LIF Placement in SAN Storage Cluster Disaster Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage area network (SAN) systems face challenges in providing fast and efficient disaster recovery operations, particularly in maintaining data availability and minimizing disruption to host devices during cluster failures.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of techniques for LIF (Logical Interface) placement in SAN storage cluster synchronous disaster recovery, which involves configuring a secondary Vserver as a backup to a primary Vserver, allowing for seamless switchover during failures, and maintaining consistent LIF identities across clusters to ensure uninterrupted data access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional disaster recovery methods are used in SAN storage clusters, then data can be recovered after failure, but the recovery time is long and host devices experience significant disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring LIF identities and network paths in the secondary cluster before failure occurs. The secondary Vserver is pre-populated with LIF configurations that match the primary Vserver, so that upon failure, the secondary can immediately assume the primary's identity and continue serving hosts without requiring time-consuming reconfiguration or identity resolution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If LIF identities are changed during disaster recovery, then the secondary cluster can operate independently, but host devices must update their connections causing disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating the LIF identity configuration from the primary Vserver to the secondary Vserver. The secondary cluster receives and stores a copy of the LIF identity information, allowing it to present identical network interfaces to hosts. This enables the secondary to operate independently while maintaining the same LIF identities, so hosts experience no connection changes.
3Speed
If fast switchover is implemented, then host disruption is minimized, but complex LIF placement and identity management is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a LIF placement module that automatically manages LIF identity mapping between primary and secondary clusters. This intermediary handles the complex task of matching and transferring LIF configurations, shielding operators from the complexity while enabling fast switchover. The intermediary module coordinates the identity transfer and ensures proper routing without requiring manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Improved techniques for disaster recover within storage area networks are disclosed. Embodiments include replicating a LIF of a primary cluster on a secondary cluster. LIF configuration information is extracted from the primary cluster. A peer node from a secondary cluster is located. One or more ports are located on the located peer node that match a connectivity of the LIF from the primary cluster. One or more ports are identified based upon one or more filtering criteria to generate a candidate port list. A port from the candidate port list is selected based at least upon a load of the port. Other embodiments are described and claimed.