Multi-Storage Volume Swap for Data Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data migration processes in storage systems often result in interruptions to ongoing data replication and disaster recovery capabilities, requiring significant manual intervention, multiple storage subsystems, and excessive data copying, which can lead to system outages and data loss.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for migrating data using a multi-storage volume swap, which actively mirrors data from original source storage units to target storage units while swapping storage volumes, eliminating the need for a fourth storage subsystem and reducing the number of storage subsystems required, thereby minimizing interruptions and maintaining data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional data migration processes are used to migrate data from original source storage units to replacement storage units, then data migration can be achieved, but interruptions to ongoing data replication and disaster recovery occur, requiring manual intervention and risking system outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a preliminary copy relationship between the replacement source storage units and the target storage units before the migration begins. This preliminary setup allows the replacement storage units to be prepared in advance, so when the swap occurs, the target storage units can immediately begin replicating from the replacement source without interruption, maintaining disaster recovery continuity while automating the migration process
2Reliability
If multiple storage subsystems are used to ensure failover capability during migration, then data safety is improved, but device complexity and the number of required storage subsystems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the migration path with the existing disaster recovery replication path by making the replacement source storage units serve dual purposes: as migration sources for data migration and as temporary primary sources for disaster recovery replication. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate fourth storage subsystems that would otherwise be required to maintain failover capability during migration, reducing device complexity while preserving reliability
3Ease of operation
If data replication is suspended during migration, then migration simplicity is improved, but data loss risk and interruption time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous data replication throughout the migration process by configuring target storage units to replicate from replacement source storage units after the swap. This allows the replication action to continue uninterrupted, eliminating downtime while keeping the migration process simple through automated swap operations. The useful action of data replication persists continuously, preventing both data loss and interruption delays
4Productivity
If manual intervention is required for migration setup, then migration control is improved, but productivity and migration speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the storage management system automatically manages the entire migration process including establishing copy relationships, performing the swap operations, and reconfiguring replication paths. The system serves itself by automatically detecting when migration is complete and initiating the swap, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps while maintaining full control over the migration process, thereby increasing both productivity and operational ease
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment of the present description, data is migrated to a replacement source storage unit of a storage subsystem while being mirrored from the original source storage unit of a storage subsystem to an original target storage unit of a storage subsystem, and the original source storage unit and the replacement storage unit are swapped in a multi-storage volume swap to write updates to the replacement source storage unit instead of the original source storage unit, in input/output operations issued by at least one host. Further, data stored in the replacement source storage unit, is mirrored from the replacement source storage unit to the original target unit. Other aspects are described.