Patent Abstract:
Virtual storage methods and systems allow storage software to be used with a variety of systems and resources without the need to write storage software specific to each particular system. The methods and systems described herein render virtual storage flexibly adaptable to hardware platforms. Through use of a dynamic resource mapper and a start-up loader in booting storage systems, the use of virtual storage appliances is simplified in an integrated and transparent fashion. For ease of system configurations, the mapper and start-up loader are available in a different ways and from a variety of media.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Discussed herein are systems and methods that render storage software flexibly adaptable to different hardware platforms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Computer systems require storage for their data. Storage software running on particular hardware assists a computer system in efficiently and safely storing data by taking advantage of the system&#39;s storage resources. For example, the storage software can use a computer&#39;s hard disk, RAM, and external memory to store information. Moreover, the storage software can be used with a system of networked computers, where the storage software would use the resources of the entire system to store system information. To operate with a particular system, the storage software is written to be compatible with that system&#39;s hardware. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    With the systems and methods described herein, storage software can be used with a variety of systems without the need to write storage software specific to each particular system. The methods and system described herein render storage software flexibly adaptable to hardware platforms. Furthermore, through integration and transparency (software and hardware), the method and system simplify use of virtual storage appliances or VSAs, as discussed below in the preferred embodiments. 
         [0004]    A system is described for booting one or more virtual storage appliances operable with a computer system having a boot loader, memory, and other available resources. The system includes a kernel, a hypervisor for one or more virtual machines, and a mapper for mapping resources to one or more virtual machines. The system further includes a loader for starting during a boot-up the one or more virtual machines with the resources as mapped by the mapper, each virtual machine to be provisioned with a storage software. Additionally, the system includes a kernel configuration file with directions to the kernel for executing the loader and mapper, wherein the kernel, the hypervisor, the mapper, and the loader and the kernel configuration file are adapted to be loaded by the boot loader into the memory. 
         [0005]    Described herein is also a method for mapping resources for one or more virtual storage appliances. The method includes identifying system resources available to one or more virtual machines. And, if resources are available, the method further includes dynamically constructing meta data for one or more virtual machines to be provisioned with storage software. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an image of software modules in a preferred embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates system resources in a preferred embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates the steps in booting the system in a preferred embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates virtual machine meta data in a preferred embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a hot-plug event in a preferred embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a console in a preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a storage area  108  stores an image  100  of a number of software modules or software components including a kernel  120 , a hypervisor  130 , user applications, such as a mapper  150 , a start-up loader  160  (e.g., start-up script), a console  170 , and possibly storage software, such as NexentaStor™  190 . As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize based on the description herein, the software modules might themselves include other software modules or components. Although not shown, the image  100  also includes other parts for a typical operating system. 
         [0014]    The user applications may be stored, for instance, in user space  140  of the storage area  108 . A configuration space  145  holds one or more kernel configuration files  180  contained within one or more kernel subdirectories  185 . And one or more of these subdirectories  185  contains persistently stored custom rules for device management. 
