QoS-enabled lifecycle management for file systems

Abstract

In an exemplary aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for lifecycle management for file systems. The method comprises the following steps. At least one storage container adapted to support a file system is allocated. The at least one storage container and the file system are associated with a service class. The file system is created in the storage container. The service class is used during lifecycle actions performed on the file system. Lifecycle actions may comprise, e.g., creating, extending, replicating, moving, or migrating a file system. The service class for the file system may also be maintained for a lifecycle of the file system.

1 . A method for lifecycle management for file systems, comprising: 
 allocating at least one storage container associated with a service class;    creating a file system on the at least one storage container, wherein the file system is associated with the service class; and    using the service class during lifecycle actions performed on the file system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the association between the file system and the service class.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the association between the file system and the service class further comprises analyzing a set of policies and determining the association based on the analysis.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the association between the file system and the service class further comprises accessing a table comprising the association.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein accessing a table further comprises: 
 accessing the table to compare a given name corresponding to the file system and first names stored in the table corresponding to created file systems;    in response to a match between the given name and one of the first names stored in the table, determining a second name corresponding to a given service class and to the first name; and    determining the association so that the file system is associated with the given service class.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using further comprises: 
 in response to an event requesting registration of the file system, determining the service class based on at least service class policies; and    storing the association between the file system and the service class in memory.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein storing further comprises storing the association between the file system and the service class in a table.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 removing the file system; and    de-allocating the at least one storage container.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein using further comprises performing a confirmation process that is at least partially determined by the service class.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein using further comprises performing at least one disposal instruction on the file system, the at least one disposal instruction corresponding to the service class.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using further comprises allocating at least one additional storage container, the at least one storage container associated with the service class, wherein the at least one additional storage container comprises an extension of the file system.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using further comprises: 
 the file system is a first file system;    allocating at least one additional storage container, the at least one additional storage container associated with a second service class;    moving the file system from the at least one storage container to the at least one additional storage container; and    associating the file system with the second service class.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising de-allocating the at least one storage container.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using further comprises: 
 allocating at least one additional storage container, the at least one additional storage container associated with the service class;    moving the file system from the at least one storage container to the at least one additional storage container; and    de-allocating the at least one storage container.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using further comprises: 
 allocating at least one additional storage container, the at least one additional storage container associated with the service class;    replicating the file system on the at least one additional storage container.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the method further comprises the step of specifying the service class associated with the file system; and    allocation further comprises allocating the at least one storage container so that the at least one storage container is associated with the specified service class.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the service class comprises a file system service class;    the method further comprises determining a storage system service class by using the file system service class; and    allocation further comprises allocating the at least one storage container so that the at least one storage container has the determined storage system service class.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the file system for access.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving an event; and    determining from the event a lifecycle action to be performed on the storage.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising generating a given event when a remaining capacity of the file system is below a predetermined remaining capacity.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising generating a given event when a schedule indicates the given event should be generated.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for lifecycle management for file systems, the apparatus comprising: 
 at least one memory; and    at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one processor configured to perform: 
 allocating at least one storage container associated with the service class in the at least one memory;  
 creating a file system on the at least one storage container, wherein the file system is associated with the service class; and  
 using the service class during lifecycle actions performed on the file system.  
   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one storage container comprises at least one of a logical volume, a database, and a file.  
   
   
       24 . A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for lifecycle management for file systems, the operations comprising: 
 allocating at least one storage container associated with a service class;    creating a file system on the at least one storage container, wherein the file system is associated with the service class; and    using the service class during lifecycle actions performed on the file system.    
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for lifecycle management for file systems, comprising: 
 means for allocating at least one storage container associated with a service class;    means for creating a file system on the at least one storage container, wherein the file system is associated with the service class; and    means for using the service class during lifecycle actions performed on the file system.    
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising means for determining the association between the file system and the service class.  
   
   
       27 . A method for lifecycle management for file systems, comprising: 
 allocating at least one storage container associated with a service class;    creating a file system on the at least one storage container, wherein the file system is associated with the service class; and    maintaining the service class of the file system throughout a lifecycle of the file system.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein maintaining comprises ensuring that the file system is stored at all times in storage containers associated with the storage class.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising, in response to a modification of the storage class to a new storage class, allocating at least one new storage container associated with the new storage class, moving the file system to the at least one new storage container and deallocating the at least one storage container associated with the storage class.