Host Device Controlled Cloning Input-Output Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data replication methods, particularly in synchronous replication processes, consume excessive network bandwidth and host device processing resources due to the mirroring of host writes to multiple storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A host device with controlled cloning functionality determines the replication status of logical storage volumes and selectively clones IO operations, delivering them to either one or both storage systems based on this status, thereby reducing unnecessary cloning and conserving resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synchronous replication mirrors host writes to multiple storage systems, then data redundancy and disaster recovery capability are improved, but network bandwidth and host device processing resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata redundancyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The host device proactively determines replication status before cloning IO operations. By checking whether data has already been replicated to the second storage system in advance, the system avoids unnecessary cloning operations, thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining data redundancy requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of always cloning all IO operations to both storage systems, the system applies partial action by selectively cloning only those IO operations whose data has not yet been replicated. This reduces the excessive action of redundant cloning while ensuring that data redundancy is maintained for all necessary data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If synchronous replication mirrors host writes to multiple storage systems, then data redundancy and disaster recovery capability are improved, but host device processing resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisaster recovery capabilityVSAvoidhost device processing resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The host device determines replication status before processing IO operations. By checking in advance whether data has been replicated to the second storage system, the system avoids unnecessary cloning processing, thereby reducing host device processing resource consumption while maintaining disaster recovery capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The host device autonomously determines replication status and makes decisions about cloning IO operations without requiring complex external coordination. This self-service approach reduces processing overhead by eliminating redundant communication and coordination steps with storage systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If all IO operations are cloned to both storage systems, then data consistency is maintained, but unnecessary cloning increases network bandwidth and processing resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial cloning action by selectively cloning only those IO operations whose data has not yet been replicated to the second storage system. This maintains data consistency for all necessary data while eliminating excessive cloning of already-replicated data, thereby improving system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The host device uses feedback from replication status information to dynamically decide whether to clone each IO operation. By continuously monitoring and responding to replication status, the system maintains data consistency while optimizing resource usage and improving overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11016699B2Host device with controlled cloning of input-output operations

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

An apparatus in an illustrative embodiment comprises a host device configured to communicate over a network with at least first and second storage systems each comprising a plurality of storage devices. The first and second storage systems are configured to participate in a replication process in which one or more logical storage volumes are replicated from the first storage system to the second storage system. The host device is further configured to execute at least one application, and for each of a plurality of input-output operations generated by the application, to determine a replication status of a particular portion of a given one of the logical storage volumes to which the input-output operation is directed, and to control cloning of the input-output operation based at least in part on the replication status of the particular portion of the given logical storage volume.