Patent ID: 7543089

Claim:
A method for adaptive cluster input/output control, the method comprising: starting a nonessential input/output operation using a first controller in a first node of a cluster; informing at least a second controller in a second node of the cluster about starting the nonessential input/output operation; increasing the nonessential input/output operation by a predetermined utilization percentage; waiting for a predetermined amount of time; determining whether the nonessential input/output operation has been completed; determining whether the at least the second controller in the second node has substantially decreased performance if the nonessential input/output operation has not been completed; wherein determining whether the at least the second controller in the second node has substantially decreased performance further comprises: receiving information from the first controller in the first node at the at least the second controller in the second node about the first controller in the first node of the cluster starting the nonessential input/output operation; starting a sampling of an input/output performance at the at least the second controller in the second node; waiting for the predetermined amount of time; stopping the sampling of the input/output performance at the at least the second controller in the second node and sending results of the sampling of the input/output performance to the first controller in the first node; and determining whether the nonessential input/output operation has been completed; decreasing the nonessential input/output operation by the predetermined utilization percentage if the nonessential input/output operation utilization percentage is greater than the predetermined utilization percentage and if the at least the second controller in the second node has substantially decreased performance; and informing the at least the second controller in the second node of the cluster about the completion of the nonessential input/output operation if the nonessential input/output operation has been completed.