Replication QoS Preservation via Tiering Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data replication technologies do not account for storage tiering decisions, leading to a reduction in quality of service when failing over from a source to a destination data storage system, as the destination may not maintain the same storage tiering as the source.
Innovation Solution
Transmitting Quality of Service (QoS) information from the source to the destination, which includes desired storage tiering instructions, ensuring that data is stored on the appropriate media at the destination to match the source's storage tiering, thus maintaining the desired quality of service during failover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional replication technologies are used without QoS information transmission, then the replication process is simple and fast, but the destination storage system cannot maintain the same storage tiering as the source, leading to reduced quality of service during failover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces QoS information as an intermediary element that carries storage tiering instructions from the source storage system to the destination storage system. This information acts as a mediator that enables the destination to understand and replicate not just the data but also the quality of service requirements, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining QoS consistency and keeping the replication process simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting QoS information before or during the replication process. By pre-configuring the destination storage system with the appropriate storage tiering instructions, the system ensures that when failover occurs, the destination is already prepared to maintain the same quality of service as the source, avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments
2Reliability
If QoS information is transmitted and applied during replication, then the destination maintains the same storage tiering as the source, but the replication process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the replication data stream to include QoS information parameters. Instead of replicating only raw data, the system embeds additional parameters that specify storage tiering requirements. This allows the destination to make informed decisions about where to store replicated data blocks, achieving QoS consistency without requiring fundamental changes to the replication architecture
3Adaptability or versatility
If storage tiering is not preserved at the destination, then the destination can use any available storage media, but failover results in undesirable reduction in quality of service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by ensuring that different portions of replicated data are placed on appropriate storage media based on their specific QoS requirements. Rather than treating all storage uniformly, the system analyzes QoS information for each data block and directs it to the most suitable storage tier at the destination, thereby maintaining service quality consistency while still allowing the destination to utilize its available storage resources effectively
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for replicating a data object from a source data storage system (source) to a destination data storage system (destination) preserves QoS (Quality of Service) by transmitting QoS information from the source to the destination and applying the QoS information when storing data at the destination that arrive in replication instructions sent from the source. The QoS information indicates desired storage tiering for the data object at the source. In the event of a failure at the source, which results in failover from the source to the destination, the destination is able to provide users with the same quality of service as was desired at the source.