Abstract: A method, including deploying multiple servers as a distributed computing system (DCS) configured to provide a service to clients. At a first time, a given server is configured as an active node in the DCS, the active node configured to and to process requests for the service received from the clients. At the first time, one or more remaining first servers are configured as one or more semi-active nodes in the DCS, each given semi-active node configured to receive, from the clients, requests for the service, and to forward the received requests to the active node for processing. Each of the servers maintains respective counts of the received requests, and at a second time subsequent to the first time, upon identifying a given remaining server having a highest count the given remaining server is reconfigured as the active node, and the given server is reconfigured as a semi-active node.

Abstract: Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include receiving a request including a specified number of logical volumes, and identifying, in a storage system including multiple storage pools having storage space, respective first amounts of the storage space that are available in the multiple storage pools. Based on the specified number of logical volumes and the first amounts of the storage space, a set of volume sizes indicating second amounts of the storage space are defined, and a given volume size indicating a maximum size for the specified number of logical volumes is identified. Upon conveying the maximum size to a user, and receiving, from the user, a specified size less than or equal to the maximum size, the specified number of the volumes having the specified size can be provisioned, wherein each of the volumes is stored in a given storage pool.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for calculating capacity allocation in storage systems. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to calculate a capabilities score for all storage systems, resulting in a list of storage systems, prioritized, so that a storage administrator may select automatically or manually, the best system to provision for the requesting application, based on the calculated capabilities score of each storage system.

Abstract: Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include identifying a set of storage services on multiple storage systems. A plurality of storage services are defined, each of the storage services comprising a subset of the storage resources, and a defined storage (SDS) system is configured comprising the defined storage services. Multiple sub consistency groups are configured, each of the sub consistency group comprising one or more logical volumes stored in a subset of the defined storage services on a given storage system, and a consistency group is configured comprising the multiple sub consistency groups. Upon detecting a snapshot condition, processing input/output operations to all the volumes in the sub consistency groups can be simultaneously suspended, a snapshot for each of the sub consistency groups is generated, and the processing of the input/output operations is resumed upon generating the respective snapshots.

Abstract: Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include defining multiple storage capabilities for a set of storage resources in multiple storage systems, the storage resources including storage space, and identifying two of the storage systems including one or more storage capabilities required by a first logical volume. A first given identified storage system is configured to store the first logical volume, and a second given identified storage system is configured to store a second logical volume, the second given storage system different from the first given storage system. Upon storing data to the first logical volume, the data can be mirrored to the second logical volume. In some embodiments, a software defined storage system can be configured including defined services, wherein the first given storage system includes a first given service, and wherein the second given storage system includes a second given service.

Abstract: Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include defining multiple capabilities for a set of resources, the resources comprising storage space. A plurality of services are defined, each of the services including one or more of the capabilities for a subset of the resources, and a software defined storage (SDS) system is configured including the defined services. Upon the SDS system receiving a request to forecast an amount of the storage space including one or more of the capabilities that will be available at a specified future time, one or more of the services including the one or more capabilities are identified, and a predicted amount of the storage space for the identified one or more services is computed for specified future time. In some embodiments, a given identified given service includes one or more additional capabilities not required by the request.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include identifying, by a first computer in communication with a storage system having one or more storage devices, storage resources on the storage system, and defining multiple resource packs, each of the resource packs comprising respective multiple attributes for the storage resources. In response to an inventory request from a second computer in communication with the first computer, each of the resource packs can be conveyed to the second computer. Additionally, upon receiving, from the second computer, an allocation request to allocate a portion of a given resource pack, the portion of the given resource pack can be allocated in response to the request.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include defining, by a first computer in communication with a storage system, at least two priority levels for storage management commands to be processed by the storage system, and defining a respective queue for each of the defined priority levels. Upon receiving multiple storage management commands from one or more second computers in communication with the first computer and the storage system, a respective priority is determined for each of the received storage management commands, and the respective queue is identified for each of the received storage management commands based on the respective priority thereof. Each of the received storage management commands is loaded to the respective identified queue thereof, and the received storage management commands stored in the respective queues are processed by the storage system according to the priority levels thereof.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include identifying, by a first computer in communication with a storage system having one or more storage devices, storage resources on the storage system, and defining multiple resource packs, each of the resource packs comprising respective multiple attributes for the storage resources. In response to an inventory request from a second computer in communication with the first computer, each of the resource packs can be conveyed to the second computer. Additionally, upon receiving, from the second computer, an allocation request to allocate a portion of a given resource pack, the portion of the given resource pack can be allocated in response to the request.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include receiving, by a first computer in communication with a storage system, multiple resource packs, each of the resource packs including a plurality of attributes for storage resources on the storage system. Upon the first computer receiving a request from a second computer for a storage service, one or more of the received resource packs are identified that have respective attributes matching the storage service, a given identified resource pack is selected and the given identified resource pack is conveyed to the second computer. In some embodiments, the given identified resource pack can be conveyed by conveying an allocation request to the storage system for a portion of the given identified resource pack, and in response to the request, the storage system can allocate the requested portion of the given identified resource pack to the second computer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include defining, by a first computer in communication with a storage system, at least two priority levels for storage management commands to be processed by the storage system, and defining a respective queue for each of the defined priority levels. Upon receiving multiple storage management commands from one or more second computers in communication with the first computer and the storage system, a respective priority is determined for each of the received storage management commands, and the respective queue is identified for each of the received storage management commands based on the respective priority thereof. Each of the received storage management commands is loaded to the respective identified queue thereof, and the received storage management commands stored in the respective queues are processed by the storage system according to the priority levels thereof.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include storing one or more data volumes to a small computer system interface storage device, and receiving a request to map a given data volume to a host computer. One or more attributes of the given data volume are identified, and using the identified one or more attributes, a unique logical unit number (LUN) for the given data volume is generated. The given data volume is mapped to the host computer via the unique LUN. In some embodiments, the generated LUN includes one of the one or more attributes. In additional embodiments, the generated LUN includes a result of a hash function using the one or more attributes. In storage virtualization environments, the data volume may include secondary logical units, and mapping the given data volume to the host may include binding the SLU to the host.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include storing one or more data volumes to a small computer system interface storage device, and receiving a request to map a given data volume to a host computer. One or more attributes of the given data volume are identified, and using the identified one or more attributes, a unique logical unit number (LUN) for the given data volume is generated. The given data volume is mapped to the host computer via the unique LUN. In some embodiments, the generated LUN includes one of the one or more attributes. In additional embodiments, the generated LUN includes a result of a hash function using the one or more attributes. In storage virtualization environments, the data volume may include secondary logical units, and mapping the given data volume to the host may include binding the SLU to the host.