Cost Effective Storage using Extent Based Dynamic Tiering

Multi-tier systems that combine SSDs with SAS/FC and/or SATA disks mitigate the capital cost burden of SSDs, while benefiting from their superior I/O performance per unit cost and low power. Though commercial SSD-based multi-tier solutions are available, configuring such a system with the optimal number of devices per tier to achieve performance goals at minimum cost remains a challenge. Furthermore, these solutions do not leverage the opportunity to dynamically consolidate load and reduce power/operating cost. Our extent-based dynamic tiering solution, EDT, addresses these limitations via two key components of its design. A Configuration Adviser EDT-CA determines the adequate mix of storage devices to buy and install to satisfy a given workload at minimum cost, and a Dynamic Tier Manager EDT-DTM performs dynamic extent placement once the system is running to satisfy performance requirements while minimizing dynamic power consumption. Key to the cost minimization of EDT-CA is its a...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: FAST
• Authors: Jorge Guerra, Himabindu Pucha, Joseph S. Glider, Wendy Belluomini, Raju Rangaswami
• Keywords: Cost Minimization, Dynamic Power Consumption, FAST 2011, Operating System, Tier Systems