Scalable non-uniform storage sizes

Abstract

A plurality of storage nodes cooperating as a storage cluster is provided. Each of the plurality of storage nodes has storage memory. Each storage node of the plurality of storage nodes is configurable to direct erasure coded striping of data of one of an Mode or data segment across the plurality of storage nodes of the storage cluster, with at least one storage node of the plurality of storage nodes having a differing amount of storage capacity of the storage memory from an amount of storage capacity of another storage node in the plurality of storage nodes. A method of storing data in a storage cluster is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, performed by a storage system, comprising:
 configuring a plurality of storage nodes to cooperate as a storage cluster;   determining storage resources across the plurality of storage nodes, wherein the storage resources comprise solid-state storage memory having non-uniform storage capacity; and   configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access data stripes across the plurality of storage nodes through the non-uniform storage capacity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage cluster spans multiple chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage system includes a cloud based management system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across the plurality of storage nodes comprises:
 configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across a plurality of storage units coupled to the plurality of storage nodes, with differing storage nodes having differing numbers of storage units.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across the plurality of storage nodes comprises:
 configuring each of a plurality of authorities in the plurality of storage nodes to write and read the data stripes across the solid-state storage memory having the non-uniform storage capacity.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across the plurality of storage nodes comprises:
 configuring each of the plurality of storage nodes to access data stripes of differing sizes across the solid-state storage memory having the non-uniform storage capacity.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 configuring the plurality of storage nodes to receive a further storage node or further solid-state storage memory and self-reconfigure to an erasure coding scheme to use the non-uniform storage capacity.   
     
     
         8 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 configuring a plurality of storage nodes as a storage cluster, for storage of metadata and user data;   determining storage resources across the plurality of storage nodes, wherein the storage resources include solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size; and   configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access data stripes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size comprises:
 configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across a plurality of storage units having differing amounts of the solid-state storage memory and being coupled to the plurality of storage nodes.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size comprises:
 configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across a plurality of storage units coupled to the plurality of storage nodes, with differing storage nodes having differing numbers of storage units as the non-uniform size of the solid-state storage memory.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage node to access the data stripes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size comprises:
 establishing a plurality of authorities in the plurality of storage nodes, at least one of the plurality of authorities being transferable from one storage node to another storage node; and   configuring each of the plurality of authorities to write and read the data stripes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the configuring the plurality of storage nodes to access the data stripes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size comprises:
 configuring each of the plurality of storage nodes to access data stripes of differing sizes across the solid-state storage memory of non-uniform size.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 configuring the plurality of storage nodes to receive a further storage node or further solid-state storage memory; and   re-configuring the plurality of storage nodes to an erasure coding scheme that uses the non-uniform size of the solid-state storage memory and the further storage node or further solid-state storage memory.   
     
     
         14 . A storage system, comprising:
 a plurality of storage nodes, cooperating as a storage cluster;   nonvolatile solid-state storage memory, configurable to include non-uniform storage capacity; and   the plurality of storage nodes configurable to access data stripes across the nonvolatile solid-state storage memory with included non-uniform storage capacity.   
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the storage system can function as one of a back-up appliance or archival appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 each of the plurality of storage nodes having one or more storage units, each storage unit having a portion of the nonvolatile solid-state storage memory, wherein the nonvolatile solid-state storage memory configurable to include non-uniform storage capacity comprises differing storage units configurable to have differing storage capacities.   
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the storage system includes a cloud based management system. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of storage nodes configurable to access the data stripes comprises each of the plurality of storage nodes having one or more authorities each configurable to write a data stripe and read a further data stripe across the nonvolatile solid-state storage memory. 
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of storage nodes configurable to access the data stripes across the nonvolatile solid-state storage memory with included non-uniform storage capacity comprises each of the plurality of storage nodes configurable to access data stripes of differing sizes across the nonvolatile solid-state storage memory. 
     
     
         20 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the storage cluster spans multiple chassis.