Migrating thin-provisioned volumes in tiered storage architectures

摘要

A method for migrating volumes in a storage system includes identifying an extent of data (belonging to a volume) requiring migration from a source extent to a target extent. The method allocates a selected number of copiers to the extent of data to migrate the extent of data from the source extent to the target extent. Each copier is configured to copy a unit of data, which is a smaller division of the extent of data. The method monitors destages (i.e., writes) that occur to the source extent as the copiers migrate the extent of data from the source extent to the target extent. In the event the destages occur faster than the copiers can copy units to the target extent, the method allocates additional copiers to the extent of data to assist in migrating the extent of data. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method for migrating volumes in a storage system, the method comprising:
identifying an extent of data and associated metadata requiring migration from a source extent to a target extent, wherein the source extent is in a first storage tier and the target extent is in a second storage tier with different performance characteristics than the first storage tier; identifying a control structure comprising a single pointer pointing to both the extent of data and the associated metadata; migrating at least one of the extent of data and associated metadata from the source extent to the target extent; and modifying the control structure to include separate pointers to the extent of data and the associated metadata.