Snapshot Mount Point Resizing via File System Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snapshot copy utilities face difficulties in creating consistency groups of snapshot mount points, creating snapshot copies, and resizing logical units using snapshot mount points, which limits the efficient management and resizing of storage space in storage systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for managing snapshot mount points that allows users to create and manage consistency groups of snapshot mount points, enabling resizing of snapshot mount points by expanding or shrinking logical units, and efficiently managing storage space by returning freed space to the storage pool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional snapshot copy utilities are used to create consistency groups of snapshot mount points, then snapshot creation is possible, but resizing logical units using snapshot mount points is difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file system layer as an intermediary between the snapshot mount points and the underlying storage. This file system layer provides the necessary abstractions and interfaces that enable resizing operations on snapshot mount points, which would otherwise be impossible with conventional utilities. The file system acts as a mediator that translates high-level resize requests into low-level storage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a consistency group that includes both logical units and snapshot mount points, making the group subject to uniform resize operations. This universal approach allows the same resize mechanism to work on different types of storage objects (both LUNs and snapshot mount points), eliminating the limitation where only LUNs could be resized but not snapshot mount points.
2Adaptability or versatility
If storage space is provisioned larger than currently required, then future growth is accommodated, but storage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic resizing of logical units and snapshot mount points through the consistency group mechanism. Instead of statically provisioning storage space that remains fixed, the system allows runtime adjustment of storage capacity. This dynamic approach lets administrators resize storage allocations based on actual needs, accommodating future growth while maintaining storage efficiency by only allocating space when required.
3Ease of operation
If snapshot mount points are created for consistency groups, then snapshot management is improved, but conventional utilities cannot resize these mount points
Solution Approach 1:
The file system layer serves as an intermediary that enables resizing functionality for snapshot mount points. By introducing this intermediate layer with appropriate interfaces and abstractions, the system bridges the gap between the snapshot mount point structure (which improves management) and the resizing capability (which was previously unavailable).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the resizing capability into the consistency group operation, allowing resize commands to simultaneously affect both logical units and snapshot mount points within the group. This combination approach unifies the resizing functionality across different storage object types, enabling snapshot mount points to be resized alongside their underlying LUNs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is used for managing snapshot mount points in storage systems. A request to resize a snapshot mount point is received and a file object associated with the snapshot mount point is retrieved. The file object is analyzed to determine a file attached to the snapshot mount point and a file ID is determined for an underlying file associated with the determined file. The file associated with the file ID is resized.