Journal Volume Capacity Management in Remote Copy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for administrators of storage systems to determine an appropriate size for journal volumes in remote copy systems, as they need to consider IO load, network bandwidth, and stability, while also dealing with potential network interruptions and temporary transfer degradations.
Innovation Solution
A computer system and method that dynamically manage the capacity of journal volumes based on operation information related to remote copy applications, allowing for expansion or release of capacity as needed to maintain an appropriate storage capacity during the application period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large capacity is first allocated to the journal volume, then the reliability is improved to handle network interruptions and transfer degradation, but the loss of substance increases due to useless capacity consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The journal volume capacity is made dynamic rather than static. The management computer automatically expands or releases the capacity of the primary and secondary journal volumes based on real-time operation information such as I/O load, network bandwidth, and stability metrics. This allows the system to maintain high capacity during network issues while recovering capacity during normal operation, thus improving reliability without permanent resource waste
Solution Approach 2:
The capacity parameter of the journal volume is changed dynamically based on operating conditions. The management computer monitors operation information and adjusts the journal volume capacity accordingly - expanding it when network stability is poor or I/O load is high, and releasing it when conditions improve. This parameter change approach resolves the contradiction by adapting capacity to actual needs rather than allocating fixed large capacity
2Productivity
If the capacity of journal volume is expanded as needed, then the productivity is improved to handle increasing IO load, but the device complexity increases due to dynamic management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The journal volume capacity management is made self-service through automated monitoring and adjustment. The management computer automatically collects operation information, evaluates whether expansion or release is needed based on predefined criteria (I/O load, network bandwidth, stability), and executes capacity changes without manual intervention. This self-service mechanism improves productivity by adapting to workload changes while minimizing the operational complexity burden on administrators
3Ease of operation
If a block of predetermined storage capacity is allocated to the journal volume, then the ease of operation is improved during initial setup, but the loss of substance increases due to inability to recover capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The journal volume capacity is subject to discarding and recovering based on actual usage needs. When network conditions improve or I/O load decreases, the management computer releases previously allocated capacity that is no longer needed. This allows the system to easily maintain initial large capacity allocations for operational simplicity while automatically recovering and returning excess capacity to the pool for other uses, thus eliminating permanent resource waste
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a computer system capable of maintaining a storage capacity allocated to a journal volume within an appropriate range during an application period of remote copy. A first storage system includes a primary volume and a primary journal volume, and a second storage system includes a secondary volume and a secondary journal volume. A management computer is configured to manage the remote copy in which a primary volume, a primary journal volume, a secondary journal volume, and a secondary volume are paired, and expand and/or release a capacity of the primary journal volume and/or the secondary journal volume according to operation information of a resource related to the remote copy.