Database Upgrade Segmentation for Downtime Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Database upgrades often require taking the system offline, leading to inaccessible data and potential errors, resulting in significant downtime, cost, and risk.
Innovation Solution
The method involves upgrading current data first, allowing the database to be brought online without waiting for historical data, using a cut-off date to separate data into two groups, converting one group while keeping the other available, and then switching them back, with scripts and foreign key management to ensure minimal disruption and correct configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data is upgraded before bringing the database online, then data integrity and correctness are ensured, but downtime is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the database data into two distinct groups: current data (recently generated, high-priority) and historical data (older, lower-priority). This segmentation allows the upgrade process to treat different data differently, upgrading current data first to enable early database availability while deferring historical data upgrade to a later stage when the database is already online and can accommodate the extended processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by upgrading current data before bringing the database online, rather than waiting for all data to be upgraded. This preliminary upgrade of critical data allows the database to become operational sooner, with historical data upgrade completed subsequently through background processes or scheduled maintenance windows.
2Reliability
If the database is taken offline for upgrade, then correct database configuration is achieved, but accessibility to customers and organization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting data into current and historical groups, the patent enables selective upgrading where current data is upgraded first while the database remains offline, then the database is brought online with current data accessible. Historical data upgrade occurs later when minimal disruption is acceptable, thus maintaining accessibility for critical operations while still achieving complete upgrade eventually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary upgrade of current data and brings the database online before completing historical data upgrade. This preliminary action allows the database to serve customers and organizational needs with upgraded current data, while historical data upgrade is completed subsequently through background processes that do not require taking the database offline.
3Loss of time
If upgrade processes are performed quickly, then downtime is reduced, but errors such as incorrect database configuration may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the upgrade process into distinct phases: first upgrading current data with full verification to ensure configuration correctness, then bringing the database online, and finally upgrading historical data with appropriate validation. This segmented approach allows thorough error checking and configuration verification at each stage rather than rushing through the entire upgrade process, thus maintaining high reliability while managing overall time through prioritization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for updating data stored within the database. In some implementations, actions include determining a cut-off date, defining a first group of data within a first table based on the cut-off date, defining a second group of data within the first table based on the cut-off date, providing the second group of data in a second table, converting the first group of data from a first data structure to a second data structure to provide converted first data within the first table, making the converted first data available for access over a network, converting the second group of data from the first data structure to the second data structure to provide converted second data in the second table, and making the converted second data available for access over the network.