Error handling methods for virtualized computer systems employing space-optimized block devices

摘要

Interfaces to storage devices that employ storage space optimization technologies, such as thin provisioning, are configured to enable the benefits gained from such technologies to be sustained. Such an interface may be provided in a hypervisor of a virtualized computer system to enable the hypervisor to discover features of a logical unit number (LUN), such as whether or not the LUN is thinly provisioned, and also in a virtual machine (VM) of the virtualized computer system to enable the VM to discover features of a virtual disk, such as whether or not the virtual disk is thinly provisioned. The discovery of these features enables better management of the LUN during near full and out-of-space conditions.

主权项

1. A method of offloading a logical block device that is thinly provisioned in a storage system, in response to an error notification from the storage system, comprising:
receiving an error notification generated by the storage system, the error notification indicating that the logical block device has reached a threshold in used capacity; in response to the error notification, examining configuration settings of virtual machines that have files stored in the logical block device, the configuration settings of virtual machines indicating a remedial measure to be taken when the logical block device has reached the threshold in used capacity; and executing a process for offloading the logical block device according to the remedial measure indicated in the configuration settings of the virtual machines.