Snapshot History Map for Storage Backup Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snapshot management systems lack an efficient method for intuitively configuring and managing snapshot backups across storage systems, leading to complex and error-prone configurations due to the need for manual input and multiple-step wizards.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and utilizing snapshot maps to facilitate storage system management, allowing users to visually configure snapshot backups by dragging and dropping components, which reduces manual inputs and provides a centralized view of snapshot characteristics and pairings, thereby simplifying the configuration process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration methods are used for snapshot backups, then configuration flexibility is maintained, but configuration complexity and error rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a snapshot map as an intermediary visual interface between the user and the storage system configuration. This snapshot map displays source storages, target storages, and their pairing relationships in a graphical format, allowing users to configure snapshot backups by visually selecting and dragging components rather than through complex manual input, thereby simplifying the configuration process while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the storage system configuration in the snapshot map interface. This graphical representation includes icons and visual indicators that mirror the actual storage components and their relationships, enabling users to interact with a simplified visual model rather than directly managing complex configuration parameters, thus reducing errors and simplifying operations
2Productivity
If multiple-step wizards are used for configuration, then detailed control is provided, but configuration time and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating and maintaining the snapshot map that pre-displays all relevant storage components, their characteristics, and pairing relationships. This preliminary visual organization eliminates the need for users to navigate through multiple sequential wizard steps to discover and configure each parameter, as all configuration options are immediately visible and accessible in the graphical interface, significantly reducing configuration time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple configuration steps and parameters into a single visual interface - the snapshot map. Instead of requiring users to complete separate wizard steps for selecting source storage, target storage, pairing methods, and other parameters, all these configuration elements are integrated into one graphical view where users can perform the entire configuration process through visual selection and dragging operations, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for generating a snapshot history map. In some embodiments, this includes retrieving at least one storage pairing, extracting a snapshot history based on the at least one storage pairing, the snapshot history including a list of snapshot details sorted in chronological order, and displaying a chronological representation of the snapshot history based upon the snapshot details sorted in chronological order. In some embodiments, this further includes generating the snapshot details after performing successful snapshots using the at least one storage pairing, and extracting the snapshot history based on the at least one storage pairing includes extracting the snapshot history of the at least one pairing by querying a database.