Dynamic Storage Protection via Replication Tagging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage replication methods have a high administrative burden and risk data loss due to the complexity of configuring disaster recovery protection for new replicated datastores, often requiring manual assignment of VMs and specific steps to be performed by users.
Innovation Solution
A recovery manager is configured to dynamically tag replicated datastores with replication properties, using a policy-based protection mechanism that automatically protects new datastores and their associated VMs, eliminating the need for manual user input and ensuring continuous disaster recovery protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration methods are used for disaster recovery protection, then administrators have control over each replication setting, but the administrative burden increases and complexity of operation rises
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-service by monitoring storage profiles and dynamically adding/removing datastores and VMs from protection groups based on replication properties. The recovery manager autonomously evaluates replication status and updates protection configurations without requiring manual administrative intervention, thereby reducing operational burden while maintaining reliable disaster recovery protection.
2Reliability
If manual assignment of VMs to protection groups is required, then precise control over protected resources is achieved, but the time consumption and administrative effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring storage profiles with replication property rules and establishing protection groups in advance. When datastores are replicated, the recovery manager automatically evaluates them against the pre-defined storage profile criteria and immediately adds them to appropriate protection groups, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual VM assignment and ensuring rapid disaster recovery readiness.
3Ease of operation
If dynamic automation is implemented for protection group management, then administrative effort is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the recovery manager continuously monitors replication properties of datastores and automatically adjusts protection group memberships based on evaluated criteria. The system receives feedback from storage systems about replication status and uses this information to dynamically add or remove datastores from protection groups, creating a self-regulating automation mechanism that reduces administrative effort while managing complexity through rule-based decision logic.
4Device complexity
If new datastores are not automatically protected, then system complexity is reduced, but the risk of data loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring storage profiles and detecting when new datastores are replicated. The recovery manager autonomously evaluates replication properties against stored criteria and immediately adds newly replicated datastores to appropriate protection groups without requiring manual configuration, thereby ensuring continuous data protection while keeping the protection mechanism relatively simple through automated rule-based management.
Data Source
AI summary
A recovery manager discovers replication properties of datastores stored in a storage array, and assigns custom tags to the datastores indicating the discovered replication properties. A user may create storage profiles with rules using any combination of these custom tags describe replication properties. The recovery manager protects a storage profile using a policy-based protection mechanism. Whenever a new replicated datastore is provisioned, the datastore is dynamically tagged with the replication properties of their underlying storage, and will belong to one or more storage profiles. The recovery manager monitors storage profiles for new datastores and protects the newly provisioned datastore dynamically, including any or all of the VMs stored in the datastore.