Remote Mirroring Control Entity for Incompatible Controller Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote mirroring systems fail to ensure full synchronization between primary and secondary sites when the secondary site controller is not compatible with the primary site controller, making it difficult to determine the consistency of the secondary site for disaster recovery purposes.
Innovation Solution
A control entity is used to establish a remote mirroring relationship between primary and secondary sites, allocating a memory space for status information that tracks the relationship between data at the primary site and data copied to the secondary site, allowing for determination of the secondary site's consistency even when controllers are not compatible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a proprietary update command is used to maintain synchronization status, then the synchronization status can be reliably tracked, but the system becomes incompatible with non-proprietary controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control entity as an intermediary that mediates between the primary site controller and secondary site controller. This control entity translates and manages the synchronization status information, allowing the system to maintain reliable tracking while working with different controller types through a standardized interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the synchronization status tracking function from the controller implementation details. By dividing the system into a control entity that manages status information and individual controllers that execute operations, the patent achieves both reliable tracking and controller compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a standardized interface is used to improve controller compatibility, then the system becomes more versatile, but the ability to track synchronization status accurately deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control entity acts as an intermediary that receives standardized commands from compatible controllers while maintaining the ability to track detailed synchronization status. It translates between standardized interfaces and the specific status tracking requirements, preserving both compatibility and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the control entity continuously monitors and updates synchronization status information. This feedback loop ensures accurate tracking of data consistency between primary and secondary sites while working through standardized controller interfaces.
3Measurement precision
If proprietary commands are used to ensure accurate status tracking, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control entity serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of status tracking, allowing individual controllers to remain relatively simple. The control entity manages the detailed synchronization status information while controllers communicate through simpler standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex status tracking functionality from the individual controllers and places it in a separate control entity. This separation allows controllers to remain simple while the control entity handles the sophisticated tracking of synchronization status.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method for remote mirroring includes providing a control entity coupled to a primary site and a secondary site, receiving first memory space information indicative of a location of a first memory space, establishing a remote mirroring relationship between the primary site and the secondary site, copying data from the primary site to the secondary site, and writing status information to the first memory space for storing status information representative of a relationship between data stored in the primary site and destined to be copied to the secondary site and data copied from the primary site to the secondary site.