Patent ID: 7512754
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for optimizing a storage area network by rebalancing the utilization of internal components in said storage area network, wherein said storage area network comprising multiple storage controllers and multiple storage pools, said method comprising: each controller among said multiple storage controllers controlling one storage pool among said multiple storage pools; wherein each storage pool among said multiple storage pools comprising multiple storage volumes; sorting every storage pool among said multiple storage pools, based on a corresponding utilization value; selecting a storage pool with a highest utilization value as a source storage pool, marking all remaining storage pools except said source storage pool as target storage pools; sorting all storage volumes within said source storage pool into a first list based on a metric, wherein said metric comprising an input-output rate; selecting k highest ranked storage volumes within said source storage pool, wherein k is a positive integer; marking the selected k highest ranked storage volumes as a reallocation plan; for each target storage pool performing the steps of: sorting a second list of the calculated ratio of said standard deviation for the utilization decrease to said cost for each target storage pool; selecting a target storage pool with a highest ratio from said second list; examining a standard deviation for utilization reduction for the selected target storage pool with a highest ratio; if the selected target storage pool with a highest ratio has a standard deviation for utilization reduction below a predetermined threshold value, ending the optimizing; if the selected target storage pool with a highest ratio has a standard deviation for utilization reduction equal to or above the predetermined threshold value, adding the selected k highest ranked storage volumes and selected target storage pool to a master allocation list.