WO2022044434A1 - Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

When the number of tape drives available for recording objects on magnetic tape is greater than the number of storage pools that comprise a plurality of magnetic tapes, this information processing device performs either a first control in which objects are recorded in parallel on each of the plurality of storage pools, or a second control in which, for each storage pool successively, objects are recorded in parallel on the plurality of magnetic tapes constituting the storage pool, depending on an indicator value correlating to the ratio between the time required to record an object and the time required to replace the magnetic tape in a tape drive.

Description

Information processing equipment, information processing methods, and information processing programs

This disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

A technique for recording a plurality of data sets recorded on a magnetic disk in parallel on a plurality of magnetic tapes is disclosed (see JP-A-2001-236253).

By the way, a technique is known in which a storage pool is configured by a plurality of magnetic tapes and a logical volume is provided to a user. When recording an object in this storage pool, it is conceivable to shorten the recording time by recording the objects in parallel as in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-236253 described above.

When recording objects in multiple storage pools, depending on the size and number of objects, it may be possible to shorten the time from the start of recording to the completion of recording of objects compared to recording objects in parallel for each of multiple storage pools. be. However, the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-236253 does not consider the case where a plurality of storage pools exist.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program capable of shortening the time from the start of recording of an object to the completion of recording. And.

The information processing apparatus of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus including at least one processor, and the processor is a storage in which the number of tape drives that can be used for recording an object on a magnetic tape is composed of a plurality of magnetic tapes. If more than the number of pools, record objects in parallel in each of multiple storage pools, depending on the index value that correlates with the ratio of the time it takes to record the object to the time it takes to replace the tape to the tape drive. First control is performed, or second control is performed for each storage pool in order to record objects in parallel on a plurality of magnetic tapes constituting the storage pool.

In the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the index value may be the ratio of the total size of the objects to be recorded and the number of objects to be recorded.

In addition, the information processing method of the present disclosure takes time to record an object when the number of tape drives available for recording the object on the magnetic tape is larger than the number of storage pools composed of a plurality of magnetic tapes. The first control to record objects in parallel in each of multiple storage pools, or in order for each storage pool, depending on the index value that correlates with the ratio of the time it takes to replace the magnetic tape to the tape drive. In addition, the processor included in the information processing apparatus executes a second control process for recording objects in parallel on a plurality of magnetic tapes constituting the storage pool.

In addition, the information processing program of the present disclosure takes time to record an object when the number of tape drives available for recording the object on the magnetic tape is larger than the number of storage pools composed of a plurality of magnetic tapes. The first control to record objects in parallel in each of multiple storage pools, or in order for each storage pool, depending on the index value that correlates with the ratio of the time it takes to replace the magnetic tape to the tape drive. The purpose is to cause a processor included in the information processing apparatus to perform a second control process for recording objects in parallel on a plurality of magnetic tapes constituting the storage pool.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to shorten the time from the start of recording of an object to the completion of recording.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the structure of a recording / reproduction system. It is a figure for demonstrating an object. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a magnetic tape. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware composition of an information processing apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating a storage pool. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st control and the 2nd control. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the functional structure of an information processing apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st control and 2nd control when an index value is more than a threshold value. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st control and 2nd control when an index value is less than a threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an object recording process.

Hereinafter, an example of a form for implementing the technique of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the recording / reproducing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording / playback system 10 includes an information processing device 12 and a tape library 14. Examples of the information processing apparatus 12 include a server computer and the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 12 is communicably connected to the user terminal 11 via a network. Examples of the user terminal 11 include a personal computer and the like.

The tape library 14 includes a plurality of slots (not shown) and a plurality of tape drives 18, and each slot stores a magnetic tape T as an example of a recording medium. Each tape drive 18 is connected to the information processing device 12. The tape drive 18 writes or reads data on the magnetic tape T under the control of the information processing apparatus 12. An example of the magnetic tape T is an LTO (Linear Tape-Open) tape.

When the information processing device 12 writes or reads data on the magnetic tape T, the magnetic tape T to be written or read is loaded from the slot into a predetermined tape drive 18. When the writing or reading of the data to the magnetic tape T loaded in the tape drive 18 is completed, the magnetic tape T is unloaded from the tape drive 18 into the slot originally stored.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 as an example, as a unit for handling the data to be recorded on the magnetic tape T, data to be saved by the user such as document data and image data, and metadata related to the data are included. An example of the form to which the object is applied will be described. In the example of FIG. 2, the metadata is expressed as “meta”. The storage system that handles this object is called an object storage system. The metadata includes, for example, object identification information such as an object key, object name, data size, and attribute information such as a time stamp.

Next, the configuration of the magnetic tape T according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, when formatted, the magnetic tape T is divided into two partitions, a reference partition RP on which metadata is recorded and a data partition DP on which objects are recorded. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, when the object is recorded in the data partition DP, it is recorded in the order of metadata and data. The recording order of the data and the metadata when the object is recorded on the magnetic tape T is not particularly limited, and may be the order of the data and the metadata. Further, the reference partition RP and the data partition DP are separated by a guard wraps GW including a plurality of wraps.

