Distributed Data Store for Scalable Data Center Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data center testing systems are inadequate in simulating complex workflows, scaling to millions of files, supporting integrity checking, and managing resources efficiently, often degrading performance and risking customer data due to storage constraints and resource limitations.
Innovation Solution
A distributed data store system using fault-tolerant, in-memory databases across test clients, with an orchestrator component for managing IO operations, snapshot data, and integrity verification, allowing for scalable and realistic testing without impacting actual data center performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If testing data is stored on the primary data center storage system, then testing can be performed, but data center performance degrades and customer data security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the storage infrastructure into two independent parts: primary storage for customer data and secondary storage for testing data. This segmentation allows testing operations to occur on isolated storage resources, preventing performance degradation of the primary data center system while maintaining full testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A secondary storage system acts as an intermediary between the testing workflow and the primary storage system. This intermediary provides the necessary storage capacity for testing without directly impacting the primary system, enabling comprehensive testing while protecting customer data and maintaining performance.
2Quantity of substance
If storage capacity is increased to support large-scale testing, then more files can be tested, but resource consumption increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating entirely new storage infrastructure, the system creates a secondary storage environment that copies or mirrors the essential characteristics of the primary storage system. This allows testing of millions of files with realistic data volumes while consuming resources only at the secondary level, avoiding excessive resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the storage parameter from shared primary storage to dedicated secondary storage, fundamentally altering how storage resources are allocated and consumed. This parameter change enables large-scale testing with millions of files while keeping resource consumption isolated to non-critical systems.
3Productivity
If testing workflows are simplified, then testing can be performed quickly, but complex real-world scenarios cannot be simulated
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system implements dynamic workflow capabilities that can adapt to varying levels of complexity based on testing needs. The orchestrator component dynamically manages and coordinates complex multi-step workflows involving data retrieval, processing, analysis, and reporting, allowing the system to handle anything from simple to highly complex testing scenarios without sacrificing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the orchestrator monitors workflow execution and adjusts resource allocation, data retrieval strategies, and processing priorities in real-time. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain high productivity while handling complex workflows by optimizing resource usage based on actual testing requirements.
4Duration of action of moving object
If testing duration is extended to cover prolonged scenarios, then more comprehensive testing is achieved, but system resources are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments testing operations into independent workflows that can run in parallel on the secondary storage system. This segmentation allows prolonged and comprehensive testing to occur without depleting primary system resources, as each workflow operates independently with its own resource allocation on the isolated secondary infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary storage system and orchestrator are designed as universal testing infrastructure that can handle multiple different testing scenarios simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows the system to run diverse, prolonged testing workflows without resource depletion, as the universal platform efficiently manages and shares resources across all testing activities.
Data Source
AI summary
Architectures and techniques are described that can enhance or improve testing procedure that tests operation of services provided by a data center. Advantageously, the testing dataset can be distributed on test clients allowing the testing procedure to scale to any suitable size, while providing integrity checking for a dataset that includes snapshots and scalability to millions of files, while supporting multiple readers/writers.