Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy Storage Volume Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems with peer-to-peer remote copy relationships, existing technologies lack effective methods to validate whether primary and secondary storage volumes have identical data, leading to potential data mismatches and errors that can suspend critical operations.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where data from primary storage volumes is staged and compared with secondary storage volumes after completion of peer-to-peer remote copy operations, with validation occurring when the I/O load is below a threshold or at predetermined intervals, allowing for immediate error detection and suspension of the remote copy relationship if data mismatch is found.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data validation is performed by staging and comparing primary and secondary storage volumes after peer-to-peer remote copy operations, then data integrity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs data validation by staging and comparing primary and secondary storage volumes after peer-to-peer remote copy operations complete. This preliminary validation action detects data mismatches before they affect critical operations, resolving the contradiction by proactively ensuring data integrity through structured comparison procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation process that acts as a mediator between the primary and secondary storage volumes. This intermediary comparison mechanism systematically verifies data consistency without requiring direct intervention in the copy operations, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining reliability
2Measurement precision
If data validation is performed at predetermined intervals or when I/O load is below threshold, then data mismatch detection is improved, but validation frequency must be reduced to avoid impacting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic validation scheduling that adjusts validation frequency based on system conditions. When I/O load is below a predetermined threshold or at predetermined intervals, validation is performed with higher precision. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain measurement precision while adapting validation frequency to current workload conditions, preventing performance degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of validation timing based on system state. By performing validation when I/O load is below threshold or at predetermined intervals rather than continuously, the system optimizes the balance between detection precision and productivity, ensuring data mismatch detection without unnecessarily impacting overall system performance
3Speed
If completion of peer-to-peer remote copy operation is indicated to host prior to completion of data destages, then I/O response time is improved, but data consistency risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent indicates completion of the peer-to-peer remote copy operation to the host before the data destage to auxiliary storage is fully complete. This preliminary completion indication improves I/O response time by allowing the host to proceed without waiting for the slower destage operation, while the subsequent validation process ensures data consistency is maintained
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides a cushioning mechanism by performing validation after the copy operation completes but before critical operations depend on the data. This beforehand validation ensures that even though completion is indicated early, any data inconsistencies are detected and addressed before they could affect system reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A peer to peer remote copy operation is performed between a primary storage controller and a secondary storage controller, to establish a peer to peer remote copy relationship between a primary storage volume and a secondary storage volume. Subsequent to indicating completion of the peer to peer remote copy operation to a host, a determination is made as to whether the primary storage volume and the secondary storage volume have identical data, by performing operations of staging data of the primary storage volume from auxiliary storage of the primary storage controller to local storage of the primary storage controller, and transmitting the data of the primary storage volume that is staged, to the secondary storage controller for comparison with data of the secondary storage volume stored in an auxiliary storage of the secondary storage controller.