Journal Consolidation for Data Replication Sites

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data protection systems face challenges in maintaining continuous data protection by keeping pace with high data transaction rates at production sites without slowing them down, leading to potential backlogs and system shutdowns due to the overhead of journaling processes.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for examining and deleting specific points in time from journals across replication sites based on a policy, enabling global journal consolidation to reduce capacity requirements and maintain data accessibility while minimizing storage needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If journaling is implemented to enable continuous data protection and rollback capability, then data recovery flexibility is improved, but storage capacity requirements and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata recovery flexibilityVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges journal consolidation across multiple replication sites, combining scattered journal data into a unified structure. This allows redundant journal entries to be eliminated and storage capacity optimized while preserving the ability to recover data to any point in time across all replication sites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements selective deletion of journal points in time based on retention policies. Older or redundant journal entries are discarded when no longer needed for recovery, while critical recovery points are preserved. This dynamic management reduces storage requirements while maintaining data recovery flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If multiple replication sites maintain full journal data independently, then data recovery reliability is improved, but overall storage capacity and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata recovery reliabilityVSAvoidoverall storage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges journal consolidation across multiple replication sites, combining scattered journal data into a unified structure. This allows redundant journal entries to be eliminated and storage capacity optimized while preserving the ability to recover data to any point in time across all replication sites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The consolidated journal structure serves multiple replication sites simultaneously, making the storage system universal. A single consolidated journal can support recovery operations for multiple sites, eliminating the need for each site to maintain complete independent journal copies and reducing overall storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If journal consolidation is implemented across replication sites, then storage efficiency is improved, but complexity of managing points in time across sites increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidjournal management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the organizational parameters of journal data by implementing a unified time-reference system across all replication sites. This standardization allows efficient indexing and retrieval of points in time, reducing management complexity despite the consolidated structure spanning multiple sites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11080242B1Multi copy journal consolidation
Publication Date: 2021.08.03 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US11080242B1 patent drawing
  • US11080242B1 patent drawing
  • US11080242B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer implemented method, system, and program product comprising examining points in time in each journal of each of the replication sites, determining certain points of time in each journal of each of the replication sites to be deleted based on a policy, and deleting the certain points of time in each journal of each of the replication sites.