3PAR InForm® OS 2.3.1 Concepts Guide (320-200112 Rev B, February 2010)

12.3
Dynamic Optimization
InForm OS Version 2.3.1 3PAR InForm OS Concepts Guide
12.3 Dynamic Optimization
3PAR Dynamic Optimization is an optional feature that allows you to improve the performance
of virtual volumes without interrupting access. Use this feature to avoid over provisioning for
peak system usage by optimizing the layout of your virtual volumes. With 3PAR Dynamic
Optimization you can change the virtual volume’s parameters, RAID levels, set sizes, and disk
filters by associating the virtual volume with a new CPG. You must purchase a 3PAR Dynamic
Optimization license to use this feature.
Dynamic Optimization enables you to non-disruptively re-layout fully-provisioned and thinly-
provisioned virtual volumes. This functionality promotes system optimization through
improved use of all physical resources present in the system at a given time. In addition,
Dynamic Optimization enables you to alter the service levels associated with a given volume by
changing volume parameters.
For example, when an InServ Storage Server is upgraded by adding nodes, cages, or physical
disks, the initial volume and logical disk layouts may no longer be optimal for the new system
configuration. Dynamic Optimization enables you to re-layout volumes with entirely new
parameters to take advantage of the current system configuration.
There are four general cases where Dynamic Optimization may be desirable:
■ Volume layout changes after hardware upgrades. Existing virtual volumes only take
advantage of resources that were present at the time of volume creation. When an InServ
Storage Server is upgraded by adding nodes, cages, or disks, the original volume and logical
disk layouts may no longer be optimal. Changing the layout of a virtual volume enables
volumes to take full advantage of new system resources.
By default, Thinly-Provisioned Virtual Volumes (TPVVs) and their underlying Common
Provisioning Groups (CPGs) dedicate space from all available resources as they grow, both
from pre-existing and new drive capacity resources. This natural expansion capability of
TPVVs reduces the need for Dynamic Optimization to re-layout TPVVs after adding disks.
■ Volume RAID level changes. Since different RAID levels have varying capacity
requirements and offer differing degrees of performance relative to each other, you may
desire to convert volumes from one RAID type to another when system requirements
change. Volume RAID level changes are non-disruptive.
■ Volume availability level changes. The availability of a virtual volume determines its
level of fault tolerance. For example, a volume with a cage-level availability can tolerate