Snapshot Merge Optimization via Selective Data Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In virtual machine environments, the process of collapsing snapshots back into the original data volume is resource intensive, leading to reduced performance due to high input/output operations.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for merging an ancestor data volume and its derivative version by determining if a characteristic of the derivative version satisfies a criteria, and if so, copying only necessary portions from the ancestor data volume into the derivative version, thereby optimizing I/O costs by altering metadata rather than moving data blocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If snapshots are collapsed back into the original data volume, then the original data volume is updated with the latest changes, but high input/output operations reduce performance efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidperformance efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary portions of data from the ancestor data volume that need to be merged into the derivative version, rather than moving all data blocks. This selective extraction approach maintains data consistency while minimizing I/O operations and improving performance efficiency during the collapse process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The merging process is segmented into identifying and copying only the necessary portions of the ancestor data volume that are not already present in the derivative version. This segmentation of the data merge operation reduces the total I/O workload while ensuring complete data consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If all data blocks are moved during snapshot collapse, then complete data merging is achieved, but resource intensity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidresource intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and copies only the necessary portions of the ancestor data volume that contain data not already present in the derivative version. This selective copying approach ensures complete data merging while significantly reducing the resource intensity associated with moving all data blocks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing a complete copy of all data blocks, the patent applies partial action by copying only the necessary portions of the ancestor data volume that are needed to complete the merge, thereby reducing resource consumption while achieving data completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8990526B2Merging data volumes and derivative versions of the data volumes

Publication Date: 2015.03.24 ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC AS AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES

AI summary

Responsive to an instruction to collapse a derivative version of an ancestor data volume into the ancestor data volume, it is determined if a characteristic of the derivative version of the ancestor data volume satisfies a criteria relative to a characteristic of the ancestor data volume. If the characteristic of the derivative version satisfies the criteria, the ancestor data volume is merged into the derivative version of the underlying data to form an updated derivative version. The updated derivative version is established as the ancestor data volume.