Patent Abstract:
A system and method for configuring storage resources for database storage are disclosed. A method may include mapping at least one first tablespace having a first block size to at least one first logical unit. The method may also include mapping the at least one first tablespace and the at least one first logical unit to a first cache having a size equal to the first block size. In addition, the method may include mapping at least one second tablespace having a second block size to at least one second logical unit. The method may further include mapping the at least one second tablespace and the at least one second logical unit to a second cache having a size equal to the second block size.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates in general to storage resource configuration, and more particularly to a system and method for configuration of storage resources for database storage. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0003]    Information handling systems often use databases. A database may be defined as a structured collection of records or data. The structured collection of records or data making up a database may be stored in an information handling system and/or computer-readable medium accessible to the information handling system so that a computer program (e.g., a database management system or “DBMS”) and/or person may query the database to retrieve desired information. 
         [0004]    Typically, a database is stored on one or more logical storage units, also known simply as “logical units.” Each logical storage unit may be made up of one or more hard disk drives, magnetic tape libraries, optical disk drives, magneto-optical disk drives, compact disk drives, compact disk arrays, disk array controllers, and/or any other type of computer-readable media. In addition, each logical storage unit may have a unique identifier, or logical unit number (LUN) that identifies the logical unit to an information handling system and/or software executing thereupon. 
         [0005]    Database software typically allocates memory space and storage space in multiples of database block sizes. For example, a database may be stored in memory and/or persistent storage in one or more blocks of 2 kilobytes (KB), 4 KB, 8 KB, and/or 16 KB. Memory and/or persistent storage may also include caches (e.g., buffers) having sizes equal to the database block size that may improve the speed of reading from and/or writing to memory and/or persistent storage. In certain database systems, a user may be permitted to create logical groupings of data known as “tablespaces” with block sizes different from the standard database block size for the database. Thus, if a small block size is desirable, a user may create a tablespace with block sizes smaller than the standard block size (e.g., for online transaction processing systems that performs random update operations). On the other hand, if a large block size is desirable, a user may create a tablespace with block sizes larger than the standard block size (e.g., for decision support systems that access large numerous consecutive rows of database information at a time a larger cache size may reduce the number of input/output requests needed to store and/or retrieve data). In addition, in mixed applications, a user may employ multiple tablespaces with each with a different block size. 
         [0006]    However, because tablespaces may span one or more logical units, and because particular logical unit is typically associated with a particular read cache and/or a particular write cache, the advantages of using read and/or write caches may be diminished in instances where a cache is of a different size than the block size of a tablespace block stored on the logical unit. For example, if a cache is smaller than the block size of a tablespace stored on a logical unit, the cache will not be able to read or store an entire block of data. On the other hand, if a cache is larger than the block size of a tablespace stored on a logical unit, a portion of the cache may be unused when reading or storing a block of data. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, a need has arisen for systems and methods that allow for more efficient configuration of storage resources for database storage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, disadvantages and problems associated with configuring storage resources for database storage may be substantially reduced or eliminated. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for configuring a system for database storage is provided. The method may include mapping at least one first tablespace having a first block size to at least one first logical unit. The method may also include mapping the at least one first tablespace and the at least one first logical unit to a first cache having a size equal to the first block size. In addition, the method may include mapping at least one second tablespace having a second block size to at least one second logical unit. The method may further include mapping the at least one second tablespace and the at least one second logical unit to a second cache having a size equal to the second block size. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a program of instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium may be configured to, when executed, map at least one first tablespace having a first block size to at least one first logical unit. The program of instructions may also be configured to map the at least one first tablespace and the at least one first logical unit to a first cache having a size equal to the first block size. In addition, the program of instructions may be configured to map at least one second tablespace having a second block size to at least one second logical unit. The program of instructions may further be configured to map the at least one second tablespace and the at least one second logical unit to a second cache having a size equal to the second block size. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for storing a database may include a processor, a first logical unit communicatively coupled to the processor, a second logical unit communicatively coupled to the processor, a first cache communicatively coupled to the processor and having a first size, and a second cache communicatively coupled to the processor and having a second size. The first logical unit may be mapped to the first cache and may be configured to store tablespaces with a block size equal to the first size. The second logical unit may be mapped to the second cache and may be configured to store tablespaces with a block size equal to the second size. 
