Change-Based Snapshot Mechanism for Storage Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snapshot generation methods in data storage systems often result in either excessive or insufficient data changes, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential data loss when reverting to previous states, as they are based on fixed time intervals rather than actual data changes.
Innovation Solution
A change-based snapshot generation method that monitors changes to a storage object and generates new snapshots only when the monitored changes satisfy a predetermined threshold condition, such as a specific amount of data changed or percentage of capacity altered, decoupling snapshot generation from elapsed time and optimizing snapshot size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If snapshots are generated at regular time intervals, then snapshot creation is simple and automated, but the amount of changed data in each snapshot becomes unpredictable and may be insufficient or excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static time-based snapshot scheduling to dynamic change-based scheduling. The system continuously monitors data changes and dynamically triggers snapshot creation when a threshold is reached, allowing the snapshot interval to vary based on actual data modification patterns rather than following a fixed timetable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors the amount of data changed since the last snapshot and uses this information to determine when to create the next snapshot. This closed-loop approach ensures snapshots are created based on actual data changes rather than predetermined time intervals.
2Measurement precision
If snapshots are created more frequently to increase granularity, then data recovery precision improves, but resource consumption for creating and maintaining snapshots increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for snapshot creation from time-based to change-based. Instead of creating snapshots at fixed time intervals, the system creates snapshots when the amount of data changed exceeds a threshold, thereby adjusting the frequency of snapshot creation based on actual data modification patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by creating snapshots only when necessary (when change threshold is exceeded) rather than continuously or at fixed intervals. This selective approach avoids unnecessary snapshot creation while maintaining sufficient granularity for data recovery.
3Measurement precision
If the snapshot threshold is set low to capture all changes, then data recovery precision improves, but the number of snapshots increases and resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the threshold parameter to balance between capturing sufficient data changes and avoiding excessive snapshot creation. The threshold is set high enough to maintain resource efficiency while low enough to capture meaningful data changes for effective recovery.
Data Source
AI summary
Generation of new snapshots of a storage object are prompted based on changes to the storage object. An absolute storage change condition is satisfied when the aggregate amount of changed data since the most recent snapshot satisfies a threshold that represents a predefined amount of storage capacity, e.g., N GB. A percentage of used storage change condition is satisfied when the aggregate size of the changes expressed as a percentage of the provisioned storage capacity of snapped storage object satisfies a predetermined threshold, e.g., X % of Y TB. A percentage of provisioned storage change condition is satisfied when the aggregate amount of the changes in terms of percentage of utilized storage capacity of storage object satisfies a predetermined threshold expressed as a percentage of the utilized capacity of the storage object, e.g., P % of Z TB.