Recovery Manager Automating Protection Setup via Target Sets

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current data protection technologies face challenges in meeting recovery point and time objectives (RPO and RTO) specified in service level agreements (SLAs), as they often focus on protection rather than recovery metrics, leading to difficulties in determining suitable protection schemes that meet these objectives.

Innovation Solution

A recovery manager defines recovery target sets and classes that include recovery point and time targets, along with additional properties to automate the selection of protection methods, ensuring that assets are protected based on their importance and life cycle requirements, optimizing protection methods across different asset states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protection schemes are selected based on recovery metrics (RPO and RTO), then the ability to meet SLA recovery objectives is improved, but the complexity of determining appropriate protection schemes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to meet recovery objectivesVSAvoidcomplexity of determining protection schemes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that translates recovery metrics (RPO and RTO) into specific protection scheme selections. This intermediary layer processes the recovery objectives and automatically determines the appropriate protection schemes, eliminating the need for manual analysis of numerous scheme combinations and resolving the complexity issue while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters by which protection schemes are selected - instead of manually evaluating multiple scheme combinations, the selection is driven by explicit recovery metric parameters (RPO and RTO). This parameter-driven approach simplifies the determination process while ensuring recovery objectives are met.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual selection of protection schemes is performed, then flexibility in choosing from myriad schemes is maintained, but the time and effort required to establish protection plans increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in scheme selectionVSAvoidtime to establish protection plans

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically selecting appropriate protection schemes based on input recovery metrics. The automation handles the time-consuming process of evaluating numerous scheme combinations, while the system maintains flexibility by allowing configuration of different protection schemes through parameter settings rather than hardcoding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring protection schemes with their associated recovery metrics. This allows the system to quickly match recovery objectives with appropriate schemes without requiring time-consuming manual analysis during protection plan establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If protection schemes are designed without considering recovery metrics, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but the ability to achieve SLA compliance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of protection scheme implementationVSAvoidSLA compliance capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by not designing protection schemes first and then determining their recovery metrics. Instead, it specifies recovery metrics first and then selects protection schemes that meet those metrics. This inversion maintains implementation simplicity while ensuring SLA compliance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS7325161B1Classification of recovery targets to enable automated protection setup

Publication Date: 2008.01.29 COHESITY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a recovery manager may define a plurality of recovery target sets. Each recovery target set comprises a recovery point target, a recovery time target, and at least one other property. The recovery manager also defines a plurality of recovery classes. Each recovery class comprises at least one recovery target set of the plurality of recovery target sets. Each recovery class describes recovery requirements over an asset state life cycle. The recovery manager applies a first recovery class of the plurality of recovery classes to a first asset dependent on an importance of the first asset to an owner of the first asset. In some cases, the first recovery class and/or other recovery classes of the plurality of recovery classes may each be applied to multiple assets. In another embodiment, a recovery manager defines one or more recovery target sets to be applied to one or more assets and saves the one or more recovery target sets. In some embodiments, recovery classes are also saved.