Cascaded Replication Multi Splitter for Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data protection systems face challenges such as system shutdown during backups, limited recovery points in time, and lengthy data recovery processes, which hinder continuous data protection and minimize downtime during disasters.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of cascaded replication using a multi-splitter, where IOs are intercepted and split between multiple data protection appliances across sites, enabling efficient data replication and recovery across multiple volumes, allowing for near-instantaneous access to any point in time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tape backup drives are used for data protection, then data can be stored on periodic basis, but system shutdown is required during backup operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous data protection by creating and maintaining a copy of production site data on a separate backup storage system. The backup storage system receives and processes copies of data blocks, allowing the production system to continue operating without shutdown while the backup system independently maintains protected copies.
2Quantity of substance
If data is backed up on daily basis using conventional systems, then storage capacity is utilized, but several hours of data loss occurs during disaster recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous data protection that operates without interruption, continuously receiving and processing data blocks from the production system. This continuous operation eliminates gaps between backup cycles, ensuring that data protection is maintained at all times and enabling recovery to any recent point in time without hourly data loss.
3Reliability
If conventional data replication systems are used, then data can be replicated to backup storage, but recovery process takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-processes and organizes backup data blocks in advance by maintaining a structured mapping between production data blocks and backup data blocks. This preliminary organization of backup data, including maintaining indexes and metadata about data locations and versions, enables rapid retrieval and restoration during recovery operations, significantly reducing recovery time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If continuous data protection with journaling is implemented, then any point in time recovery is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backup storage system that acts as an intermediary between the production storage system and the recovery process. This intermediary maintains the journaling functionality and point-in-time recovery capabilities independently, allowing the production system to focus on data generation while the backup system handles the complexity of continuous protection, recovery point management, and restoration operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Conventional method of replication do not allow cascaded replication with journaling. However, in example embodiments of the present invention, a splitter in storage or in the data path may split a single volume to multiple DPA targets. The splitter will intercept data arriving to the volume and split the data to another DPA, thereby allowing cascaded replication. In certain embodiments, the DPA may notify the splitter about a point of consistency because the DPA does not distribute IOs with write order fidelity at all times and only some points are write order fidelity consistent. Thus, the DPA may notify the splitter about a consistent point and the splitter will send notifications about the consistent points to the second DPA, allowing the volumes to have consistent points.