Snapshot Rule Based on Unique Data Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snapshot technologies do not efficiently manage redundant snapshot creation, leading to increased resource consumption and metadata space usage, without providing methods to determine changes in data or identify unallocated data/zeros.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that attach a protection policy with a resource efficient snapshot rule to a storage object, triggering the creation of internal snapshots and detecting uniquely allocated storage regions, to determine whether to prevent the creation of redundant external snapshots based on unallocated or zeroed-out extra bits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If snapshot creation is performed at defined time intervals based on protection policy, then data protection coverage is improved, but redundant snapshot creation increases resource consumption and metadata space usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism by detecting uniquely allocated storage regions between snapshots and analyzing extra bits to determine whether snapshots contain actual data changes. This feedback loop prevents redundant snapshot creation while maintaining protection coverage for meaningful changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter for snapshot creation from fixed time intervals to data-change-based triggers. By monitoring storage region allocation and extra bit states, the system dynamically adjusts snapshot creation timing based on actual data changes, eliminating redundant snapshots while maintaining protection reliability.
2Reliability
If snapshot creation is performed at defined time intervals, then data protection coverage is improved, but metadata space usage increases due to redundant snapshots
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from detecting uniquely allocated storage regions and analyzing extra bits to determine whether snapshot creation is necessary. This feedback mechanism prevents metadata space consumption by redundant snapshots while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage for actual data changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the snapshot creation parameter from time-based to data-change-based, using detection of allocated storage regions and extra bit analysis as triggers. This parameter change reduces metadata space usage by eliminating redundant snapshot entries while preserving protection coverage.
3Loss of information
If all snapshots are created and retained without redundancy detection, then complete data history is preserved, but computing resources are wasted on processing and storing identical snapshots
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by detecting uniquely allocated storage regions between consecutive snapshots. This feedback mechanism identifies actual data changes versus redundant copies, enabling selective retention of meaningful snapshots while discarding duplicates, thus preserving data history efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the snapshot retention parameter from unconditional to conditional based on detected data changes. By using extra bit analysis and storage region detection as criteria, the system preserves complete data history for unique changes while eliminating redundant processing and storage of identical snapshots.
Data Source
AI summary
A system can comprise a processor and a memory that can store executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising attaching a protection policy associated with a rule to a storage object, wherein the rule can be applicable to prevent redundant snapshot creation. The operations can further comprise, in response to the attaching of the protection policy to the storage object, triggering creation of a first snapshot and a second snapshot of the storage object. The operations can further comprise detecting any uniquely allocated storage regions between the first snapshot and the second snapshot. The operations can further comprise, based on a determination of whether any extra bits of the any uniquely allocated storage regions are unallocated or zeroed out, determining whether to prevent a third creation of a third snapshot external to the first snapshot and the second snapshot.