File-Level Replication via Volume Offset Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional replication systems often force administrators to choose between robust volume-level replication and file-level replication, lacking features, performance, quality of service, and ease of use, especially when only specific files need to be replicated.
Innovation Solution
The system filters file operations for specified files, converts volume offsets to file offsets, and replicates these operations to secondary volumes, leveraging existing volume-level replication technologies to achieve file-level replication with enhanced features and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If volume-level replication is used, then robustness, performance, and ease of use are improved, but the ability to replicate only specific files is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the volume into individual files and enables selective replication of specific files rather than replicating the entire volume. The file system filter driver identifies and intercepts operations on specific files, allowing administrators to choose which files to replicate while maintaining the robustness of volume-level replication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a file system filter driver as an intermediary layer between the file system and the volume replication system. This filter driver intercepts file operations, converts them to volume operations, and passes them to the existing volume replication infrastructure, thereby enabling file-level replication while leveraging the robustness of volume-level replication.
2Adaptability or versatility
If file-level replication is implemented traditionally, then specific files can be replicated, but robustness, performance, and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The file system filter driver serves as an intermediary that transparently handles the complexity of file-level replication. Administrators can configure which files to replicate using familiar volume-level replication interfaces, while the filter driver manages the complex tasks of operation conversion, offset translation, and selective filtering, thereby maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter driver automatically performs operation conversion, offset translation, and selective filtering without requiring administrator intervention. Once configured, the system self-manages the replication process, converting file operations to volume operations and handling offset conversions automatically, reducing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If file operations are intercepted and converted, then file-level replication is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter driver is designed to work with existing volume replication systems, making the solution universally applicable. By leveraging the existing volume replication infrastructure and adding a multi-functional filter driver that handles filtering, conversion, and translation, the patent avoids creating a completely new complex system while achieving file-level replication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies the volume-level replication approach to the file level by intercepting file operations and converting them to volume operations. This copying of the proven volume replication methodology to file operations allows reusing existing robust infrastructure while achieving file-level functionality, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for file-level replication may include 1) identifying a selection of at least one source file to replicate from a primary volume to a secondary volume, 2) identifying extent information that indicates a volume location of the source file within the primary volume, 3) identifying a volume offset within the primary volume of a write operation performed on the source file within the primary volume, 4) converting the volume offset to a file offset within the source file using the extent information, and 5) replicating the write operation and the file offset to the secondary volume. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.