Primary Data Storage System with Quality of Service

Abstract

The invention is directed to a primary data storage system for use in a computer network in which a network allows user computers to transfer data to/from the primary data storage system. In one embodiment, the primary data storage system allows an administrator of the computer network to define two or more volumes on the primary data storage system and define quality of service goals for each volume. The primary data storage system operates so as allocate resources within the primary data storage system to the volumes based upon criticality and performance goals specified for each of the volumes.

1 . A data storage system having a quality of service capability, the system comprising:
 an input/output port configured to receive a block command packet that embodies one of a read block command and a write block command and transmitting a block result packet in reply to a block command packet;   a data store system having at least first and second data stores each configured to receive and store data in response to a write block command and retrieve and provide data in response to a read block-command;   wherein the first data store has first data storage characteristics;   wherein the second data store has second data storage characteristics;   wherein the data store system has a data store system quality of service goal;   a statistics database configured to receive, store, and provide data for use in making decisions related to the pursuit of the data store system quality of service goal; and   a filter stack configured to process read block commands and a write block commands, the filter stack comprising a plurality of filters, wherein the filter stack is configured to determine which of the first and second data stores should receive the read/write block based on at least one of data from the statistics database, a timing constraint, and a quality of service constraint.   
     
     
         2 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter stack comprises a quality of service filter. 
     
     
         3 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the quality of service filter evaluates hardware statistics from the statistics database to determine a most compatible data store for a given write block command. 
     
     
         4 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the quality of service filter determines a most compatible data store for a given write block command based on a file size. 
     
     
         5 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the quality of service filter determines a most compatible data store for a given write block command based on relative read/write speeds of the data stores. 
     
     
         6 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter stack comprises a pattern de-duplication filter. 
     
     
         7 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pattern de-duplication filter identifies data relating to a write block command that is capable of being stored from a calculation engine. 
     
     
         8 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter stack comprises a dictionary de-duplication filter. 
     
     
         9 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the dictionary de-duplication filter identifies data relating to a write block command that contains blocks of data that are identical to blocks of data stored in a dictionary store. 
     
     
         10 . A data storage system having a quality of service capability, the system comprising:
 an input/output port configured to receive a block command packet that embodies one of a read block command and a write block command and transmitting a block result packet in reply to a block command packet;   a data store system having at least first and second data stores each configured to receive and store data in response to a write block command and retrieve and provide data in response to a read block-command;   wherein the first data store has first data storage characteristics;   wherein the second data store has second data storage characteristics;   wherein the data store system has a data store system quality of service goal; and   a filter stack configured to process read block commands and a write block commands, the filter stack comprising a plurality of filters, wherein the filter stack is configured to determine which of the first and second data stores should receive the read/write block based on at least one of a timing constraint, and a quality of service constraint.   
     
     
         11 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the filter stack comprises a quality of service filter. 
     
     
         12 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the quality of service filter evaluates hardware statistics from a statistics database to determine a most compatible data store for a given write block command. 
     
     
         13 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the quality of service filter determines a most compatible data store for a given write block command based on a file size. 
     
     
         14 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the quality of service filter determines a most compatible data store for a given write block command based on relative read/write speeds of the data stores. 
     
     
         15 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the filter stack comprises a pattern de-duplication filter. 
     
     
         16 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the pattern de-duplication filter identifies data relating to a write block command that is capable of being stored from a calculation engine. 
     
     
         17 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the filter stack comprises a dictionary de-duplication filter. 
     
     
         18 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the dictionary de-duplication filter identifies data relating to a write block command that contains blocks of data that are identical to blocks of data stored in a dictionary store. 
     
     
         19 . A data storage system having a quality of service capability, the system comprising:
 an input/output port configured to receive a block command packet that embodies one of a read block command and a write block command and transmitting a block result packet in reply to a block command packet;   a data store system comprising first and second tiers of data stores, wherein each tier includes data stores that have similar characteristics relating to throughput, latency, and capacity;   at least first and second data stores each configured to receive and store data in response to a write block command and retrieve and provide data in response to a read block-command;   wherein the first data store is part of the first tier;   wherein the second data store is part of the first tier;   wherein the data store system has a data store system quality of service goal;   a filter stack configured to process read block commands and a write block commands, the filter stack comprising a plurality of filters, wherein the filter stack is configured to determine which of the first and second tiers of data stores should receive the read/write block based on at least one of a timing constraint a quality of service constraint.   
     
     
         20 . A data storage system, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the data store system further comprises a third tier of data stores, and further comprising a third data store belonging to the third tier of data stores.