storage area network having a plurality of virtual storage volumes available to a user for use in storage and retrieval of user data, a system for managing the plurality of virtual storage volumes comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices, the plurality of storage devices comprising first and second sets of storage devices, wherein the first set of storage devices is of a type different than the second set of storage devices;
- and
- a controller for automatically allocating at least two of the plurality of storage devices to a pool and linking at least one of the plurality of virtual storage volumes to the pool, wherein the controller partitions and concatenates the at least two of the plurality of storage devices for storage of user data thereto and retrieval of user data therefrom.
In a storage area network having a plurality of virtual storage volumes available to a user for use in storage and retrieval of user data, a method for managing the plurality of virtual storage volumes comprising:
- providing a plurality of storage devices, the plurality of storage devices comprising first and second sets of storage devices, wherein the first set of storage devices is of a type different than the second set of storage devices;
- and
- providing a controller for automatically allocating at least two of the plurality of storage devices to a pool and linking at least one of the plurality of virtual storage volumes to the pool, wherein the controller partitions and concatenates the at least two of the plurality of storage devices for storage of user data thereto and retrieval of user data therefrom.
A virtual volume management system comprising:
- a storage area network comprising a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of virtual storage volumes available to a user for use in storage and retrieval of user data, the plurality of storage devices comprising first and second sets of storage devices, wherein the first set of storage devices is of a type different than the second set of storage devices;
- a storage pool linked to at least one of the plurality of virtual storage volumes;
- and
- a controller for automatically allocating at least two of the plurality of storage devices to the pool, wherein the controller partitions and concatenates the at least two of the plurality of storage devices for storage of user data thereto and retrieval of user data therefrom.
A virtual volume management method comprising:
- providing a storage area network comprising a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of virtual storage volumes available to a user for use in storage and retrieval of user data, the plurality of storage devices comprising first and second sets of storage devices, wherein the first set of storage devices is of a type different than the second set of storage devices;
- providing a storage pool linked to at least one of the plurality of virtual storage volumes;
- and
- providing a controller for automatically allocating at least two of the plurality of storage devices to the pool, wherein the controller partitions and concatenates the at least two of the plurality of storage devices for storage of user data thereto and retrieval of user data therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.