         [0012]    Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example system for database storage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a example method for assigning database tablespaces to logical units and caches, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a table depicting an example mapping of database tablespaces to logical units and caches, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts. 
         [0018]    For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage resource, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
         [0019]    For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example system  100  for database storage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted, system  100  may include an information handling system  102  and a storage enclosure  110 . 
         [0021]    Information handling system  102  may generally be operable to receive data from and/or communicate data to storage enclosure  110 , one or more other information handling systems, and/or other devices communicatively coupled to information handling system  102 . In certain embodiments, information handling system  102  may be a server. In another embodiment, information handling system  102  may be personal computer. As shown in  FIG. 1 , information handling system  102  may include a processor  103 , a memory  104  communicatively coupled to processor  103 , and an external hardware interface  106 . 
         [0022]    Processor  103  may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data, and may include, without limitation, a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data. In some embodiments, processor  103  may interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data stored in memory  104 , logical units  118  of storage enclosure  110 , and/or another component of system  100 . 
         [0023]    Memory  104  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to retain program instructions or data for a period of time (e.g., computer-readable media). Memory  104  may comprise random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a PCMCIA card, flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage, or any suitable selection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile memory that retains data after power to information handling system  102  is turned off. 
         [0024]    External hardware interface  106  may include any suitable system, apparatus, or device operable to serve as an interface between information handling system  102  and an external hardware device (e.g., storage enclosure  110 ). In certain embodiments, external hardware interface  106  may allow storage enclosure  110  and/or other external hardware devices to be directly coupled and/or locally attached to information handling system (e.g., by means of a universal serial bus port, traditional serial port, parallel port, or other suitable port. In the same or alternative embodiments, external hardware interface  106  may include a network interface allowing allow storage enclosure  110  and/or other external hardware devices to be coupled to information handling system  102  via a network. 
         [0025]    In operation, external hardware interface  106  may enable information handling system  102  to communicate to storage enclosure  110  and/or other external hardware devices using any suitable transmission protocol (e.g., TCP/IP) and/or communication standard (e.g., SCSI, FibreChannel, IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi). In certain embodiments, external hardware interface  106  may include a network interface card (NIC). In the same or alternative embodiments, external hardware interface  106  may be configured to communicate with storage enclosure and/or other external hardware devices via wireless transmissions. In the same or alternative embodiments, external hardware interface  106  may provide physical access to a networking medium and/or provide a low-level addressing system (e.g., through the use of Media Access Control addresses). 
         [0026]    Storage enclosure  110  may be configured to hold and power storage resources and/or other components. As shown in  FIG. 1 , storage enclosure  110  may include a storage processor  112  and logical units  118   a - e  (which may be referred to individually or collectively herein as logical unit  118  and/or logical units  118 ). Each logical unit  118  may include all and/or a portion of one or more physical storage resources (e.g., hard disk drives, magnetic tape libraries, optical disk drives, magneto-optical disk drives, compact disk drives, compact disk arrays, disk array controllers, other computer-readable media, and/or any other systems, apparatuses or devices operable to store data) and may appear to an operating system executing on information handling system  102  as a single storage unit. During operation, storage enclosure  110  may be communicatively coupled to information handling system  102  to facilitate communication of data between information handling system  102  and logical units  118 . Although  FIG. 1  depicts storage enclosure  110  having five logical units  118 , storage enclosure  110  may include any number of logical units  118 . In addition, although  FIG. 1  depicts system  100  as having only one storage enclosure  110 , logical units  118  may be disposed in any number of storage enclosures  110 . 
