Coordinated Snapshot Orchestration Across Distinct Storage Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data storage systems face challenges in efficiently managing and coordinating snapshots across distinct storage environments, leading to data integrity and recovery issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of coordinated snapshot methods across multiple storage environments, utilizing advanced storage array controllers and non-volatile solid state storage units, enables synchronized data management and recovery processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If snapshots are managed independently in distinct storage environments, then each storage system can operate autonomously, but data integrity and consistency across environments deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous operation capabilityVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coordination mechanism that acts as an intermediary between distinct storage environments. This coordinator manages snapshot operations across multiple storage systems, ensuring that snapshots are taken consistently across all environments while maintaining their autonomous operation. The intermediary reconciles the need for independence with the need for data integrity by orchestrating coordinated snapshots without requiring the storage systems to be tightly coupled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If coordinated snapshot methods are implemented across multiple storage environments, then data integrity and recovery capabilities are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidcoordination system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the coordination functionality into separate, manageable components. The coordination mechanism is segmented into distinct modules that can independently manage different aspects of snapshot coordination across storage environments. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by allowing each component to handle specific tasks rather than requiring a monolithic complex system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If snapshots are taken across distinct storage environments simultaneously, then recovery time is reduced, but coordination overhead and potential conflicts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecovery timeVSAvoidcoordination overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary coordination actions before actual snapshot operations begin. The coordination mechanism pre-establishes snapshot schedules, identifies appropriate snapshot points, and prepares coordination protocols in advance. This preliminary action enables simultaneous snapshots across multiple environments to proceed smoothly without conflicts during the actual snapshot execution, reducing both recovery time and coordination overhead during critical operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12332747B2Orchestrating coordinated snapshots across distinct storage environments
Publication Date: 2025.06.17 PURE STORAGE INC
  • US12332747B2 patent drawing
  • US12332747B2 patent drawing
  • US12332747B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for orchestrating coordinated snapshots across distinct storage environments are disclosed. The methods include steps for determining, for storage systems storing portions of a dataset, that a local checkpoint at a storage system of the storage systems meets dependency requirements for a coordinated checkpoint of the dataset relative to another local checkpoint at another storage system of the storage systems while storage operations are being applied to the dataset, and based on the determination, orchestrating the coordinated checkpoint.