Snapshot Matrix for Recoverable Storage Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-availability storage systems face challenges in efficiently determining the quantity of storage space that can be freed up by deleting snapshots, due to the complexity of maintaining 'eclipsed' data and calculating recoverable storage, which becomes computationally intensive as the number of snapshots increases.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method processes a snapshot structure with temporal indicators to generate a snapshot matrix, allowing for the identification of recoverable data storage by manipulating the matrix based on target snapshots, including deleting columns and rows associated with snapshots and moving content to adjacent areas, thereby presenting the quantity of recoverable data storage to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to calculate recoverable storage by analyzing snapshot dependencies, then accurate storage recovery calculation is achieved, but computational complexity increases significantly as the number of snapshots increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the snapshot storage structure into a matrix format where rows represent snapshots and columns represent data blocks. This segmentation transforms the complex dependency analysis into manageable matrix operations, where each cell indicates whether a snapshot references a particular data block. The segmentation enables efficient calculation of recoverable storage by allowing independent analysis of matrix rows and columns without requiring full-system dependency traversal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a matrix structure as an intermediary representation between the snapshot data structure and the storage recovery calculation. This matrix serves as a mediator that simplifies the complex relationships between snapshots and data blocks, enabling efficient computation through matrix operations such as row deletion, column deletion, and element movement. The intermediary matrix abstracts the complexity while preserving the essential dependency information.
2Reliability
If comprehensive snapshot dependency analysis is performed to determine recoverable storage, then accurate storage management decisions are enabled, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by constructing the snapshot matrix in advance and maintaining it in a ready-state for analysis. The matrix is pre-organized with snapshots as rows and data blocks as columns, with dependency relationships pre-encoded in the matrix cells. This preliminary structuring enables rapid recovery calculations when deletion scenarios are evaluated, as the system can directly manipulate the pre-built matrix without performing full dependency analysis at query time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameter from traditional snapshot dependency graphs to a matrix structure. This parameter change transforms the data organization from hierarchical or graph-based relationships to a tabular format that supports efficient mathematical operations. The matrix representation allows for O(1) access to dependency information and enables batch processing of multiple deletion scenarios by manipulating entire rows or columns simultaneously, significantly reducing processing time compared to traditional methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer program product, and computing system for processing a snapshot structure of a storage system, wherein the snapshot structure includes one or more temporal indicators and defines a plurality of elements including one or more snapshots, wherein the one or more temporal indicators are incremented to indicate the point at which a data entry was initially added to the snapshot structure. A snapshot matrix is generated based, at least in part, upon the snapshot structure, wherein the snapshot matrix defines the storage space used by one or more eclipsed elements and associated eclipsing elements.