Flashcopy Chain Ingestion Without Breaking Backup Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems face challenges in efficiently ingesting Flashcopy backups into a repository without breaking the Flashcopy chain, leading to resource collisions and inefficient use of storage resources.
Innovation Solution
The method dynamically allocates and reuses existing Flashcopy target volumes and consistency groups, creating a cloned target volume to continue ingestion without breaking the Flashcopy chain, using a processor device to manage resources and avoid collisions during mount, clone, and restore operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the system reuses existing Flashcopy target volumes to improve storage efficiency, then storage resource utilization is improved, but resource collisions occur during mount, clone, and restore operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to reuse existing target volumes or allocate new ones based on real-time operational state. The Flashcopy manager checks if volumes are currently being used for mount, clone, or restore operations before reusing them, making the resource allocation flexible and adaptive to current system conditions rather than following a fixed pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the Flashcopy manager continuously monitors the status of target volumes and adjusts resource allocation decisions accordingly. When resource collisions are detected or predicted, the system responds by allocating new target volumes instead of reusing existing ones, ensuring operational reliability while maintaining storage efficiency when conditions permit.
2Reliability
If the system allocates new target volumes for each Flashcopy backup to avoid resource collisions, then resource collision avoidance is improved, but storage resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to reuse existing target volumes or allocate new ones based on real-time operational state. The Flashcopy manager checks if volumes are currently being used for mount, clone, or restore operations before reusing them, making the resource allocation flexible and adaptive to current system conditions rather than following a fixed pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of target volume allocation from static (always new or always reuse) to conditional based on operational state. By evaluating the current usage status of target volumes and adjusting the allocation strategy accordingly, the system optimizes both storage utilization and collision avoidance dynamically.
3Productivity
If the system breaks the Flashcopy chain to ingest target volumes into the repository, then ingestion efficiency is improved, but Flashcopy chain stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (the Flashcopy manager's coordination layer) that mediates between the ingestion process and the Flashcopy chain. By carefully managing the ingestion process to occur at appropriate times and in appropriate sequences, the system enables efficient repository ingestion while preserving the integrity and stability of the Flashcopy chain relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checks and preparations before ingesting target volumes into the repository. By assessing the current state of Flashcopy chains and planning ingestion operations in advance, the system ensures that ingestion efficiency is maximized without compromising chain stability, avoiding the need to break chains during critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamically creates a cloned target volume by cloning a production volume without breaking a Flashcopy chain for continuing an ingestion of a Flashcopy backup target volume.