Patent ID: 8156303
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for indicating the condition of a storage system having a storage manager in communication with a number of storage devices, the method comprising: determining a storage system condition, by the storage manager, including determining whether additional storage capacity is recommended based on the amount of unused storage available in each of a number of functioning storage devices and the data storage patterns in these storage devices; and indicating the storage system condition, by the storage manager, including indicating whether the storage system has sufficient storage capacity within the functioning storage devices to provide redundant storage to newly-stored data and, when additional storage capacity is recommended, indicating how storage capacity should be added to the storage system, wherein a first indication state is used to indicate that storage capacity should be added by adding a new storage device and wherein a second indication state is used to indicate that storage capacity should be added by replacing an existing storage device with a larger-capacity storage device.