Method, device, and computer program product for managing storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11429537-B2
Application number	US-202016790380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2020
Priority date	Apr 25, 2019
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

Techniques involve managing a storage system. In accordance with the techniques, a plurality of copies of metadata of the storage system are read from a plurality of storage devices in a resource pool of the storage system. The resource pool includes a first number of storage devices, and the metadata describes configuration information of the storage system. A second number of copies are selected from the plurality of copies based on version information in the plurality of copies, where the second number of copies comprises the metadata in the same version. It is determined whether a relation between the first number and the second number satisfies a predetermined condition. The second number of copies are identified as trusted metadata based on determining the relation satisfies the predetermined condition. With the foregoing example implementation, the metadata in the storage system may be managed with higher reliability.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for managing a storage system, the method comprising:
reading a plurality of copies of metadata of the storage system from a plurality of storage devices in a resource pool of the storage system, the resource pool comprising a first number of storage devices, and the metadata describing configuration information of the storage system;
selecting a second number of copies from the plurality of copies based on version information in the plurality of copies, the second number of copies comprising the metadata in the same version;
determining whether a relation between the first number and the second number satisfies a predetermined condition; and
identifying the second number of copies as trusted metadata based on determining the relation satisfies the predetermined condition;
wherein the version information comprises a reset time of the storage system, and selecting the second number of copies from the plurality of copies comprises:
selecting a group of copies with the latest reset time from the plurality of copies as the second number of copies in response to determining reset times included in the plurality of copies are different.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second number of copies as trusted metadata based on determining the relation satisfies the predetermined condition occurs at a first time; and wherein the method further comprises:
at a second time that is different from the first time, determining an error occurs in the metadata in response to determining the relation does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a copy among the plurality of copies comprises the original number of storage devices included in the resource pool when the copy is written to a storage device among the plurality of storage devices, and the method further comprises:
replacing the first number with the original number in response to the original number differing from the first number.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the version information further comprises a boot count of the storage system, and selecting the second number of copies from the plurality of copies comprises:
selecting a group of copies with the largest boot count from at least one part of the plurality of copies as the second number of copies in response to determining reset times included in the at least one part of the plurality of copies are the same.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the version information further comprises a timestamp when the metadata is updated, and selecting the second number of copies from the plurality of copies comprises:
selecting a group of copies with the latest timestamp from at least one part of the plurality of copies as the second number of copies in response to determining boot counts included in the at least one part of the plurality of copies are the same.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises: the second number is no less than half of the first number.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a copy among the plurality of copies comprises a checksum of the metadata, and the method further comprises:
determining the copy of the metadata is trusted in response to determining the checksum matches the metadata; and
booting the storage system based on the trusted metadata.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining an error occurs in the metadata in response to determining a checksum included in any copy among the second number of copies does not match the metadata.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein
a first group of copies among the plurality of copies are written to a first group of storage devices included in the resource pool, and a second group of copies among the plurality of copies are written to a second group of storage devices included in the resource pool, the time when the first group of copies are written being earlier than the time when the second group of copies are written, and
before the first group of storage devices are written, a version of copies included in the first group of storage devices is earlier than a version of copies included in the second group of storage devices.

10. A device for managing a storage system, comprising:
at least one processor;
a volatile memory; and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor and having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed from the volatile memory by the at least one processor, causing the apparatus to perform acts comprising:
reading a plurality of copies of metadata of the storage system from a plurality of storage devices in a resource pool of the storage system, the resource pool comprising a first number of storage devices, and the metadata describing configuration information of the storage system;
selecting a second number of copies from the plurality of copies based on version information in the plurality of copies, the second number of copies comprising the metadata in the same version;
determining whether a relation between the first number and the second number satisfies a predetermined condition; and
identifying the second number of copies as trusted metadata based on determining the relation satisfies the predetermined condition; and

wherein the version information comprises a reset time of the storage system, and selecting the second number of copies from the plurality of copies comprises:
selecting a group of copies with the latest reset time from the plurality of copies as the second number of copies in response to determining reset times included in the plurality of copies are different.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein identifying the second number of copies as trusted metadata based on determining the relation satisfies the predetermined condition occurs at a first time; and
wherein the acts further comprise:
at a second time that is different from the first time, determining an error occurs in the metadata in response to determining the relation does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein a copy among the plurality of copies comprises the original number of storage devices included in the resource pool when the copy is written to a storage device among the plurality of storage devices, and the acts further comprise:
replacing the first number with the original number in response to the original number differing from the first number.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the version information further comprises a boot count of the storage system, and selecting the second number of copies from the plurality of copies comprises:
selecting a group of copies with the largest boot count from at least one part of the plurality of copies as the second number of copies in response to determining reset times included in the at least one part of the plurality of copies are the same.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the version information further comprises a timestamp when the metadata are updated, and selecting the second number of copies from the plurality of copies comprises:
selecting a group of copies with the latest timestamp from at least one part of the plurality of copies as the second number of copies in response to determining boot counts included in the at least one part of the plurality of copies are the same.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises: the second number is no less than half of the first number.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein a copy among the plurality of copies comprises a checksum of the metadata, and the acts further comprise:
d

Assignees

• Emc Ip Holding Co Llc

Inventors

• Ma Chun
• Zhuo Baote
• Tang Haiying
• Qiu Zhihui
• Xia Sihang

Classifications

• G06F3/0629

  Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems · CPC title

• G06F11/076

  by exceeding a count or rate limit, e.g. word- or bit count limit · CPC title

• G06F11/1612

  where the redundant component is persistent storage · CPC title

• G06F2201/835

  Timestamp · CPC title

• G06F3/0671

  In-line storage system · CPC title