Reachability Set Network Upgrade Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual software upgrades in dispersed data storage networks are cumbersome and disruptive, requiring significant administrative effort and coordination, leading to potential network downtime and operability issues due to complex relationships between software components.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatically constructing and managing upgrade sets within a dispersed data storage network by defining reachability sets based on device relationships, allowing simultaneous and coordinated software upgrades while maintaining network functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual software upgrades are performed in dispersed data storage networks, then software components can be updated, but significant administrative effort and coordination are required, leading to increased operational complexity and potential network downtime

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork operability during upgradeVSAvoidadministrative burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic software upgrades without requiring manual administrator intervention. The upgrade manager automatically identifies devices needing updates, downloads upgrade packages, and applies them to the appropriate devices, eliminating the need for administrators to manually coordinate upgrades across the dispersed network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-identifies which software components need upgrading and prepares upgrade packages in advance. The upgrade manager maintains a database of device relationships and upgrade requirements, allowing upgrades to be executed automatically based on pre-established criteria without real-time administrative decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If manual coordination of upgrades is performed across dispersed networks, then upgrades can be applied, but network downtime increases and operational complexity increases due to complex relationships between software components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupgrade speedVSAvoidnetwork downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the upgrade process into independent units based on device relationships. Instead of upgrading the entire network simultaneously, the upgrade manager identifies and upgrades specific device groups that can operate independently, allowing other parts of the network to continue functioning during the upgrade process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines upgrade sequences based on real-time network conditions and device relationships. The upgrade manager adjusts the upgrade schedule and sequence automatically, optimizing upgrade timing to minimize network downtime while ensuring all related components are upgraded in the correct order.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If components are upgraded simultaneously, then upgrade efficiency improves, but network operability may be compromised due to complex relationships between components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupgrade efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork operability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides simultaneous upgrade candidates into separate upgrade sets based on device relationships. Related devices that could cause operability issues are placed in different upgrade sets, allowing them to be upgraded at different times while maintaining overall upgrade efficiency through parallel processing of independent sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upgrade manager continuously monitors upgrade progress and network status, adjusting the upgrade sequence based on feedback from the network environment. This ensures that upgrades are coordinated to maintain operability while maximizing efficiency, automatically adapting to changing network conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9092294B2Systems, apparatus, and methods for utilizing a reachability set to manage a network upgrade
Publication Date: 2015.07.28 PURE STORAGE INC
  • US9092294B2 patent drawing
  • US9092294B2 patent drawing
  • US9092294B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of upgrading software components within a dispersed data storage network is disclosed. A list of identifiers corresponding to devices within the dispersed data storage network is assembled. Each member of the list is assigned to an upgrade set based on the devices that are reachable by the vaults associated with the device.