         [0015]    In addition, the image  100  preferably includes a master boot record code  194  with an instruction pointer to a kernel loader  195 , which is also part of the image. Virtual machine meta data  196  may be stored as well, as further discussed below. As also described further below, the start-up loader  160  is a module in addition to a boot loader  175  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0016]    The term image refers to compressed software module(s). The storage area  108  may be a storage device, such as external memory, for example, a network accessed device. Alternatively, it could be a hard disk or CD ROM. Indeed, the storage area may be flash memory inside a system, for example on a motherboard. Preferably the storage area is a mass storage device that is highly reliable in persistently storing information. For example, it may be external flash memory, such as a SATA DOM flash drive. SATA refers to Serial Advanced Technology Attachment and DOM refers to disk on module. 
         [0017]    The kernel  120  is a core part of a computer&#39;s operating system, which is not limited to a particular kind of operating system. It could be any number of operating systems, such as Microsoft™ or Linux™. The particular operating system typically will have an associated hardware compatibility list (HCL), which lists computer hardware compatible with the operating system. Adapting this to advantage, through the integration of the start-up loader  160  and mapper  150  with the hypervisor  130 , the storage software need not be written for hardware particulars. 
         [0018]    Preferably the kernel configuration file(s)  180  contain custom information for use by the kernel  120 , such as immediate steps that the kernel  120  is to execute upon boot up. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the kernel&#39;s subdirectory  185  contains custom rules that are persistently stored and that the kernel  120  follows in operation. Under these rules pertaining to device management, the kernel updates the subdirectory  185  with information about hot plug events, discussed further below. 
         [0019]    Based on the virtual machine meta data  196 , the hypervisor  130 , also known as a virtual machine monitor, allocates and manages physical resources for one or more virtual machines. A virtual machine emulates hardware architecture in software. The virtual machine allows the sharing of the underlying physical machine resources between different virtual machines, each running its own operating system. 
         [0020]    The image  100  of the software modules can be used with a variety of computer systems and networks, including with a motherboard of a server. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the motherboard  200  with a BIOS chip  270  with a stored boot loader  275 , may have available to it—off board  200  or on board  200 —a number of resources interconnected by a host bus  205 , storage host bus adaptors  220 ,  225 ,  230 , and network adaptors  250 ,  260 . The resources include one or more CPUs (central processing unit)  210 ; one or more disks  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  234 ,  235  coupled to their corresponding storage host bus adaptors  220 ,  230 ; memory  240 ; one or more network adaptor ports  251 ,  252 ,  263 ,  264 ,  265  of the network adaptors  250 ,  260 ; and a bus interface  280  coupled to mass storage devices. The ports  251 ,  252 ,  263 ,  264 ,  265  could be a variety of ports including Ethernet ports. The bus interface  280  may be a SATA port. The disks  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  234 ,  235  may be either locally or remotely connected storage, such as physical (e.g., hard disk, flash disk, etc.) or virtualized storage. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the overall operation of the preferred embodiment. Initially, the storage area  108 , such as external memory  285  holding the image  100  is connected to the bus interface  280  of a computer system  200 . After the system&#39;s power is turned on, during BIOS booting  310 , the boot loader  275  on the BIOS chip  270  prompts, for example, a user to select the external memory  285  as the source for the operating system to be loaded into memory  140 . The boot loader  275  reads the image  100  and stores it in the motherboard&#39;s memory  240 . The boot loader  275  also loads the master boot record code  194 . And the CPU  210  executes this code  194  to load the kernel loader  195 . 
         [0022]    To begin executing  320  the kernel, the CPU  210  first executes the kernel loader  195  to load the kernel  120 . The kernel  120  identifies and classifies resources in the computer system  200 . In addition, preferably the kernel  120  refers to its configuration file(s)  180  to begin executing user applications in space  140 . 
         [0023]    As provided by the configuration file (s)  180 , preferably, the kernel  120  executes  325  the start-up loader  160 . The start-up loader  160  then executes  330  the mapper  150 , which reads the kernel&#39;s  120  identification and classification of resources and in turn identifies resources for one or more virtual storage appliances. A virtual storage appliance is storage software  190  running on a virtual machine and provides a pool of shared storage for users. Each virtual machine is provisioned with its storage software  190 , for example, by having the storage software  190  NexentaStor™ installed on each virtual machine. 
