Multi-Protocol Data Replication for Storage Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data replication methods from source to destination storage systems using multiple remote file access protocols often result in inaccuracies, such as duplicate files with different names, wrong file types, or missing directories, due to differences in how files and directories are represented across protocols.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that scans directories using multiple remote file access protocols, generates commands based on a predetermined rule set to replicate file system objects accurately, and derives canonical names and types to ensure consistent representation across protocols, thereby avoiding duplication and mismatches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If data is replicated using a single remote file access protocol, then the replication process is simple, but the destination storage system may contain duplicate files with different names, files with wrong file names, files with wrong file types, corrupted files, or missing directories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the replication process into multiple protocol-specific scanning operations. Instead of using a single protocol, the system scans the source storage system using each supported remote file access protocol separately, generating protocol-specific file listings. This segmentation allows the system to capture all file system objects regardless of which protocol created them, thereby improving data replication accuracy while managing complexity through structured multi-protocol processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary scanning of the source storage system using multiple protocols before actual data replication. By预先 (in advance) identifying all file system objects through multi-protocol scanning and generating a comprehensive listing, the system prepares accurate replication commands that account for protocol-specific representations. This preliminary action ensures that the subsequent replication process achieves high accuracy without requiring complex real-time protocol conversion.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple remote file access protocols are used to scan the source storage system, then data replication accuracy improves, but the complexity of the replication process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the results from multiple protocol-specific scans into a single comprehensive file listing. By combining the file system object information obtained from scanning with different remote file access protocols and processing them through a unified command generation mechanism, the system achieves accurate data replication while managing complexity through integration. This merging approach allows the system to leverage the strengths of multiple protocols without requiring separate replication processes for each protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal command generation mechanism that can handle file system objects regardless of which protocol created them. The system generates replication commands that are protocol-agnostic, based on the combined information from multi-protocol scanning. This multi-functional approach allows a single replication process to accurately handle files created by any supported protocol, improving accuracy while avoiding the need for multiple specialized replication processes.
3Productivity
If file system objects are replicated based on single-protocol representation, then the replication process is fast, but inconsistencies in file names, file types, and directory structures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system scans the source storage system using multiple protocols, compares the protocol-specific representations, and uses this feedback information to generate accurate replication commands. By incorporating the representations from different protocols as feedback, the system can identify and resolve potential inconsistencies in file names, file types, and directory structures before replication, ensuring reliability while maintaining productivity through automated conflict resolution.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is provided for generating a sequence of commands for replicating data on a source storage system to a destination storage system. The source and destination storage system support a first and a second remote file access protocol. The method involves i) scanning a directory of the source storage system for file system objects by the first and second remote file access protocol thereby obtaining a respective first and second representation of the file system objects; and ii) generating the sequence of commands based on the first and second representation and based on a predetermined rule set comprising rules for generating a command for replicating a file system object depending on a difference in representation of file system objects by the first and second remote file access protocol.