Data Alignment System for Seamless OS Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Converting between operating systems on servers can cause data alignment issues, leading to downtime and inconvenience, especially when data stored in unsupported file systems, often requiring additional storage devices and reboots.
Innovation Solution
A data alignment system that includes a DA computing device with processors and memory, capable of updating metadata to remove reference pointers, generating partition tables, and linking partitions across multiple data storage devices without requiring additional storage or reboots, using the hot-swap capability of redundant arrays to align data storage devices during OS conversions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operating system conversion is performed using traditional methods, then new operating system is installed, but data alignment issues occur and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data alignment operations before the operating system conversion is completed. The metadata is updated and partition tables are synchronized across storage devices in advance, so that when the conversion finishes, data is already properly aligned and no additional downtime is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metadata as an intermediary layer between the operating system and the physical storage devices. This metadata layer abstracts the data alignment complexity, allowing the OS conversion to proceed without directly manipulating partition structures, thereby preventing alignment issues and reducing downtime.
2Reliability
If additional data storage devices are added to support OS conversion, then data alignment is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metadata structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores partition information, maintains data alignment, enables OS conversion, and provides redundancy. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated storage devices, maintaining data alignment while reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple reboots are performed during OS conversion, then new operating system is installed, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs data alignment and metadata updates in advance before the operating system conversion is finalized. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the conversion completes, no additional reboots are needed to realign data, thereby maintaining OS flexibility while significantly improving conversion speed and productivity.
4Quantity of substance
If data is stored in unsupported file systems, then storage capacity is utilized, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The metadata layer acts as an intermediary that translates between different file system formats. This allows the system to store data in various file systems (maintaining storage capacity utilization) while the metadata provides a standardized interface that ensures ease of operation and data accessibility across different operating systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A data alignment (DA) computing device is communicatively coupled to a first and a second data storage device. The first data storage device stores an array of partitions including a first subset and a second subset of partitions, and metadata associated with the array that includes a reference pointer for each partition. The DA computing device updates the metadata to remove the reference pointers for the second subset of partitions and thereby remove the second subset from the array, stores a partition table defining the first subset within the first data storage device and the second subset within the second data storage device, stores the metadata associated with the array within the second data storage device, updates the second data storage device to include the second subset of partitions, and updates the metadata stored by the data storage devices to link the second subset of partitions to the array.