Intelligent Snapshot Tree Replication via TSB Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current replication systems fail to efficiently replicate the relationships between volumes and snapshots, leading to burdensome data transfer and loss of shared page relationships, and lack the intelligence to manage snapshot trees dynamically.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an intelligent replication system that captures and replicates snapshot tree structures, tracks hierarchical relationships, and uses a parent volume's last replicated image for initial snapshot replication, enabling automated replication of snapshot trees with reduced data transfer and maintaining shared relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current replication systems replicate volumes and snapshots, then data is copied to backup systems, but the relationships between volumes and snapshots are lost and shared page relationships are broken
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the TSB (Tree Structure Block) that contains the hierarchical relationships between volumes and snapshots. This TSB copy is replicated along with the snapshot data, allowing the destination system to reconstruct the original snapshot tree structure and maintain relationship information without losing the connectivity between parent and child snapshots.
2Reliability
If traditional replication systems copy all snapshot data, then complete replication is achieved, but data transfer volume is burdensome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential relationship information (TSB) from the complete snapshot data. Instead of replicating entire snapshot trees, the system extracts and replicates only the structural metadata that defines relationships between volumes and snapshots, significantly reducing data transfer volume while maintaining replication completeness through intelligent reconstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial replication by transferring only the necessary TSB information rather than complete snapshot data. This partial action is sufficient to maintain relationship integrity, as the destination system can reconstruct the snapshot tree structure from the replicated TSB without needing to transfer all underlying data blocks.
3Reliability
If snapshot trees are replicated manually, then relationship maintenance is possible, but the management process is burdensome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the snapshot tree replication to be self-service by automatically replicating the TSB structure information. The system autonomously captures, packages, and transfers the hierarchical relationship data without requiring manual intervention to maintain relationships between volumes and snapshots, significantly simplifying the management process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing and replicating the TSB structure information before actual snapshot data replication. This preliminary replication of relationship metadata prepares the destination system to automatically reconstruct the snapshot tree hierarchy, eliminating the need for manual relationship maintenance during and after replication.
4Productivity
If shared page relationships are not maintained, then data transfer is simpler, but failure management becomes slower and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the TSB structure information that contains shared page relationship data. By replicating this structural metadata, the system enables the destination to reconstruct shared page relationships, allowing rapid failure management through intact snapshot hierarchies without requiring complex manual relationship tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for intelligent replication of a snapshot tree are described. In one embodiment, a first storage system may include a storage controller. In some embodiments, the storage controller may be operable to replicate a first storage volume of a first storage system and a first user snapshot of the first storage volume to a second storage volume of a second storage system and capture a first tree structure block (TSB) of the first storage system. In some cases, the first user snapshot may include a point in time capture of data on the first storage volume at a first time. In some embodiments, the first TSB captures a hierarchy of each snapshot of the first storage system.