Solid State Memory Cache Snapshot System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional data snapshot methods are cumbersome, causing application slowdowns and service delays due to the need for duplicating storage media, which results in slow data transfer and prolonged snapshot creation times, especially with large data sets.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing solid state memory caches for rapid data snapshots, where data is copied between two memory caches within a common address space, enabling high-speed data transfer and minimal impact on application performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional snapshot methods copy data over storage network, then snapshot data integrity is guaranteed, but data transfer speed is slow and snapshot creation time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnapshot data integrityVSAvoiddata transfer speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a storage area network (SAN) as an intermediary medium between the host storage device and remote storage device. Data is copied through the SAN fabric instead of direct network transfer, enabling high-speed data movement while maintaining data integrity through the structured storage network protocol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional network-based data transfer with memory-to-memory copying operations. By using solid state memory caches and addressable memory spaces, the system substitutes slow network I/O with fast memory copying, achieving speeds exceeding hundreds of gigabytes per second

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional snapshot methods transfer large data sets, then complete snapshot coverage is achieved, but application performance degrades and service delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnapshot completenessVSAvoidapplication performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-allocating solid state memory caches and preparing address space mappings before the snapshot operation begins. This allows the snapshot copying process to proceed without blocking application I/O operations, as the memory infrastructure is already in place to handle the data transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the snapshot operation into parallel copying tasks that can execute simultaneously across multiple memory channels. By dividing the large data set into concurrent copy operations, the system achieves complete snapshot coverage while maintaining high throughput and minimizing impact on application performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If snapshot data is copied across storage network, then remote backup is achieved, but snapshot creation time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote backup capabilityVSAvoidsnapshot creation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage area network acts as a high-speed intermediary that enables rapid data movement between host and remote storage devices. The SAN fabric provides dedicated data pathways that bypass traditional network protocols, reducing snapshot creation time while maintaining remote backup capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses solid state memory copying mechanisms to create rapid replicas of storage data. By leveraging memory-to-memory copy operations through the SAN infrastructure, the system achieves fast snapshot creation with remote backup, eliminating the slow network transfer times of traditional methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If applications are taken off-line for snapshot creation, then data consistency is ensured, but service availability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidservice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous application operation during snapshot creation by using solid state memory caches that can be populated and copied without interrupting application I/O. The snapshot process runs in parallel with application workloads, maintaining service availability while ensuring data consistency through the memory-based copying mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS8307154B2System and method for performing rapid data snapshots

Publication Date: 2012.11.06 KOVE IP LLC

AI summary

A storage system is provided that includes storage controller logic that performs rapid data snapshots. The storage controller logic may provide block-level access to a storage volume. The storage controller logic may store all data blocks of the storage volume in a first solid state memory cache. The storage controller logic may form a snapshot of the storage volume in a second solid state memory cache. The first and second solid state memory caches are addressable with a processor. The storage system may complete the snapshot extremely quickly because the processor may copy from one memory location to another between the first and second solid state memory caches.