         [0024]    Next, transparently to a user, the mapper constructs  330  virtual machine meta data  196  and stores it in the flash memory  285 . To flexibly adapt to different systems with different resources, preferably the mapper  150  constructs the meta data  196  dynamically rather than in advance. 
         [0025]    The meta data  196  could be, for example, plain text file, database, or structured mark-up, e.g., XML (Extensible Mark-up Language). The information included in the meta data  196  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Meta data  496  may include the names  410 , changeable by a user, of one or more virtual machines (VM), their identification numbers  420 , the state(s) of virtual machine  430 , parameters  440 , and an identification of resources  450 , such as network ports  251 ,  252 ,  263 ,  264  and  265  and disks or disk drives  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  234 ,  235  assigned, i.e., mapped to the virtual machine(s). The state of the virtual machine  430  indicates whether, for example, the virtual machine is installed, stopped, or running. Initially, when the virtual machine has never been started, the state  430  would indicate that it has yet to be installed. The parameters  440 , in turn, specify, for example, use of the CPU&#39;s  210  time in percent as allocated among different virtual machines. To illustrate, one virtual machine may use fifty percent of the CPU  210 , while another virtual machine may use twenty percent of the same CPU  210 . 
         [0026]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , construction of the virtual machine meta data  196  may fail  335  if resources that the storage software  190  wants or needs to operate are missing, such as, for example, the CPU(s)  210 , RAM  240 , hard disk  221 , or networking port  251 . In case of failure  335  of mapping a first virtual machine, the mapper  150  stops mapping  340  and issues an error message that may appear on the console asking the user to power cycle the system. Additionally, the start-up loader  160  stops  340  operation of the boot process by entering a halt state through, for example, an infinite loop. 
         [0027]    But there may be success  336 , even if only partial. For instance, if mapping for the first virtual machine succeeded  336  but failed for a second virtual machine (for example, an operator may elect to have more than one virtual machines), the mapper  150  sends a message to a log file of the kernel  120  for remedial action, for example, by the system&#39;s administrator. But the first virtual machine is nevertheless readied for operation. 
         [0028]    Partial success  336  may also be achieved, if for example, only some of the resources are missing, such as one of multiple CPUs  210 . Then the mapper  150  may construct a degraded virtual machine meta data  196 . The map may include marking of the degraded resource for future reference. Such marking would be included in the meta data  496  as additional information. 
         [0029]    For the default case, assuming no failure  336 , the mapper constructs the meta data  196  with, for example, one-to-one mapping, wherein the resources—depending on their availability—are mapped to the single virtual machine. But not necessarily all of a particular resource is mapped to a virtual machine. The hypervisor  130  may require part of one or more resources, e.g., memory  240  or disk  222 , or CPU  210 . 
         [0030]    The mapper  150  allows a user to change the default mapping to a custom mapping. Alternatively, certain custom mapping may be pre-programmed. In that case, the custom mapping happens dynamically. Moreover, to simplify customization and render it repeatable, custom mapping may be based on a template. Knowing in advance the resources available to virtual storage appliances, allows for pre-mapping of the resources to virtual machines. 
         [0031]    In custom mapping, resources may be assigned among multiple virtual machines. While one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the description herein that different assignments are possible, the following are illustrative. For instance, there may be a split in the assignment, where one virtual machine is assigned part of the resources and another is assigned another part of the resources, although some resources, e.g., a CPU  210 , may be shared among the virtual machines. See Table 1 below, the information for which can be included with the meta data as resource identification  450 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Virtual Machine ID (identification) 
                 Resource 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1 
                 Network Adaptor Port 251 
               
