Consistent Path Selection for Data Copy Offload Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data copying methods in storage systems consume excessive host device resources and adversely impact load balancing, particularly when using SCSI extended copy (XCOPY) commands or other data copy offload commands with subsequent related commands.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data structure that maintains an ordered arrangement of initiator-target pairs for path selection, allowing consistent path selection for data copy offload commands and their subsequent related commands, thereby offloading the operation to the storage system and enhancing load balancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data copying is done primarily by the host device, then the copying operation can be performed, but it consumes excessive resources of the host device and adversely impacts system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data copying function from the host device and relocates it to the storage system. The host device issues a copy command to the storage system, which then performs the actual data copying operation between storage devices. This extraction eliminates the resource consumption burden on the host device while maintaining data copying capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If data copy offload commands are used to offload copying to the storage system, then host device resource consumption is reduced, but load balancing implemented by the host device is adversely impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing an ordered arrangement of initiator-target pairs at the host device before data copy operations commence. This data structure pre-organizes multiple paths with associated initiators and targets, enabling the host device to quickly select appropriate paths for copy commands and subsequent related commands without compromising load balancing. The preliminary organization of path information allows efficient distribution of copy operations across multiple storage devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus in one embodiment includes at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The at least one processing device is configured to maintain in a host device a data structure characterizing an ordered arrangement of available initiator-target pairs corresponding to respective paths between the host device and a storage system, to obtain a data copy offload command to offload a data copy operation from the host device to the storage system, to select a particular path for delivery of the data copy offload command from the host device to the storage system based at least in part on the ordered arrangement of available initiator-target pairs characterized by the data structure, and to send the data copy offload command from the host device to the storage system using the selected path.