Storage System Snapshot Volume Replication Pair Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage systems face challenges in minimizing storage capacity and data processing load during volume replication pair duplication, especially during failover tests, which are essential for business continuity and disaster recovery, while also needing to avoid stability disturbances to production systems.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves creating snapshots of primary and secondary volumes within a replication pair, allowing for differential data synchronization without transmitting all data, thereby reducing storage capacity and processing load, and managing data attributes to optimize storage and deletion processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete replication pair is constructed for testing, then the test can be performed with the same data and configuration as production systems, but the storage capacity requirement and data processing load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses snapshot technology to create a copy of the replication pair configuration for testing purposes. Instead of duplicating all production data, the system creates a snapshot that captures the essential structure and metadata, allowing tests to run with minimal storage overhead while maintaining test validity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the replication pair into essential components (metadata, configuration) and non-essential components (full data). The snapshot contains only the essential components needed for testing, separating what is necessary from what is redundant for test purposes
2Reliability
If a complete replication pair is constructed for testing, then the test can be performed with the same data and configuration as production systems, but the data processing load increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a lightweight snapshot copy that replicates only the necessary metadata and configuration information, dramatically reducing the data processing load during testing while preserving test accuracy. The snapshot avoids copying large volumes of actual data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by creating a snapshot that includes only the portion of data necessary for testing (metadata, configuration, structure) rather than copying the entire dataset. This partial replication is sufficient for test purposes while minimizing processing requirements
3Reliability
If all data is transmitted during replication pair duplication, then the secondary volume can be fully synchronized, but the storage capacity and processing load increase unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements (metadata, configuration information, structural data) from the complete dataset during replication pair duplication. This extraction process creates a snapshot that maintains synchronization reliability while eliminating the need to transmit and process unnecessary data
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a first storage device and a second storage device. In a case where the first storage device performs writing or updating of data on a first primary volume, the first storage device transmits the data to a second storage device based on a first replication pair. In a case where the first storage device creates or updates a second primary volume that is a snapshot of the first primary volume, the second storage device creates or updates a second secondary volume that is a snapshot of the first secondary volume configuring the first replication pair with the first primary volume.