PPRC Application Data Migration Between SCSI LUNs

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for migrating data between SCSI LUNs with different protection levels, such as from unprotected to protected or vice versa, rely on SCSI hosts, which limits efficiency and flexibility, especially when dealing with large volumes and varying protection formats.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) application that enables data migration between SCSI LUNs by adding or stripping protection, using a processor to manage the migration process, including generating or modifying data integrity fields, and allowing user-defined application tags for validation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a SCSI host is used to perform data migration between volumes with different protection levels, then data integrity can be maintained, but migration efficiency and system complexity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidmigration efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protected volume performs self-service by generating and attaching its own DIF information during the migration process. The PPRC application on the protected volume side automatically creates the data integrity field without requiring the SCSI host to intervene, thereby improving migration efficiency while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The PPRC application acts as an intermediary between the unprotected source volume and the protected destination volume. It handles the complex task of DIF generation and attachment, allowing efficient migration without requiring the SCSI host to manually manage protection level transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a SCSI host performs data migration with DIF formatting, then data protection is ensured, but device complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidmigration process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protected volume performs self-service by generating and attaching its own DIF information during the migration process. The PPRC application on the protected volume side automatically creates the data integrity field without requiring the SCSI host to intervene, thereby improving migration efficiency while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The PPRC application acts as an intermediary between the unprotected source volume and the protected destination volume. It handles the complex task of DIF generation and attachment, allowing efficient migration without requiring the SCSI host to manually manage protection level transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If industry standard default values are used for data integrity fields, then compatibility is maintained, but user control and validation flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic configurability by allowing users to define custom application tags instead of being locked into industry standard defaults. This enables flexible validation rules tailored to specific applications while maintaining the ability to use standard values when needed, thus balancing compatibility with user control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9940065B2Systems and methods for migrating data

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Various embodiments provide computer program products for migrating data. One embodiment comprises receiving, from a first processor, data that is unprotected comprising a data integrity field; utilizing, by a second processor, a peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) application to add protection to the data to generate protected data; and subsequent to adding the protection, modifying a value in the data integrity field such that the value is different than an industry standard default value for protected data subsequent to adding the protection.