Memory Data Migration for Online Faulty Card Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems cannot perform memory data migration online, requiring a computer to be powered off for maintenance or replacement of faulty memory cards, leading to system instability and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow memory data migration without powering off the computer by suspending tasks, identifying a source memory card, designating a backup memory card, and instructing the memory controller to transfer data from the source to the backup memory card, enabling online maintenance and replacement of faulty memory cards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If memory data migration is performed in the prior art, then data can be transferred between storage devices, but the computer must be powered off to replace or maintain faulty memory cards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a backup memory card with sufficient storage capacity before the source memory card fails. The backup memory card is prepared in advance and configured to receive migrated data, enabling immediate data migration when a fault occurs without requiring system shutdown or time-consuming preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a backup memory card as an intermediary storage device that facilitates data migration from the faulty source memory card. The backup memory card acts as a temporary holding location for migrated data, allowing the system to maintain operation while data is transferred, thus enabling online maintenance without direct connection between the faulty card and final destination.
2Reliability
If the computer is powered off for memory maintenance, then faulty memory cards can be replaced, but system availability and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring memory card health status and preparing backup storage capacity before faults occur. When degradation or errors are detected, the system proactively initiates data migration to the backup memory card, allowing replacement to occur during normal operation without compromising system availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by creating a complete or incremental copy of data from the source memory card to the backup memory card. This copying process occurs in the background during system operation, preserving the original data while creating a duplicate that can be used after the source card is replaced, thus maintaining system availability throughout the repair process.
3Productivity
If memory data migration is implemented online, then system downtime is reduced, but system complexity increases due to additional backup memory card and migration management
Solution Approach 1:
The backup memory card is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a backup storage device for data migration and as a potential active memory card that can replace the source card after migration. This universal design reduces the need for specialized components and simplifies the overall system architecture by using identical memory card hardware for multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a discard and recover mechanism where the backup memory card is initially in a standby state (discarded from active use) but can be recovered and activated when the source memory card needs replacement. After migration, the roles are reversed - the former backup card becomes the active memory card while the former source card is discarded and replaced, optimizing resource utilization without adding permanent complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a memory data migration method and apparatus, and a computer, to migrate memory data that is in the computer. After acquiring a first trigger instruction, an operating system of the computer can suspend a task that is being executed, to execute memory data migration, determine a source memory card of to-be-migrated memory data, determine a backup memory card for the source memory card, and instruct a memory controller of the source memory card to perform the memory data migration, so that the memory controller of the source memory card reads memory data of the source memory card according to an instruction of the operating system, and writes the read memory data of the source memory card into the backup memory card. Therefore, the memory data of the source memory card can be migrated without powering off of the computer, thereby implementing online maintenance on a faulty memory card and resolving a problem in the prior art that a faulty memory card can be replaced or maintained only after an entire computer is powered off.