         [0027]    Storage processor  114  may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to interpret and/or execute instructions (e.g., READ and/or WRITE requests) and/or process data (e.g., data to be read from storage enclosure  110  and/or data to be written to storage enclosure  110 ) and may include, without limitation, a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data. As shown in  FIG. 1 , storage processor  112  may include one or more write caches  114   a - c  (which may be referred to individually or collectively herein as write cache  114  and/or write caches  114 ) and/or one or more read caches  116   a - c  (which may be referred to individually or collectively herein as read cache  116  and/or read caches  116 ). 
         [0028]    Each write cache  114  may comprise any computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory) communicatively coupled to one or more logical units  118 . In operation, write caches  114  may be used to speed up and/or increase the efficiency of writing data to one or more of logical units  118 . For example, when data from information handling system  102  is to be written to a logical unit  118 , rather than immediately store the data onto a logical unit&#39;s non-volatile storage (e.g., hard disk drives), storage processor  112  may instead store the data in a write cache  114  and signal to information handling system  102  that the data has been successfully stored. This may significantly speed up the acknowledgment back to information handling system  102  that the data has been successfully stored, allowing information handling system  102  to proceed to other tasks. Then, when it is convenient to storage processor  112 , the data in the designated write cache  114  may be flushed to the non-volatile storage area of a logical unit  118 , where it becomes “permanently” stored. 
         [0029]    Each read cache  116  may comprise any computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory) communicatively coupled to one or more logical units  118 . In operation, read caches  116  may be used to speed up and/or increase the efficiency of reading data from one or more of logical units  118 . For example, in many database applications, a block of data accessed from persistent storage is often again needed a relatively short time later. By storing such block in a cache that can be accessed faster than persistent storage, the latency associated with reading the data block may be decreased. 
         [0030]    Although  FIG. 1  depicts that storage enclosure  110  includes three write caches  114  and three read caches  116 , storage enclosure  110  may include any number of write caches and/or read caches. In addition, although  FIG. 1  depicts write caches  114  and read caches  116  residing on storage processor  112 , write caches  114  and/or read caches  116  may reside any suitable place and/or location within system  100 . 
         [0031]    As mentioned above, certain database systems allow a user to create logical groupings of data known as “tablespaces” with block sizes different from the standard database block size for the database. Also as mentioned above, because tablespaces may span one or more logical units, and because particular logical unit is typically associated with a particular read cache and/or a particular write cache, the advantages of using read and/or write caches may be diminished in instances where a cache is of a different size than the block size of a tablespace block stored on the logical unit. For example, if a cache is smaller than the block size of a tablespace stored on a logical unit, the cache will not be able to read or store an entire block of data. On the other hand, if a cache is larger than the block size of a tablespace stored on a logical unit, a portion of the cache may be unused when reading or storing a block of data. Such disadvantages may be overcome by mapping tablespaces having the same block sizes to specific logical units  118  and caches  114 ,  116  and assuring that tablespaces with unequal block sizes are not mapped to the same specific logical units  118 , as set forth in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3  below. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  200  for assigning database tablespaces to logical units  118  and caches  114 ,  116 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, method  200  preferably begins at step  202 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of system  100 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  200  and the order of the steps  202 - 224  comprising method  200  may depend on the implementation chosen. 
         [0033]    At step  202 , information handling system  102 , storage processor  112 , and/or another component of system  100  may identify the tablespaces of a database to be stored on logical units  118 . At step  204 , information handling system  102 , storage processor  112 , and/or another component of system  100  may identify the logical units  118  for storage of the tablespaces. At step  206 , information handling system  102 , storage processor  112 , and/or another component of system  100  may identify caches  114 ,  116  associated with logical units  118 . 
