Replicated Data Test Bed for Storage Failover Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing failover and failback mechanisms in storage systems are either expensive due to the need for separate testing systems or unreliable because they disrupt live data and risk corruption during testing.
Innovation Solution
Creating a test bed by replicating data and backup copies on the same storage systems, allowing for accurate testing of failover and failback operations without additional hardware and ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate storage systems are setup for testing failover and failback mechanisms, then the testing can be performed, but the cost increases and the test reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a test bed by copying data and backup copies to the same storage systems. This allows testing failover and failback mechanisms using replicated data structures that mirror production environments, eliminating the need for separate physical storage systems while maintaining test accuracy and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage system into distinct test bed components (primary storage system, secondary storage system, and test bed data structures) that can be independently configured and tested. This segmentation allows comprehensive testing of failover/failback mechanisms without requiring entirely separate physical systems
2Reliability
If testing is performed on live storage systems, then the same hardware is used for accurate testing, but data accessibility is lost and data corruption may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates replicated copies of data and backup copies within the same storage systems, forming an isolated test bed. This allows failover and failback testing to be performed on copies rather than production data, maintaining data accessibility and integrity while enabling comprehensive testing
Solution Approach 2:
The test bed acts as an intermediary layer between testing operations and production data. By using replicated data structures as intermediaries, the system enables failover/failback testing without directly affecting production data accessibility or integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments provide various techniques for creating a test bed for testing failover and failback operations. In an example, data is stored on a primary storage system, while a backup copy of the data is stored on a secondary storage system. A test bed may be created by replicating the data on the primary storage system and replicating the backup copy on the secondary storage system. The replicated copies of the data and the backup copy, as well as a process used to backup the data, comprise the test bed, which may be used to test the failover and failback operations.