Delta Volume Storage for Fast Virtual Disk Migration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The inefficient migration of server virtual machine disks from one storage location to another, as existing methods require transferring the entire modified template volume, leading to longer migration times and unnecessary bandwidth usage, even when the new location already has the original template volume.

Innovation Solution

Creating a delta volume that stores differences between the original template volume and the modified template volume, allowing the destination storage device to merge the template volume and delta volume to create a modified template volume, thus only transferring the changes, reducing the amount of data needed to be transferred.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire modified template volume is transferred during migration, then the destination storage device receives complete data, but the data transfer time and bandwidth usage increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidmigration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the modified template volume into two parts: the original template volume and a delta volume containing only the differences. This segmentation allows the destination storage device to receive only the essential difference data rather than the entire volume, thereby reducing migration time while maintaining data completeness through the combination of template volume and delta volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the difference data (delta volume) from the modified template volume and transfers it to the destination storage device. This extraction principle allows the system to send minimal data (only changes) rather than the complete volume, significantly reducing bandwidth usage and migration time while ensuring data integrity through the merge operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the entire modified template volume is transferred during migration, then the destination storage device receives complete data, but the bandwidth usage increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidbandwidth usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transferring only the necessary portion of data (the delta volume containing differences) rather than the complete modified template volume. This partial transfer approach reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining data completeness, as the destination storage device combines the received delta volume with the existing template volume to reconstruct the complete modified template volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If only the delta volume is transferred to the destination storage device, then the data transfer is minimized, but the destination storage device must perform additional merging operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemigration speedVSAvoidmerge operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the destination storage device to automatically perform the merge operation between the received delta volume and the existing template volume. This automated self-service approach handles the complexity of data integration at the destination device, allowing fast migration speed through minimal data transfer while the system autonomously manages the merging process without requiring external intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If the entire modified template volume is transferred, then no additional processing is needed at destination, but migration time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedestination processing simplicityVSAvoidmigration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10324653B1Fast evacuation of a cloned disk to a storage device

Publication Date: 2019.06.18 RED HAT ISRAEL

AI summary

A method for fast evacuation of a cloned disk to a storage device includes a source storage device generating a first write volume, where new written data is stored in the first write volume. A destination storage device generates a second write volume, where the new written data is also stored. The destination storage device generates a delta volume in a cloned disk, which is also located in the destination storage device. Differences between a template volume and a modified template volume are stored to the delta volume. The destination storage device merges the template volume and the delta volume, creating a second modified template volume.