Directory Server Update Dependency Checker Parallel Replay
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed computer systems, particularly in LDAP directory server systems, the replay of updates from a master server to a consumer server is serial and does not utilize the multithreading capabilities of the host system, leading to inefficient update performance and dependency conflict resolution.
Innovation Solution
A directory server system with a master server and a non-master server, where the non-master server includes a dependency checker to determine update dependencies and an update application function to apply updates independently, allowing for simultaneous replay of updates that are independent or have already been replayed, thereby optimizing update performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If updates are replayed serially on the consumer server, then update consistency is maintained, but update performance is inefficient and multithreading capabilities are not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update replay process into independent checkpoints that can be processed in parallel. Each checkpoint represents a state after applying a subset of updates, allowing multiple threads to work on different segments of the update stream simultaneously while maintaining overall consistency through coordinated checkpoint management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic parallel processing where the degree of parallelism adjusts based on update dependencies. Independent updates are processed in parallel across multiple threads, while dependent updates are processed sequentially, creating a dynamic execution model that optimizes both performance and consistency.
2Productivity
If multiple updates are replayed simultaneously, then update performance is optimized, but dependency conflicts may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of update dependencies before parallel replay. By pre-computing the dependency graph and identifying independent update sets in advance, the system can safely parallelize replay without encountering conflicts during execution, reducing the complexity of real-time conflict resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary dependency analysis layer that mediates between the parallel replay threads and the underlying data structures. This intermediary layer manages update dependencies, coordinates thread execution, and resolves conflicts before they affect data consistency, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If serial update replay is used, then dependency conflicts are avoided, but multithreading capabilities of the host system are not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by keeping multiple CPU threads actively processing updates simultaneously. By identifying independent update batches and assigning them to different threads, the system maintains continuous processing across all available CPU cores, maximizing utilization while avoiding idle time between sequential operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention proposes a directory server system having a master server and a non-master server, each server being capable of storing directory server data comprising updates. The master server is capable of sending selected updates to the non-master server, and the non-master server (512) has:a dependency checker (5224) operable for determining whether each update received from the master server (510) depends on other updates among the selected updates, and if not for sending the update to an update application function (5220),the update application function being operable for applying the updates received from the dependency checker in the non-master server directory server data.