Storage Device Swap via PPRC State Change Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multiple computing cluster environments, existing methods for storage device swap based on peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) state changes can lead to delayed swapping, causing undesirable user experiences, exposing timing windows, and requiring manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatically swapping storage devices in a multiple computing cluster environment based on PPRC state changes, where a computing cluster detects a PPRC state change event on a shared storage device, determines if the event was not caused by itself, and initiates a swap event to switch to another storage device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If storage device swap is based on PPRC state changes in multiple computing cluster environments, then storage availability is maintained, but swapping is delayed causing undesirable user experiences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage availabilityVSAvoidswapping delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting PPRC state change events and initiating swap operations before storage failures impact user operations. The computing cluster monitors PPRC state changes in advance and prepares swap operations, reducing the time between failure detection and storage switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where computing clusters continuously monitor PPRC state changes and respond automatically. When a state change indicating storage failure is detected, the system feeds back this information to trigger immediate swap operations, creating a closed-loop response that eliminates delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If storage device swap is based on PPRC state changes, then storage failures are detected, but timing windows are exposed requiring manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detectionVSAvoidmanual intervention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The computing cluster performs self-service by automatically detecting PPRC state changes and initiating swap operations without requiring manual intervention. The system monitors its own storage state and autonomously executes failover, eliminating the need for operator involvement in failure detection and response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from PPRC state change events to automatically trigger swap operations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that failure detection directly results in automated swap initiation, eliminating timing windows where manual intervention would be required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250156225A1Storage device swap in a multiple computing cluster environment based on peer-to-peer remote copy state change

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Storage device swap in a multiple computing cluster environment based on peer-to-peer remote copy state change includes detecting that a peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) state change event has occurred on a first storage device shared across a plurality of computing clusters. A first computing cluster of the plurality of the plurality of computing clusters determines that the PPRC state change event was not caused by the first computing cluster. A swap event to swap from usage of the first storage device to usage of a second storage device shared across the plurality of computing clusters is initiated responsive to the determining that the PPRC state change event was not caused by the first computing cluster.