Highly scalable storage array management with reduced latency

摘要

Systems and methods for increasing scalability and reducing latency in relation to managing large numbers of storage arrays of a storage network. Separate, dedicated, communication channels may be established between an array manager running on a server and each of a number of storage arrays for respectively performing reading and writing operations to limit the delays imposed by repeated array connection setup and teardown and improve array communication stability (e.g., as compared to performing read/write operations over the same array connection). The read connection can be used to maintain current state information (e.g., volumes, capacities, and the like) for a plurality of storage arrays in a local cache of the array manager that can be quickly accessed by the array manager, such as for presenting substantially current, summary-type state information of the various storage arrays to a user (e.g., upon the user requesting to configure a particular storage array).

主权项

1. A method for use in managing a plurality of storage arrays in a network, comprising:
receiving, at an array manager over at least a first network, a request to configure at least a first of the storage arrays; accessing, in response to the receiving, configuration state information for the plurality of storage arrays from a cache of the array manager; and sending the storage array configuration state information over the at least first network for presentation to a user, wherein the method further includes before the receiving:
collecting, at the array manager over at least a second network, state information for the plurality of storage arrays; andstoring the storage array state information in the array manager cache, wherein the sent storage array state information comprises the collected and stored storage array state information, and wherein the storing comprises storing the storage array state information as instances of respective object bundles of storage array state information as stored at the respective storage arrays.