Snapshot-Based File to Object Migration Namespace
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Solution Overview
Problem
Migrating data from legacy file storage systems to object storage systems is inefficient, as existing methods require file-by-file conversion and storage, which is time-consuming and cumbersome, especially when dealing with large datasets.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves receiving a snapshot of the file system, converting files into objects, and storing them in data constituent volumes based on service level objectives, with a namespace volume tracking object locations, allowing for efficient migration and flexible storage without volume constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If file-by-file conversion and storage is used to migrate data from file storage systems to object storage systems, then data can be migrated with proper conversion, but the migration process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual file conversion operations into a single snapshot-based migration operation. By capturing the entire file system state as a snapshot and converting it as a unified data structure, the system eliminates the sequential overhead of processing files one by one, thereby reducing migration time while maintaining data accuracy through the structured snapshot format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by creating a snapshot of the file system before migration begins. This snapshot captures the complete state of files, directories, and metadata in advance, allowing the migration process to work with a pre-prepared data structure rather than accessing and converting individual files during migration, thus significantly reducing the actual migration time.
2Reliability
If individual files are converted and stored one at a time, then each file can be properly transformed into an object, but the process becomes inefficient for large datasets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conversion of numerous individual files into a single batch operation by utilizing the snapshot data structure. The snapshot contains references to all files and their metadata in an organized manner, allowing the system to process and convert entire datasets in parallel or bulk operations, thereby dramatically improving migration efficiency while ensuring no files are遗漏 through the structured snapshot representation.
3Ease of operation
If data is stored within the confines of a single volume or primary volume to secondary volume relationship, then volume-level management is simplified, but flexibility in storing and moving data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple data constituent volumes that can independently store objects. Instead of being constrained to a single volume or simple primary-secondary relationships, the system divides storage into multiple manageable segments (constituent volumes) that can be selectively used based on data requirements, thereby providing both operational simplicity through modular management and flexibility through selective volume assignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal namespace that can reference objects stored across multiple different data constituent volumes. This namespace acts as a unified interface that transparently handles object location and access regardless of which underlying volume the object resides on, providing multi-functionality that supports both simple volume management and flexible data distribution across multiple storage resources.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for migrating a dataset from a file storage system to an object storage system. That is, a snapshot of a file system may be received from the file storage system. The snapshot may comprise file data associated with a file of the file system. The file may be converted into an object using the file data. The object may be stored within a data constituent volume of the object storage system. A namespace volume, used to track objects, may be populated with a redirector that maps a front-end data path (e.g., a path used by clients to reference the object) to a back-end data path that specifies a path to the object within the data constituent volume. In this way, a dataset of one or more files may be migrated from the file storage system to the object storage system.