Remote Replication Link Stability via Port Group Virtual IP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote replication systems face instability and management challenges due to the use of fixed IP addresses in replication links, leading to difficulties in scalability and reliability when controllers grow in number, and failures in one link can affect others.
Innovation Solution
Generate a replication-link table based on port groups and virtual Internet Protocol addresses, allowing for flexible and redundant connections, enabling quick switching and maintaining stability by avoiding fixed IP issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed IP addresses are used to configure replication links between controllers, then the replication link can be established initially, but the system stability and reliability deteriorate when controllers increase in number or when failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the replication link configuration from fixed IP addresses to port group-based virtual IP addresses. Each controller has multiple service ports grouped into port groups, and the replication link is established through virtual IP addresses mapped to these port groups rather than direct fixed IP configurations. This segmentation allows independent management of controllers and simplifies the replication link establishment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual IP addresses as an intermediary between controllers and replication links. Instead of directly configuring fixed IP addresses for replication, the system uses virtual IP addresses that are mapped to port groups. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of direct IP configuration and enables more flexible and reliable link establishment.
2Productivity
If multiple replication links are established between controllers, then data synchronization capacity increases, but the impact of failures propagates to other links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments replication links into independent port group-based connections. Each replication link is established through separate port groups with independent virtual IP addresses. When a failure occurs in one port group, the segmentation ensures that other replication links remain unaffected, as each link operates independently through its own port group configuration.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed IP addresses are used for replication links, then configuration is straightforward initially, but scalability deteriorates when controller quantity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the port group configuration universal by allowing the same port group structure to serve multiple controllers and replication links. The virtual IP address mapping mechanism provides multi-functionality, enabling a single port group configuration to support multiple replication scenarios. This universal approach simplifies configuration while maintaining scalability.
4Ease of operation
If replication links are established through fixed IP addresses, then initial setup is simple, but maintenance and failure recovery become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic port group configuration that allows flexible mapping of virtual IP addresses to physical ports. When failures occur, the system can dynamically reconfigure port group mappings to restore replication links without requiring complex manual intervention. This dynamic capability simplifies maintenance and failure recovery operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An establishing method of a remote replication relationship includes: based on a port group of a local device, a port group of a remote device, and a virtual Internet-Protocol-address datum corresponding to each of port groups, generating a replication-link table; based on service-requirement information, selecting a corresponding replication link from the replication-link table; and based on the replication link, establishing a remote replication relationship between the local device and the remote device that are corresponding to each other, and performing remote replication. Because the replication-link table of the port groups is employed, the applied replication link is not a replication link of fixed IPs, and when a failure happens, quick switching may be performed based on the virtual Internet Protocol address, which prevents the problem of failures caused by the usage of fixed IPs, thereby improving the stability of the remote replication relationship established in the storing system.