Logical zone mapping

Abstract

A mass data storage system includes a plurality of communicatively coupled storage resources that are each controlled by one of a plurality of distinct storage controllers. Each of the storage resources are mapped to one or more logical zones, and the logical zones each apply an associated storage condition to data stored therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 mapping a plurality of storage resources to one or more of multiple logical zones in a storage system, each of the storage resources having a storage controller and each of the logical zones associated with a different storage condition and defining a group of storage resources applying the associated storage condition to data stored therein.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting one of the logical zones to receive data of a write request based on a storage characteristic of the write request satisfying the storage condition of the logical zone that was selected. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage characteristic is specified in the write request. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage characteristic is determined based on a user's subscription to a storage service. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage condition and the storage characteristic indicate a degree of data integrity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage condition is a size of a shingled magnetic recording band and the storage characteristic is a size of the data of the write request. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage condition and the storage characteristic indicate a level of encryption for data of the write request. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage condition is an access speed and the storage characteristic refers to a time-to-data (TTD) in which data of the write request can be accessed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the storage resources have disparate physical characteristics. 
     
     
         10 . A storage system comprising:
 a zone manager configured to map a plurality of storage devices to one of multiple logical zones in the storage system, each of the storage devices having a distinct storage controller and each of the logical zones associated with a different storage condition and defining a group of storage devices applying the associated storage condition to data stored therein.   
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a write manager configured to select one of the logical zones to receive data of a write request based on a storage characteristic of the write request satisfying the storage condition of the selected logical zone. 
 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 11  wherein the storage condition and the storage characteristic indicate a degree of data integrity. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 11  wherein the storage condition and the storage characteristic indicate of a level of encryption for data of the write request. 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 11  wherein the storage condition is an access speed and the storage characteristic refers to a time-to-data (TTD) in which data of the write request can be accessed from the storage system. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 11  wherein each of the logical zones is defined to have an independent power source for each of a predetermined number of storage devices. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 10  wherein each of the different logical zones is defined to include storage devices of substantially the same capacity. 
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 10  wherein the zone manager is configured to dynamically add or remove storage devices from each of the logical zones. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 mapping storage resources to different logical zones in a computer system, each of the logical zones defined to have an independent power source for each of a predetermined number of storage resources; and   selecting multiple storage resources in a logical zone to receive data of a write request.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of the different logical zones is defined to have a maximum number of storage resources in a same field replaceable unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein at least two of the storage resources are managed by different storage controllers.