Dynamic Storage Volume Selection for Virtual Backup Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for protecting virtual storage volumes require manual specification of which legs to protect, leading to static settings that can result in inconsistent copies and failure to meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs) if the specified leg is not in an appropriate state, causing business impact.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that monitor parameters of storage systems to dynamically recommend and perform protection operations for virtual storage volumes, automatically selecting the optimal storage volume to back up based on monitored parameters such as health, performance, and recent alerts, ensuring SLAs are met without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual specification of storage volumes to protect is used, then administrative control is maintained, but administrative time increases and SLA consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors storage volume parameters and selects which volumes to protect without requiring manual administrative intervention. The protection system serves itself by autonomously making decisions based on monitored health, performance, and alert data, thereby eliminating administrative time while maintaining SLA consistency through automated optimal volume selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors parameters (health, performance, alerts) of storage volumes and uses this feedback to dynamically determine which volumes require protection. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that protection operations are consistently directed at the most appropriate volumes based on current system state, maintaining SLA compliance without manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If static protection settings are used, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to changing storage system states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system transitions from static configuration to dynamic operation by continuously monitoring storage volume parameters and automatically adjusting which volumes are protected based on current system state. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to changing conditions (health issues, performance degradation, alerts) while the underlying monitoring and decision-making framework manages the complexity automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated monitoring and decision system acts as an intermediary between the storage system and protection operations. This intermediary layer monitors multiple parameters and translates them into protection decisions, managing the complexity of adaptability while presenting a simplified interface for protection operations.
3Reliability
If the specified storage leg is not in appropriate state, then protection operations fail to meet SLAs, but increasing monitoring complexity increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of storage volume parameters (health, performance, alerts) before executing protection operations. By proactively identifying volumes that are not in an appropriate state, the system prevents failed protection operations and ensures SLA compliance by selecting only suitable volumes for protection, managing monitoring complexity through targeted parameter observation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises at least one processing device configured to identify a protection operation to be performed for a virtual storage volume, the virtual storage volume comprising two or more storage volumes on two or more storage systems, a first one of the storage volumes on a first one of the storage systems comprising data that is mirrored on a second one of the storage volumes on a second one of the storage systems different than the first storage system. The processing device is also configured to monitor parameters characterizing operation of the storage systems, to generate a recommendation of a given one of the first and second storage volumes to back up to a third storage volume based on the monitored parameters characterizing operation of the storage systems, and to perform the protection operation for the virtual storage volume based on the generated recommendation.