Negotiated Storage Object Takeover with Phased Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face inefficiencies in migrating storage object ownership due to time-intensive copy operations, resource consumption, and prolonged unavailability periods during takeover processes, especially when multiple storage objects need to be migrated simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A two-phase negotiated storage object takeover approach is implemented, where storage objects are migrated one at a time in the first phase, and any remaining objects are concurrently transferred in the second phase, utilizing a data structure to track current and home ownership, reducing individual object unavailability to 30 seconds or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copy operations are used to transfer ownership of storage objects, then ownership can be migrated between storage servers, but the process becomes time-intensive and consumes network bandwidth and storage device resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage object migration process into two distinct phases: a negotiation phase where ownership transfer is agreed upon, and an execution phase where the actual transfer occurs. This segmentation allows the system to prepare and coordinate transfers without immediately consuming resources, thereby reducing overall takeover time while maintaining reliable ownership migration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action through the negotiation phase, where storage servers agree on ownership transfers before actually executing them. This advance preparation allows the system to coordinate multiple transfers simultaneously, reducing the time required during actual execution while ensuring resource availability and maintaining system reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple storage objects are migrated simultaneously, then overall migration speed improves, but individual object unavailability periods increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the migration process adaptive and flexible. The negotiation phase allows storage servers to dynamically determine the optimal sequence and timing of ownership transfers based on current system state, workload conditions, and resource availability. This dynamic approach enables simultaneous migration planning while minimizing individual object unavailability periods through intelligent scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameters of migration by separating negotiation from execution. This parameter change allows the system to aggregate multiple transfer decisions before execution, enabling faster overall migration speed while controlling individual object unavailability windows through coordinated timing and prioritization strategies.
3Stability of the object's composition
If storage objects are taken offline during ownership transfer, then data consistency is maintained, but service availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary negotiation mechanism that mediates between data consistency requirements and service availability. The negotiation phase acts as a buffer, allowing storage servers to coordinate transfers and prepare for offline periods without immediately taking objects offline. This intermediary process maintains data consistency through agreed-upon transfer protocols while minimizing service disruption by scheduling offline periods strategically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the negotiation process active while preparing for transfers. Storage servers continuously negotiate and prepare ownership transfers during online periods, so that when objects need to go offline for actual transfer, the work is already substantially complete. This approach maintains data consistency through proper coordination while maximizing service availability by minimizing the duration and frequency of offline periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of negotiated takeover of storage objects includes one or more processors, a storage controller, and memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores a data structure that includes information about a plurality of storage objects manageable by the storage controller. The storage controller is configured to assume, one by one, current ownership of a first subset of the storage objects and assume, concurrently, current ownership of a second subset of the storage objects. The first subset of storage objects and the second subset of storage objects are currently owned by a second storage server coupled to the storage server. In some embodiments, current ownership of the first subset of storage objects is transferred by iteratively detecting a particular storage object from the first subset of the storage objects whose current ownership can be assumed and bringing the particular storage object online.