Replication Target Storage Reclamation in Thin-Provisioned Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data replication techniques fail to identify and reclaim unused storage space in thin-provisioned systems, leading to inefficient storage utilization and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The system enables replication targets to identify and reclaim unused storage space by receiving free-space information from the replication source, using data-management APIs, or suspending replication to independently identify unused space, and issuing reclamation requests to the thin-provisioned storage system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thin-provisioning solutions are used to allocate storage space on an as-needed basis, then storage space utilization is improved, but replication targets are unable to identify and reclaim unused storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (storage capacity reclamation module and coordination between replication source and target) that enables the detection and reclamation of unused storage space in thin-provisioned environments. The replication source identifies unused space and communicates this information to the replication target, which then reclaims the space from the thin-provisioned storage system.
2Reliability
If file or block-level replication techniques are used, then data replication functionality is improved, but unused storage space cannot be identified or reclaimed at the replication target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the replication source monitors its own storage usage and communicates information about unused storage space back to the replication target. This feedback loop enables the replication target to identify and reclaim wasted storage space while maintaining reliable data replication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the replication target to discard (reclaim) unused storage space that was previously allocated but not actually used by the replicated data. The system identifies portions of allocated storage that are not in use and recovers this space for reuse, eliminating waste while preserving replication capabilities.
3Reliability
If replication targets store all replicated data without identifying free portions, then data integrity is improved, but storage costs and space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the replicated data storage into used and unused portions by analyzing the data structure and identifying free spaces within the allocated storage. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data integrity for used portions while reclaiming unused portions for cost reduction and improved storage efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method for enabling replication targets to reclaim unused storage space on thin-provisioned storage systems may include: 1) replicating data from a replication source to a replication target, 2) identifying unused storage space within the replicated data, 3) generating a reclamation request for reclaiming the unused storage space from a thin-provisioned storage system that provides thin-provisioned storage for the replication target, and then 4) issuing the reclamation request to the thin-provisioned storage system in order to reclaim the unused storage space from the thin-provisioned storage system. Various other related systems, methods, and configured computer-readable media are also disclosed.