Front End Cache Failover for Hard Disk Drive Data Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cache systems face challenges in efficiently managing data redundancy and failover in the event of hard disk drive failures within data arrays, leading to potential data loss and computationally expensive data regeneration processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a failover mechanism within a front-end cache system, specifically a flash-based cache, to copy and store data from a failing hard disk drive, allowing for seamless data restoration upon replacement of the failed drive, thereby minimizing data loss and reducing regeneration costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is stored only on hard disk drives in a data array, then storage capacity is maximized, but data loss occurs when a drive fails and regeneration is computationally expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata safetyVSAvoidcomputational overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-allocates a failover portion in the front-end cache system before failures occur. When a hard disk drive fails, data is immediately copied to this pre-prepared space in the flash-based cache, eliminating the need for expensive computational regeneration and ensuring rapid failover with minimal data loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If a flash-based cache system is implemented for failover, then data restoration speed is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata restoration speedVSAvoidcache system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front-end cache system serves multiple functions: it acts as a performance cache for frequently accessed data and simultaneously provides failover storage capacity. This multi-functionality allows the cache to enable rapid data restoration during failures without requiring a separate dedicated failover system, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If data is copied to flash-based cache on drive failure, then data loss is minimized, but storage capacity for the array is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata lossVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allocates a specific portion of the flash-based cache system exclusively for failover purposes, while the remainder of the cache continues to function as high-performance storage. This local differentiation allows the system to minimize data loss through dedicated failover capacity while preserving adequate storage capacity in the main data array and cache for normal operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8990615B1System and method for cache management

Publication Date: 2015.03.24 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving an indication that a hard disk drive within a data array is failing, thus defining a failing hard disk drive. At least a portion of the data included within the failing hard disk drive is copied to a failover portion of a front end cache system included within a host coupled to the data array, thus defining a backup data set.