In the present embodiment, when the object group is recorded on the magnetic tape T, the information processing apparatus 12 first controls to record the object group on the data partition DP. After that, at a predetermined timing, control is performed to record each metadata included in the object group recorded in the data partition DP in the reference partition RP. Examples of this timing include the timing of unloading the magnetic tape T from the tape drive 18.

Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, a memory 21 as a temporary storage area, and a non-volatile storage unit 22. Further, the information processing apparatus 12 includes a display unit 23 such as a liquid crystal display, an input unit 24 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a network I / F (InterFace) 25 connected to a network, and an external I to which each tape drive 18 is connected. / F26 is included. The CPU 20, the memory 21, the storage unit 22, the display unit 23, the input unit 24, the network I / F25, and the external I / F26 are connected to the bus 27.

The storage unit 22 is realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, or the like. The information processing program 30 is stored in the storage unit 22 as a storage medium. The CPU 20 reads the information processing program 30 from the storage unit 22, expands it into the memory 21, and executes the expanded information processing program 30. Further, the storage unit 22 stores an object to be recorded on the magnetic tape T.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a storage pool composed of a plurality of magnetic tapes T according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, one storage pool contains a plurality of magnetic tapes T. Also, a pool group is composed of one or more storage pools. In the present embodiment, a case where three magnetic tapes T are included in one storage pool and one storage pool is included in one pool group will be described.

Further, a pool group is assigned to the logical volume of the information processing apparatus 12, and the logical volume is provided to the user of the recording / playback system 10. Therefore, when the user terminal 11 transmits the data to be recorded to the information processing device 12, the information processing device 12 controls to record the data in the storage pool included in the pool group corresponding to the logical volume of the recording destination. ..

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, two controls in which the information processing apparatus 12 records an object in a plurality of storage pools by using a plurality of tape drives 18 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the first control is a control for recording objects in parallel in each of a plurality of storage pools (hereinafter referred to as “first control”). In the example of FIG. 6, two tape drives 18 are used to record two objects in each of the two storage pools.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the second control is a control for recording objects in parallel on a plurality of magnetic tapes T constituting the storage pool in order for each storage pool (hereinafter, "second control"). It is called "control"). In the example of FIG. 6, an example is shown in which two tape drives 18 are used to record two object groups on two magnetic tapes T constituting a storage pool in the order of Pool1 and Pool2.

In the case of the first control, since the objects are recorded in one storage pool using one tape drive 18, the total size of the objects to be recorded may be a size that fits in one magnetic tape T. For example, the replacement of the magnetic tape T with the tape drive 18 does not occur. On the other hand, in the case of the second control, when the storage pool of the recording destination is changed, the magnetic tape T is replaced with the tape drive 18. In the following, the replacement of the magnetic tape T with the tape drive 18 is simply referred to as "replacement of the magnetic tape T". In the example of FIG. 6, the time required for the replacement of the magnetic tape T is shown by a broken line rectangle.

Therefore, when the number of tape drives 18 that can be used for recording objects on the magnetic tape T (hereinafter referred to as “the number of available drives”) is equal to the number of storage pools, the timing at which recording of all objects to be recorded is completed. t is slower in the second control than in the first control by the amount of time required for the replacement of the magnetic tape T. However, when the number of available drives is larger than the number of storage pools, the timing t of the first control is not always earlier than that of the second control.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment has a function of properly using the first control and the second control when the number of usable drives is larger than the number of storage pools.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the information processing apparatus 12 includes a derivation unit 40 and a control unit 42. When the CPU 20 executes the information processing program 30, it functions as a derivation unit 40 and a control unit 42.

The derivation unit 40 derives an index value V that correlates with the ratio between the time required for recording the object and the time required for replacing the magnetic tape T. Here, the details of the index value V will be described. The time required to record an object depends on the total size of the objects to be recorded, and the larger the total value, the longer the recording time.

Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to unloading the magnetic tape T from the tape drive 18 and loading a new magnetic tape T into the tape drive 18, the following commitments are made during the time required for the replacement of the magnetic tape T. Processing time is included. The commit process referred to here means a process of recording each metadata included in the object group recorded in the data partition DP in the reference partition RP. The size of the data contained in the object varies depending on the data, but the size of the metadata does not depend on the data, and the fluctuation is very small compared to the size of the data.

Therefore, the time required for the commit process depends on the number of objects to be recorded, and the larger the number of objects to be recorded, the longer it becomes. That is, when the total size of the objects to be recorded is the same, the time required to record the objects is almost the same, but the time required to replace the magnetic tape T varies depending on the number of objects to be recorded. In the present embodiment, the ratio of the total size of the objects to be recorded and the number of objects to be recorded is applied as the index value V. Specifically, as the index value V, a value obtained by dividing the total size of the objects to be recorded by the number of objects to be recorded is applied.

