Replication Synchronization Table for Sequential Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data replication methods for sequential access storage components are inefficient in minimizing bandwidth and processing requirements, and lack independence between source and replicated instances, leading to potential inconsistencies and increased resource usage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a replication synchronization table (RST) that records compact information on truncate and erase operations, allowing each replicated instance to calculate its synchronization status independently and transmit only the minimal required data for synchronization, ensuring complete data integrity and independence between instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire data contents of the source instance are repeatedly transmitted for synchronization, then data integrity between source and replicated instances is ensured, but network bandwidth consumption increases and transmission time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary synchronization information (modification timestamps and data blocks) from the source instance and transmits only this minimal required data to replicated instances, rather than transmitting the entire data contents. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining data integrity through selective transmission of only changed blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting only the portion of data that has changed since the last synchronization, identified through modification timestamps and block tracking. This partial transmission approach ensures data integrity while minimizing network bandwidth consumption compared to full data retransmission.
2Measurement precision
If the source instance tracks the synchronization status of all replicated instances, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional synchronization model by having replicated instances independently determine their own synchronization status by comparing their local modification timestamps with the source instance's timestamps, rather than having the source instance track and report status to each replica. This reduces source instance processing requirements while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Each replicated instance performs self-service by autonomously determining its synchronization status through local timestamp comparison and independently requesting only the minimal required data updates from the source instance. This eliminates the need for the source instance to maintain complex tracking state for each replicated instance.
3Reliability
If replicated instances are located in geographically distant sites, then fault tolerance and accessibility are improved, but transmission time and network latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the minimal required synchronization data (modification timestamps and changed data blocks) rather than complete data sets. This minimization of transmitted data volume directly reduces transmission time and network latency while maintaining fault tolerance benefits of geographic distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments for synchronization of source and replicated instances of sequential access storage components in a computing environment by a processor device are provided. A replication synchronization table (RST) of a source instance is updated at a source component with the compacted information. Based on the RST of the source instance and the RST of the replicated instance, data representative of a most recent position on the source component from which data should be transmitted to a replicated component to achieve a full synchronization is determined.