Cloud Storage Gateway Snapshot Placement Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud storage systems lack efficient mechanisms for snapshot creation and data access across multiple cloud environments, particularly in scenarios where data needs to be accessed from both private and public clouds, with existing solutions relying on a single gateway and inefficient data replication strategies.
Innovation Solution
A cloud storage gateway with thin provisioning, tiering, and snapshot functionalities that determines the optimal location for snapshot creation based on IO access patterns, allowing snapshots to be created in either the private or public cloud and utilizing a storage proxy for data access, thereby optimizing read IO and capacity costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single cloud storage gateway is used to access data in public cloud, then data access is enabled, but read IO cost and capacity cost increase due to inefficient data replication and access patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple cloud storage gateways distributed across different cloud sites (private cloud and public cloud). Each gateway independently manages data replication and access for its local region, enabling parallel data access paths that reduce read IO costs by avoiding sequential access through a single gateway.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces storage proxies as intermediary components between cloud storage gateways and storage systems. These proxies optimize data access by caching frequently accessed data locally and managing replication traffic efficiently, thereby reducing the read IO burden on the primary storage gateway and lowering overall read IO costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is replicated to multiple cloud storage systems, then data availability and accessibility improve, but capacity cost increases due to redundant storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating cloud storage gateways and storage proxies specific to each cloud site (private cloud gateway, public cloud gateway). Each local gateway manages replication and access for its specific cloud environment, optimizing data placement and access patterns for that particular site while maintaining overall system versatility across multiple cloud environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic replication strategies where cloud storage gateways continuously monitor data access patterns and adjust replication decisions in real-time. The system dynamically determines which data to replicate to which cloud storage system based on current access requirements, workload conditions, and cost parameters, thereby optimizing the balance between data availability and capacity cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If snapshots are created in the public cloud site, then data accessibility from public cloud improves, but read IO cost increases due to data retrieval through private cloud gateway
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces storage proxies in both private cloud and public cloud sites as intermediary components. When snapshots are created in the public cloud site, the public cloud storage proxy enables direct access to these snapshots from public cloud resources without requiring data to be retrieved through the private cloud gateway, thereby maintaining snapshot accessibility while reducing read IO costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the snapshot management function across multiple cloud storage gateways and storage proxies distributed in different cloud environments. This segmentation allows snapshots to be created and accessed locally at the appropriate cloud site, enabling parallel access paths that avoid sequential data retrieval through single gateway and reduce read IO costs.
4Quantity of substance
If a cloud storage gateway reads data from public cloud and sends to private cloud for storage, then data is stored in private cloud, but access time and processing delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage and access functions across multiple cloud storage gateways distributed in both private cloud and public cloud. This segmentation enables simultaneous read operations from public cloud storage systems and write operations to private cloud storage systems through different gateway instances, performing data replication in parallel rather than sequentially, thereby reducing overall data access time while maintaining storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having cloud storage gateways pre-establish data replication paths and caching mechanisms before actual data access operations occur. Storage proxies cache frequently accessed data locally and prepare replication pipelines in advance, enabling faster data retrieval and reducing access delays when data needs to be transferred between public and private cloud storage systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system is coupled to a first storage system in a first site and a second storage system in a second site. The computer system comprises: a memory configured to store information which indicates that data in each segment of a plurality of segments of a logical unit is stored in the first storage system or the second storage system; and a processor configured to: receive an instruction to deploy an application, the instruction including access characteristic of the application; and determine if a snapshot of the logical volume is to be created either in the first storage system or the second storage system based on the access characteristic of the application and the information stored in the memory.