When the number of usable drives is larger than the number of storage pools, the control unit 42 performs the first control or the second control according to the index value V derived by the out-licensing unit 40.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a specific example of proper use of the first control and the second control in this case will be described. 8 and 9 illustrate the case where the number of usable drives is 3 and the number of storage pools is 2. A large index value V means that the total size of the objects is relatively larger than the number of objects. That is, the larger the index value V, the larger the ratio of the time required for recording the object to the time required for replacing the magnetic tape T.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the index value V is equal to or higher than a certain threshold value TH, the timing t at which the recording of all the objects to be recorded is completed is earlier in the second control than in the first control. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the index value V is less than the threshold value TH, the timing t at which the recording of all the objects to be recorded is completed is earlier in the first control than in the second control.

Therefore, when the index value V is equal to or higher than the threshold value TH, the control unit 42 performs the second control. Further, when the index value V is less than the threshold value TH, the control unit 42 performs the first control. As the threshold value TH in this case, for example, a value at which the timing t when the first control is performed and the timing t when the second control is performed can be applied.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the CPU 20 executes the information processing program 30, the object recording process shown in FIG. 10 is executed. The object recording process shown in FIG. 10 is executed, for example, when the information processing apparatus 12 receives the execution start instruction transmitted from the user terminal 11 and the number of usable drives is larger than the number of storage pools.

In step S10 of FIG. 10, the derivation unit 40 derives the index value V by dividing the total size of the objects to be recorded by the number of objects to be recorded.

In step S12, the control unit 42 determines whether or not the index value V is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH. If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the control unit 42 performs the second control. When the process of step S14 is completed, the object recording process is completed.

If the determination in step S12 is a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the control unit 42 performs the first control. When the process of step S16 is completed, the object recording process is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to shorten the time from the start of recording of the object to the completion of recording.

In the above embodiment, for example, the following various processors are used as the hardware structure of the processing unit that executes various processes such as the derivation unit 40 and the control unit 42. Can be done. As described above, the various processors include a CPU, which is a general-purpose processor that executes software (programs) and functions as various processing units, as well as circuits after manufacturing FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and the like. Dedicated electricity, which is a processor with a circuit configuration specially designed to execute specific processing such as programmable logic device (PLD), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which is a processor whose configuration can be changed. Circuits etc. are included.

One processing unit may be composed of one of these various processors, or a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). It may be composed of a combination). Further, a plurality of processing units may be configured by one processor.

As an example of configuring a plurality of processing units with one processor, first, one processor is configured by a combination of one or more CPUs and software, as represented by a computer such as a client and a server. There is a form in which the processor functions as a plurality of processing units. Second, as typified by System on Chip (SoC), there is a form that uses a processor that realizes the functions of the entire system including multiple processing units with one IC (Integrated Circuit) chip. be. As described above, the various processing units are configured by using one or more of the above-mentioned various processors as a hardware-like structure.

Further, as the hardware structure of these various processors, more specifically, an electric circuit (circuitry) in which circuit elements such as semiconductor elements are combined can be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the embodiment in which the information processing program 30 is stored (installed) in the storage unit 22 in advance has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information processing program 30 is provided in a form recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. May be good. Further, the information processing program 30 may be downloaded from an external device via a network.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-143479 filed on August 27, 2020 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, all documents, patent applications, and technical standards described herein are to the same extent as if it were specifically and individually stated that the individual documents, patent applications, and technical standards were incorporated by reference. Is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (4)

1. An information processing device equipped with at least one processor.
   The processor
   If the number of tape drives available for recording an object on tape is greater than the number of storage pools consisting of multiple tapes, the time it takes to record the object and the replacement of the tape on the tape drive. A first control that records objects in parallel in each of multiple storage pools, or multiple magnetic tapes that make up the storage pool in turn for each storage pool, depending on the index value that correlates with the time taken. An information processing device that performs a second control of recording objects in parallel on tape.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index value is a ratio of the total size of the objects to be recorded and the number of objects to be recorded.
3. If the number of tape drives available for recording an object on tape is greater than the number of storage pools consisting of multiple tapes, the time it takes to record the object and the replacement of the tape on the tape drive. A first control that records objects in parallel in each of multiple storage pools, or multiple magnetic tapes that make up the storage pool in turn for each storage pool, depending on the index value that correlates with the time taken. An information processing method in which a processor included in an information processing apparatus executes a second control process for recording objects on tape in parallel.
4. If the number of tape drives available for recording an object on tape is greater than the number of storage pools consisting of multiple tapes, the time it takes to record the object and the replacement of the tape on the tape drive. A first control that records objects in parallel in each of multiple storage pools, or multiple magnetic tapes that make up the storage pool in turn for each storage pool, depending on the index value that correlates with the time taken. An information processing program for causing a processor of an information processing device to execute a second control process for recording objects on tape in parallel.

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