Remote Snapshot Restoration via Host-Mediated Three-Way Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snapshot restoration technologies are limited to restoring data on the same storage device, making it impossible to restore data across different devices and incurring high costs due to network failures and unnecessary data copying, and requiring applications to wait for data copying to complete before starting.
Innovation Solution
A method for remote snapshot restoration that ensures a three-way connection between the host, source storage device, and destination storage device, allowing concurrent data copying and application access, thereby enabling immediate application start and minimizing storage consumption and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If snapshot restoration is performed on the same storage device only, then data restoration reliability is ensured, but storage device versatility and cost optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a host system as an intermediary between the source storage device and destination storage device. The host manages the snapshot restoration process, coordinates data copying, and handles path management, enabling reliable cross-device restoration without direct peer-to-peer communication between storage devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The restoration process is segmented into distinct phases: snapshot creation on source device, data copying through host mediation, and volume mounting on destination device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function reliably while enabling cross-device operation.
2Reliability
If data copying is completed before application start, then data consistency is ensured, but application startup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating the destination volume and establishing data copying paths before the application needs to access the data. The snapshot is created and data copying is initiated in advance, allowing the application to start once the minimal required data is ready.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages data copying and application access concurrently. Instead of static sequential processing, the patent enables dynamic where data is being copied and accessed simultaneously, with the host managing path switching and data consistency in real-time.
3Ease of operation
If all volume snapshots are copied to all possible destinations, then snapshot accessibility is improved, but storage cost and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly copying all snapshots to all destinations, the patent applies local quality by copying only the specific snapshot needed by the application to the relevant destination device. The host intelligently determines which snapshot restoration is required and directs copying only to that specific destination, avoiding unnecessary data duplication.
4Quantity of substance
If remote snapshot restoration is enabled, then storage cost optimization is achieved, but network connectivity requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The host system is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both the application runtime environment and the snapshot restoration coordinator. It handles path management, data copying coordination, and volume mounting operations, consolidating multiple functions into a single system that reduces overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for remote snapshot restoration is provided. The method may include receiving a snapshot restore request; determining if the received snapshot restore request satisfies a three-way connection requirement by determining if the received snapshot restore request satisfies host-device-device connection information, wherein the host-device-device connection information comprises host information, source storage device information, destination storage device information, application-volume path information, and volume-volume path information; and for the received snapshot restore requesting satisfying the three-way connection requirement, performing snapshot restoration and data copying.