HP XP P9000 Command View Advanced Edition Software - Manual (Page 49)

5. In the task list, confirm that the task is completed.
Virtualizing storage tiers (Smart)
This module describes how to manage data relocation for Smart volumes.
About virtualizing storage tiers
Smart Tiers functionality monitors the frequency at which data is accessed and relocates that data
based on the results. The user creates a pool that combines volumes of different cost performances,
such as combining high-speed volumes (SSD or SAS) with inexpensive low-speed volumes (SATA).
The data in this pool is then automatically relocated among the volumes. This relocation is performed
depending on the I/O load:
• high-load pages are allocated to high-speed volumes
• low-load pages are allocated to low-speed volumes
By using HP StorageWorks P9000 Command View Advanced Edition Suite software, you can fine-tune
settings related to the monitoring of Smart pools and data relocation depending on operating
conditions. By specifying settings that correspond to business conditions or the characteristics of certain
applications, you can optimize data placement, improve volume performance, and reduce costs
through the effective use of resources.
Smart settings that can be specified by using Command View AE Suite include:
• Monitoring Smart pools and relocating data - Smart pool monitoring and data relocation can be
performed. Monitoring and data relocation can be set to execute automatically by specifying a
time or interval in advance, or you can manually execute at a time of your choice according to
the requirements of your work.
• Applying a tiering policy to Smart volumes - In a Smart pool, data that has a high frequency of
I/O operations is preferentially placed in a high-speed hardware tier automatically. To ensure
that data with high importance but with few I/O operations is placed in a hardware tier that
maintains a certain speed at all times, you can fix the target hardware tier. You can also apply
a tiering policy to Smart volumes that determines the capacity ratio of each hardware tier, by
defining such a policy in advance. You can regulate tiering to allow for operation that balances
performance and cost, such as by preventing more data than is necessary from being placed in
a fast hardware tier and thereby reducing management costs. After a tiering policy has been ap-
plied, regularly review the status of the settings of that tiering policy and the amount of capacity
in use by each hardware tier to verify that resources are being appropriately allocated. Tiering
policy definitions can be changed if costs are greater or performance is lower than expected.
• Editing a tier rank for an external Smart pool volume - When an external volume is included in a
Smart pool volume that is one of the volumes making up a Smart pool, you can define the external
LDEV tier rank (high, medium, or low) according to the performance.
A registered Tiered Storage Manager license enables the following:
• Evaluating and analyzing the operation status of Smart pools - Use the Mobility tab to evaluate
and analyze the operation status that is related to a Smart pool.
• Setting a schedule for relocating data and monitoring Smart pools - Register the time of Smart
pool monitoring and data replacement as a template schedule.
• Editing tier relocation for Smart volumes (preventing relocation by volume) - Users can set whether
data can be relocated for each Smart volume. Tier relocation can be controlled according to
characteristics and the operating status of the applications using Smart volumes, such as by pre-
venting other applications from relocating data of the volumes they are using when there is an
application for which data relocation takes a high priority.
User Guide 49