Job Migration Using Mirrored Data Without Freezing Storage

Solution Overview

Problem

Current data migration techniques in storage environments often require freezing data mirroring to create point-in-time copies, which can be disruptive and inefficient, especially when migrating jobs between servers.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines eligible jobs for migration based on execution characteristics, allowing them to run on mirrored data at a target server without freezing the mirroring process, using a job migration database and copy managers to manage mirror and point-in-time copy operations, enabling Zero Suspend FlashCopy operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If data mirroring is frozen to create point-in-time copies for job migration, then data consistency is improved, but system availability and productivity deteriorate due to disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of eligible jobs and their dependencies on mirrored data before migration. The copy manager pre-establishes the mirror relationship and identifies which jobs can be migrated, allowing the actual migration to proceed without freezing the mirroring process while maintaining data consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mirroring process continues uninterrupted during job migration. The system enables continuous data synchronization between source and target storage while simultaneously migrating eligible jobs, eliminating the need to pause or freeze the mirroring operation and thus maintaining system availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Manufacturing precision

If data mirroring is frozen to ensure consistency for PiT copies, then data consistency is improved, but migration time and operational complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidmigration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of eligible jobs and their dependencies on mirrored data before migration. The copy manager pre-establishes the mirror relationship and identifies which jobs can be migrated, allowing the actual migration to proceed without freezing the mirroring process while maintaining data consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mirroring process continues uninterrupted during job migration. The system enables continuous data synchronization between source and target storage while simultaneously migrating eligible jobs, eliminating the need to pause or freeze the mirroring operation and thus maintaining system availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If jobs are migrated to target server without freezing mirroring, then productivity is improved, but data consistency may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoiddata consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the copy manager continuously monitors the mirror relationship status and job execution characteristics. This feedback enables the system to dynamically determine which jobs are eligible for migration based on their dependency on consistent mirrored data, ensuring that only safe migrations proceed while maintaining data consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical approach of freezing mirroring with a software-based intelligent selection mechanism. Instead of stopping the mirroring process, the system uses execution characteristic analysis and eligibility determination logic to identify jobs that can safely migrate without compromising data consistency, substituting a control mechanism with an intelligent decision-making system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10884791B2Migrating jobs from a source server from which data is migrated to a target server to which the data is migrated

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for migrating jobs from a source server from which data is migrated to a target server to which the data is migrated. Mirrored data is copied from a source storage to a target storage. A determination is made of at least one eligible job of the jobs executing in the source server having execution characteristics indicating that the job is eligible for migration to the target server. The determined at least one eligible job is migrated to the target server to execute on the target server and perform operations with respect to the mirrored data in the target storage. The migrated eligible job is disabled at the source server.