         [0034]    At step  208 , for each tablespace, information handling system  102 , storage processor  112 , and/or another component of system  100  may determine whether the tablespace has been mapped and/or assigned to one of more of logical units  118 . If at step  210 , it is determined that the tablespace has already been mapped to one or more logical units  118 , method  200  may proceed to step  212 . Otherwise, if at step  210 , it is determined that the tablespace has already been mapped to one or more logical units  118 , method  200  may proceed to step  224 . 
         [0035]    At step  212 , for each particular tablespace, information handling system  102 , storage processor  112 , and/or another component of system  100  may determine whether the block size for the particular tablespace is equal to a tablespace previously mapped to one or more logical units  118 . If at step  214 , it is determined that the block size of the particular tablespace is not equal to the block size of a previously-mapped tablespace, method  200  may proceed to step  216 . Otherwise, if at step  214 , it is determined that the block size of the particular tablespace is equal to the block size of a previously-mapped tablespace, method  200  may proceed to step  222 . 
         [0036]    At step  216 , the particular tablespace may be mapped to one or more previously-unmapped logical units  118 . At step  218 , the particular tablespace and the logical units  118  to which it is mapped may be mapped to a write cache  114  with size equal to the tablespace block size. At step  220 , the particular tablespace and the logical units  118  to which it is mapped may be mapped to a read cache  116  with size equal to the tablespace block size. After completion of step  220 , method  200  may proceed to step  224 . 
         [0037]    At step  222 , in response to a determination that the block size of the particular tablespace is equal to the block size of a previously-mapped tablespace, the particular tablespace may be mapped to the logical units  118 , write cache  114 , and read cache  116  that were mapped to the previously-mapped tablespace with the same block size. 
         [0038]    At step  224 , a determination may be made regarding whether any other unmapped or unassigned tablespaces remain. If unmapped tablespaces remain, method  200  may proceed again to step  212 . Otherwise, if unmapped tablespaces do not remain, method  200  may end. 
         [0039]    Information regarding the mappings made in method  200  may be stored on any suitable computer-readable medium, including without limitation memory  104 , storage processor  112 , and/or one or more of logical units  118 . 
         [0040]    Although  FIG. 2  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , it is understood that method  200  may be executed with greater or lesser steps than those depicted in  FIG. 2 . In addition, although  FIG. 2  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , the steps comprising method  200  may be completed in any suitable order. For example, in certain embodiments, steps  202 ,  204 , and  206  may be executed in any order, or substantially contemporaneous to each other. 
         [0041]    Method  200  may be implemented using system  100  or any other system operable to implement method  200 . In certain embodiments, method  200  may be implemented partially or fully in software embodied in tangible computer-readable media. 
         [0042]    After the mapping discussed above is established, data from each tablespace may be written to the caches  114 ,  116  and logical units  118  to which it is mapped. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates a table depicting an example mapping of database tablespaces to logical units  118  and caches  114 ,  116 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular,  FIG. 3  depicts an example mapping of system  100  in which a database includes four tablespaces A, B, C, and D, that have block sizes of 4 KB, 4 KB, 8 KB and 16 KB respectively, write cache  114   a  and read cache  116   a  have a cache size of 4 KB, write cache  114   b  and read cache  116   b  have a cache size of 8 KB, and write cache  114   c  and read cache  116   c  have a cache size of 16 KB. Using a method similar or identical to method  200 , tablespaces A and B with block size 4 KB may be mapped to 4 KB caches  114   a  and  116   a  and logical units  118   a  and  118   b.  In addition, tablespace C with block size 8 KB may be mapped to 8 KB caches  114   b  and  116   b  and logical units  118   c  and  118   d.  Also, tablespace D with block size 16 KB may be mapped to 16 KB caches  114   c  and  116   c  and logical unit  118   e.  Accordingly, tablespaces having the same block sizes are mapped to the same specific logical units  118  and caches  114 ,  116 , and tablespaces with unequal block sizes are not mapped to the same specific logical units  118 . Thus, each tablespace may be written to one or more logical units  118  with an associated write cache  114  and/or read cache  116  of a size equal to tablespace blocks. 
         [0044]    Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6