               
                 1 
                 Disk 221 
               
               
                 1 
                 Disk 222 
               
               
                 1 
                 CPU 210 
               
               
                 2 
                 Network Adaptor Port 263 
               
               
                 2 
                 Disk 234 
               
               
                 2 
                 Disk 235 
               
               
                 2 
                 CPU 210 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0032]    Alternatively, the same resources may be assigned to each virtual machine, as shown below in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Virtual Machine ID (identification) 
                 Resource 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1, 2 
                 Network Adaptor Port 251 
               
               
                 1, 2 
                 Network Adaptor Port 263 
               
               
                 1, 2 
                 CPU 210 
               
               
                 1, 2 
                 Disk 221 
               
               
                 1, 2 
                 Disk 222 
               
               
                 1, 2 
                 Disk 223 
               
               
                 1, 2 
                 Disk 234 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0033]    The mapper  150  also stores  345  these custom assignments in the storage area  108 . Although custom mapping was discussed for multiple virtual machines, the mapper  150  may also provide custom mapping for a single virtual machine. Either kind of map—default or custom—is stored preferably persistently in memory space that will not be overwritten, such as within the configuration space  145 . 
         [0034]    The storage software  190 , for example, may have been previously stored in the external memory  285  or on hard disk of a system  200 , or alternatively could be downloaded over the internet, for example, through the console  600  discussed below. Indeed, the default single virtual machine may be pre-provisioned (pre-installed in storage area  108 , pre-configured, and ready to use) with its storage software  190 . For instance, if the resources are known in advance, as well as the desired mapping, then the virtual machine meta data  196  can be constructed in advance and stored in the storage area  108 , for example, by a system operator through the console  600 . Depending on preference, only one copy of the storage software  190  may need to be stored, as multiple copies may be generated from the first copy through, for instance, a copy-on-write strategy to create additional versions of the storage software  190 , as needed. 
         [0035]    After mapping is complete, the system initiates a virtual machine boot  350 . The start-up loader  160  may prompt the user to identify the media from which to boot up. For example, the media could be external media  285 , system hard disk, CD-ROM, or storage elsewhere, such as in a cloud. 
         [0036]    The start-up loader  160  runs the mapper  150  to confirm  355  the status of the resources. To the extent adjustments are made  360  because resources have degraded, are missing or have been added, the mapper  150  re-maps  365  the resources to the virtual machine(s). 
         [0037]    Whether remapping happens  360  or not  362 , the start-up loader  160  reads the virtual machine meta data  196  stored in the storage area  108  and calls the hypervisor  130  to construct  370  a virtual machine from each corresponding virtual machine meta data  196 . The hypervisor  130  issues a command to run  370  the storage software  190  on corresponding virtual machines that have resources mapped to them. The hypervisor  130  is then ready to manage, control, and/or serve the virtual machine(s), including instructing each virtual machine to run its storage software  190 . 
         [0038]    In addition to its other functions, the start-up loader  160  has access to the meta data  196  and thereby also tracks the state of a virtual machine  430 . For instance, a virtual machine may be stopped, for example, by a system operator. In that case, the start-up loader  160  maintains the virtual machine in its stopped state  430 . The start-up loader  160  will maintain the virtual machine in the stopped state  430 , including upon shut down with a subsequent power-up. Nevertheless, the start-up loader  160  can instruct the hypervisor  130  to start other virtual machines. 
         [0039]    The mapper&#39;s  150  on the fly construction of virtual machine meta data  196  makes it possible to adjust to changes in available resources, such as in a hot plug event, when for instance disks  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  234 ,  235  are added, degraded, and/or removed. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , through application of the custom rules in the subdirectory  185 , the kernel  120  identifies  510  hot plug events and informs  510  the mapper  150  of the event. The information provided  510  includes, for example, the disk&#39;s GUID (Global Unique Identification) and the corresponding identities of the disk slots, i.e., the disk&#39;s  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  234 ,  235  locations in the system. 
         [0040]    Upon a hot-plug event, the mapper  150  preferably translates  520  the hot-plug information into a mapping change for the virtual storage appliances. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on this disclosure that a variety of mapping adjustments can be made. For instance, to simplify mapping, the mapper  150  may add additional resources to only one of the virtual machines, for example, always to the same virtual machine, e.g., to the first virtual machine or to a designated master virtual machine. Alternatively, the mapper  150  may map additional resources equally to multiple virtual machines. The mapper  150  then informs  520  the hypervisor  130  of the changes, and the hypervisor  130  informs the virtual machine of the mapping changes. 
         [0041]    If, however, a resource, e.g., disk  221 , is removed from a second virtual storage appliance and then another disk, e.g., disk  222 , is added into the same slot, the mapper preferably treats the addition as a replacement, i.e., updates the GUID but maintains the slot number. Other mapping strategies may be employed as well, depending on the particulars of a system and/or desired usage. 
         [0042]    The mapper  150  saves  520  updated virtual machine meta data  196  in the storage area  108  and informs  520  the hypervisor  130 , which in turn updates  530  the virtual machine with the updated mapping. Thereafter, the hot-plug process can repeats itself, as appropriate. 
         [0043]    Optionally, for ease of manual control of the hypervisor  130 , a user interface or console  600  may be added as a management tool for a system operator, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Through this console  600 , the operator may provide management commands to the hypervisor  130 . These commands preferably include commands for the following: modifying the virtual machine meta data  196  and templates  610 ; monitoring virtual machine (s) (including identifying resources in use and the status of the resources)  620 ; virtual machine management (including starting and stopping virtual machine(s))  620 ; monitoring the hypervisor  130  (including various system functions, e.g., status of system power, system fan for cooling and the hypervisor&#39;s  130  usage of the CPU and memory)  630 ; connecting the hypervisor  130  to a network of one or more other hypervisors in multi-system applications  630 ; and perform live migration (to achieve more balanced usage of resources by reassigning resources among virtual storage appliances)  640 . 
         [0044]    The detailed description above should not serve to limit the scope of the inventions. Instead, the claims below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the embodiments of the present inventions, as disclosed herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6