Storage Appliance Channel Segmentation for Data Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional data protection methods face challenges in simultaneously providing multiple data protection functions efficiently, leading to data loss, unnecessary network traffic, and system slowdowns when synchronizing data across production systems with direct-attached storage, as they treat synchronization data as mirrored application data.

Innovation Solution

Creating separate communication channels between the production system and storage appliance for synchronization, allowing for the transmission of changes and synchronization of data without interfering with active data protection functions, using modules to identify, create, and manage these channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional data protection methods are used to synchronize data, then data protection functions can be provided, but synchronization data is treated as mirrored application data resulting in losing snapshot history and unnecessary network traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection reliabilityVSAvoidsnapshot history loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data protection system into distinct components: a splitter channel for application data mirroring and a synchronization channel for data protection synchronization. This segmentation allows synchronization data to be differentiated from mirrored application data, preventing snapshot history loss while maintaining reliable data protection functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional data protection methods are used to synchronize data, then data protection functions can be provided, but network bandwidth is wasted due to treating synchronization data as mirrored application data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides network communications into separate channels: the splitter channel handles application data mirroring while the synchronization channel handles data protection synchronization. This prevents duplication of synchronization data over the network and eliminates unnecessary bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional data protection methods are used to synchronize data, then data protection functions can be provided, but the production system slows down requiring throttling of synchronization communications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection reliabilityVSAvoidproduction system performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates synchronization operations into a dedicated synchronization channel that operates independently from the production system's data mirrors. This allows full-speed synchronization without throttling while maintaining production system performance, as the synchronization channel does not compete for resources with active data protection functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a storage appliance as an intermediary that receives synchronization data directly from the production storage without requiring data to be read through the production system. This intermediary approach eliminates the performance bottleneck caused by traditional synchronization methods that require production system involvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a single storage appliance provides multiple data protection functions, then flexibility is improved, but conflicts arise when multiple functions attempt to access data simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection flexibilityVSAvoiddata protection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements channel segmentation within the storage appliance, creating separate splitter channels and synchronization channels for different data protection functions. This allows multiple functions to operate simultaneously without conflicts, as each function has dedicated communication paths that prevent data interference and maintain reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8452931B1Systems and methods for simultaneously providing multiple data protection functions

Publication Date: 2013.05.28 COHESITY INC

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for simultaneously providing multiple data protection functions may include identifying a storage appliance that provides a plurality of data protection functions to a production system. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a splitter channel from the production system to the storage appliance. The computer-implemented method may further include creating a synchronization channel from the production system to the storage appliance. The computer-implemented method may additionally include transmitting changes made to data on the production system to the storage appliance via the splitter channel. The computer-implemented method may also include synchronizing data on the production system to the storage appliance via the synchronization channel. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.