Shadow Volume Simulates Stretched Storage Across Single System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems lack efficient methods to simulate and test stretched volume configurations across multiple data storage systems, leading to complexities and resource inefficiencies in development and testing due to the need for multiple physical systems and extensive synchronization of volume metadata.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to simulate a stretched volume within a single data storage system using a regular volume and a shadow volume, where the system configures target ports to mimic paths from multiple systems, using unique identifiers and a simulation mode to map management commands and metadata, allowing for a single system to represent multiple volume instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical data storage systems are used to implement stretched volume configurations, then the system can provide high availability and fault tolerance, but the device complexity and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a shadow volume that is a copy of the regular volume within the same data storage system. This shadow volume simulates the behavior of a remote volume in a stretched configuration, allowing the system to test and develop stretched volume functionality without requiring actual multiple physical systems. The shadow volume maintains metadata synchronization similar to remote volumes, providing a realistic simulation environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The single data storage system is configured to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the local system and the remote system simultaneously through the shadow volume mechanism. The target ports are configured to simulate different system identities, allowing one system to universally represent multiple systems for testing and development purposes, thereby reducing the need for separate physical infrastructure.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple physical data storage systems are deployed for stretched volume testing, then realistic testing scenarios are achieved, but the cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shadow volume serves as a virtual copy of the regular volume, simulating the remote volume behavior in stretched configurations. This copying approach enables realistic testing of stretched volume functionality, metadata synchronization, and failover scenarios without deploying actual multiple physical data storage systems, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining testing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The shadow volume acts as an intermediary that mediates between the regular volume and the testing requirements. It provides the necessary simulation of remote system behavior, allowing tests to be conducted on a single physical system while maintaining the complexity and behavior characteristics of multi-system stretched configurations.
3Reliability
If stretched volume configurations are implemented across multiple systems, then data redundancy and fault tolerance are achieved, but the synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shadow volume is created as a copy of the regular volume with synchronized metadata. This copying mechanism allows the single data storage system to simulate the metadata synchronization that would occur between multiple systems in a stretched configuration, enabling testing of fault tolerance and synchronization behaviors without the complexity of actual multi-system deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple systems into a single system by combining the regular volume and shadow volume within the same data storage infrastructure. The target ports are configured to simulate different system identities, allowing one system to represent multiple systems and their synchronization relationships, thereby reducing synchronization complexity while maintaining fault tolerance testing capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A simulated stretched volume may be configured from multiple volumes of a single data storage system. The volumes may be assigned unique identifiers. The volumes may be exposed to a host over paths from the single data storage system as the same volume having the same unique identifier. The single data storage system may include sets of target ports with each set simulating paths to a different data storage system. A management command may be received that is directed to the simulated stretched volume having the unique identifier. The management command may be received on a path from the host to a target port of the single data storage system. Servicing the management command may include the single data storage system simulating either the local or remote system depending on the set of target ports including the target port.