Block Data Storage Volumes Reliability via Mirroring and Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing and provisioning physical computing resources in large-scale data centers has increased due to the growth in scale and scope of computer networks, necessitating improved availability and reduced manual efforts for block data storage.
Innovation Solution
A block data storage system that utilizes multiple server storage systems to provide reliable non-local block data storage, with features like mirroring and archival storage to enhance volume reliability and availability, managed by a Block Data Storage System Manager and Node Manager to ensure transparent access and redundancy across networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple server storage systems are used to store block data volumes, then reliability and availability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into multiple independent server storage systems, each storing a copy of block data volumes. This segmentation allows the system to distribute reliability burden across multiple components while maintaining overall system reliability through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple copies of block data volumes are stored across different server storage systems. This copying strategy ensures that if one server fails, other copies remain accessible, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex real-time synchronization mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If block data storage is made non-local and accessible over networks, then adaptability and accessibility are improved, but loss of time for data access increases
Solution Approach 1:
A block data storage system manager acts as an intermediary between clients and server storage systems. This manager handles mounting, unmounting, and data access coordination, abstracting the network complexity from clients and optimizing data retrieval operations to minimize access time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining multiple copies of data across different servers and pre-establishing access pathways. When a client needs data, the system can quickly locate and serve the appropriate copy without requiring complex real-time decisions, thereby reducing access time.
3Productivity
If manual provisioning and management of storage resources is reduced, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The block data storage system manager provides self-service capabilities by automatically managing volume provisioning, allocation, and distribution to clients. The system autonomously handles storage resource management tasks, eliminating manual intervention and improving productivity while the encapsulated complexity remains managed within the system boundaries.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are described for managing access of executing programs to non-local block data storage. In some situations, a block data storage service uses multiple server storage systems to reliably store block data that may be accessed over one or more networks by programs executing on other physical computing systems. Users may create block data storage volumes that are each stored by at least two of the server block data storage systems, and may initiate use of such volumes by one or more executing programs, such as in a reliable manner by enabling an automatic switch to a second volume copy if a first volume copy becomes unavailable. A group of multiple server block data storage systems that store block data volumes may in some situations be co-located at a data center, and programs that use volumes stored there may execute on other physical computing systems at that data center.