Database Upgrade via Separate Read Write Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing database upgrade processes often require downtime, as they necessitate creating backups and running upgrades in parallel to production systems, which can result in minimal but still significant downtime and increased memory consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-database-schema approach using separate read and write channels allows for concurrent access to database tables between different versions of a database application, enabling bi-directional data transformation and synchronization, thereby minimizing downtime and memory usage during upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If upgrades run in parallel to production system with clones of tables and data replication, then upgrade can be performed with minimal downtime, but memory consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the database access into separate read channels and write channels. The read channel accesses the production database while the write channel accesses the upgraded database, allowing parallel operation without duplicating entire table structures in memory simultaneously. This segmentation enables minimal downtime upgrades while controlling memory consumption by avoiding full data duplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (access schemas and channel management) between the application and the database tables. This intermediary enables seamless switching between read and write operations across different database versions without requiring complete data cloning, thus reducing memory overhead while maintaining continuous availability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate read and write channels are implemented with bi-directional synchronization, then concurrent access to multiple database versions is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal access schemas that can handle both read and write operations across multiple database versions through a unified interface. The channel management system provides multi-functional capabilities by routing read operations to the production database and write operations to the upgraded database, enabling concurrent access without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Productivity
If data is duplicated for both old and new software during upgrade, then parallel deployment is enabled, but additional memory consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel switching that allows the system to adaptively route read and write operations to appropriate database versions based on operational needs. This dynamic approach enables parallel deployment of old and new software while avoiding static data duplication, as the system selectively accesses data from either the production or upgraded database depending on the operation type, thereby controlling memory consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An upgrade of a first version of a database application to a second version of a database application that both have a same data schema is initiated. The first database application has a first access schema such that at least one table in the data schema is linked to the first access schema. The second version of the database application has a second access schema such that at least one table in the data schema is linked to the second access schema. The first access schema differs from the second access schema. Subsequently, concurrent access is provided for each access schema to at least one database table in the data schema to both the first version of the database application and the second version of the database application. The concurrent access is enabled by using separate read and write channels. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.