Method and system for distributing multiple storage devices to multiple tiers in a storage apparatus

A management system, which manages a storage apparatus that exercises control so as to arrange data in a storage device of a certain tier of multiple tiers, comprising:

• a communication interface apparatus, which is coupled to the storage apparatus;
• a storage resource for storing type/tier information denoting a corresponding relationship between multiple storage device types and multiple tiers;
• and
• a processor, which is coupled to the communication interface apparatus and the storage resource,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• (a) indicate an allowable tier range, which denotes a predetermined range of performance differences of multiple storage devices in a single tier;
• (b) carry out a first tier definition process for distributing multiple storage devices of the storage apparatus to multiple tiers based on respective storage device types of the multiple storage devices and the type/tier information;
• (c) acquire, subsequent to the first tier definition process, performance information denoting a performance of a storage device for each of the multiple storage devices;
• and
• (d) carry out a second tier definition process for distributing the multiple storage devices to the multiple tiers based on performance information of the multiple storage devices such that two or more storage devices of similar performance are distributed to the same tier, wherein the performance differences of the multiple storage devices in the same tier is limited within the allowable tier range.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having machine instructions stored therein, the instructions being executed by a computer for managing a storage apparatus that exercises control so as to arrange data in a storage device of a certain tier of multiple tiers, causing the computer to perform operations comprising:

• (a) carrying out a first tier definition process for distributing multiple storage devices of the storage apparatus to multiple tiers based on respective storage device types of the multiple storage devices and type/tier information that denotes a corresponding relationship between multiple storage device types and multiple tiers;
• (b) acquiring, subsequent to the first tier definition process, performance information denoting a performance of a storage device for each of the multiple storage devices;
• and
• (c) carrying out a second tier definition process for distributing the multiple storage devices to the multiple tiers based on the performance information of the multiple storage devices such that two or more storage devices of similar performance are distributed to the same tier, wherein the (c) step further comprises:
• normalizing the performance information of each of the multiple storage devices;
• and
• defining tiers based at least in part on distances between each of the normalized performance information of the multiple storage devices and the performance information of a storage device with good performance.