LUN Archiving to Cloud via Volume-to-Object Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems face challenges in efficiently archiving inactive logical units (LUNs) to cloud storage while maintaining data availability and optimizing local storage space, as existing methods do not effectively release local storage and manage IO operations between local and cloud-based LUNs.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that establishes a mirror between a local LUN and a cloud-backed LUN, deposits a stub on the local LUN to redirect IOs to the cloud-backed LUN, and releases local storage for reallocation, allowing cached writes and reads from the cloud appliance, thereby archiving inactive LUNs and optimizing local storage usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If local storage is released for reallocation after archiving LUNs, then local storage space is optimized, but data availability must be maintained through cloud access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a mirror copy of the local LUN in cloud storage, maintaining identical data contents. This allows local storage to be released while data remains accessible through the cloud-backed LUN, resolving the contradiction between optimizing local storage space and maintaining data availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a stub as an intermediary element that redirects IO operations from the released local storage to the cloud-backed LUN. This mediator enables data access without requiring local storage retention, balancing space optimization with availability requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If IO operations are redirected to cloud-backed LUN, then local storage is released, but IO performance may be impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by redirecting only archived/inactive LUNs to cloud storage while maintaining local storage for active LUNs. This selective approach optimizes space for archived data without significantly impacting overall IO performance, as archived LUNs generate minimal IO traffic.
3Quantity of substance
If cloud-based archiving is implemented, then storage costs are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal storage architecture where the same infrastructure can serve both local and cloud-backed LUNs through a unified namespace. The stub mechanism provides a universal interface that automatically redirects IOs to appropriate storage locations, reducing perceived complexity while enabling cost-effective cloud archiving.
Data Source
AI summary
Archiving local logical units of data storage (LUNs) to cloud storage, wherein the local LUNs reside on local physical storage of a data storage system, includes establishing a mirror between a local LUN and a cloud-backed LUN backed by cloud physical storage of a cloud storage system, the mirror making data contents of the cloud-backed LUN identical to data contents of the local LUN. Once the mirror is established, then (a) a stub is deposited on the local LUN to direct subsequent IOs to the cloud-backed LUN, and (b) local physical storage of the local LUN is released for allocation to other local LUNs. Subsequent IOs to the local LUN are satisfied from the cloud-backed LUN. An archived LUN can be restored by a restore process.