Distributed Storage Snapshot Coordination via Quiesce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating snapshots of storage volumes are inefficient in managing large-scale data distribution across multiple storage nodes and compute nodes, lacking a robust mechanism for snapshot creation, management, and rollback processes.
Innovation Solution
A network environment with a storage manager coordinating snapshot creation, involving quiesce instructions for compute nodes, segment management, and garbage collection, allows for efficient snapshot creation, storage, and rollback processes across distributed storage nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional snapshot methods are used in distributed storage systems, then snapshot creation can be performed, but the system lacks efficiency in managing large-scale data distribution across multiple storage nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage volume into segments distributed across multiple storage nodes, with each node independently managing its local segments. The storage manager coordinates snapshot creation by sending quiesce instructions to compute nodes and segment creation instructions to storage nodes, enabling parallel snapshot creation across the distributed system without centralized bottlenecks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a quiesce mechanism that pauses data modifications before snapshot creation begins. Compute nodes receive quiesce instructions and stop writing to the storage volume, ensuring data consistency is established prior to segment copying, thereby eliminating the need for complex post-snapshot consistency checks.
2Reliability
If snapshots are created across distributed storage nodes, then data distribution is managed, but reliability of snapshot integrity is compromised without robust management mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager implements a feedback mechanism where storage nodes report segment creation status back to the storage manager. The storage manager tracks which segments have been successfully created and coordinates the resumption of data modifications only after all segments are confirmed ready, ensuring snapshot integrity through continuous status monitoring and coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager acts as an intermediary between compute nodes and storage nodes during snapshot creation. It receives requests from compute nodes, coordinates the quiesce mechanism, distributes segment creation instructions to storage nodes, and manages the resumption of operations, thereby centralizing control to ensure snapshot integrity without requiring direct peer-to-peer coordination between storage nodes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If snapshot rollback functionality is implemented, then data can be restored to previous states, but the process may corrupt critical data without proper coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the quiesce mechanism to rollback operations as well. Before restoring data from a snapshot, the storage manager sends quiesce instructions to pause all data modifications, ensuring that the rollback process occurs on a consistent, frozen dataset. This prevents partial updates or concurrent modifications that could corrupt critical data during the restore process.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage manager serves as an intermediary that controls the entire rollback process. It coordinates the restoration of segments across storage nodes, manages the quiesce mechanism, and only allows resumption of data modifications after confirming all segments are restored, thereby preventing data corruption through centralized coordination.
4Ease of operation
If manual snapshot management is used, then flexibility in snapshot operations is achieved, but time consumption increases due to lack of automation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated snapshot creation where the storage manager autonomously coordinates the entire process without manual intervention. Compute nodes automatically receive quiesce instructions, storage nodes automatically create segments, and the system automatically manages the resumption of operations, eliminating manual configuration time while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated feedback mechanism allows the storage manager to track segment creation status in real-time and automatically coordinate the rollback or resumption processes. This automated monitoring and coordination eliminates manual tracking time while maintaining the flexibility to handle various snapshot scenarios through programmable logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A new snapshot of a storage volume is created by instructing computing nodes to suppress write requests. Once pending write requests from the computing nodes are completed, storage nodes create a new snapshot for the storage volume by allocating a new segment to the new snapshot and finalizes and performs garbage collection with respect to segments allocated to the previous snapshot. Subsequent write requests to the storage volume are then performed on the segments allocated to the new snapshot. A segment maps segments to a particular snapshot and metadata stored in the segment indicates storage volume addresses of data written to the segment. The snapshots may be represented by a storage manager in a hierarchy that identifies an ordering of snapshots and branches to clone snapshots.