Soft Range Lock for Copy-Offload Data Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional client-centric copy methods for storage systems consume processing resources and network bandwidth, as they involve taking a point-in-time copy of data containers during copy-offload operations, which is inefficient and limits token size.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a soft range lock for data containers to generate tokens for copy-offload operations, indicating that the data container content has not changed, thereby avoiding the need for a point-in-time copy and optimizing the copy process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a point in time copy (snapshot) is taken during token creation for copy-offload operation, then data integrity is ensured, but processing time increases and token size is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data container content verification from the token creation process by placing a soft range lock on the data container. Instead of copying the actual data content into the token (which would consume time and space), the system extracts only the lock status information and includes this in the token. This allows data integrity verification without the overhead of creating actual data copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a logical copy through the soft range lock mechanism rather than a physical data copy. The lock serves as a reference that verifies data container content without duplicating the actual data. This logical copying approach maintains data integrity while avoiding the processing overhead and size limitations of physical data copies.
2Reliability
If a point in time copy is taken for copy-offload operation, then data consistency is maintained, but network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential verification information (soft range lock status) from the data container and places it in the token. This eliminates the need to transfer actual data content over the network during the copy-offload operation, significantly reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining data consistency through the lock mechanism.
3Productivity
If traditional client centric copy approach is used, then data can be copied between storage locations, but processing resources and network bandwidth are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the storage system to perform copy operations autonomously using the copy-offload mechanism. The storage system places soft range locks and generates tokens that enable direct data container copying between locations without requiring client system processing resources. The client only needs to initiate the operation and provide the token, while the storage system handles the actual data movement independently.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for a copy-offload operation are provided. A soft range lock is placed for a data container for generating a token for a copy-offload operation for copying the data container from a source location to a destination location, where presence of the soft range lock indicates that content of the data container has not changed during the copy-offload operation. A token for the copy-offload operation represents the content of data container and includes information regarding the soft range lock. The token with the soft range lock information is provided to the client that requests the copy-offload operation. If the soft range lock exists, then the data container is copied without using a point in time copy of the data container.