Storage Area Partitioning for VM Synchronization Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In systems with redundant configurations, the synchronization of large physical disk devices between active and standby devices is time-consuming, leading to prolonged system startup times and recovery from failures.
Innovation Solution
The system divides physical storage devices into multiple areas, allowing for partial initialization and synchronization during startup, enabling parallel processing of image file writing and initial synchronization, thus reducing the time required for synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire physical disk device is synchronized between active and standby devices, then data consistency and reliability are ensured, but the synchronization time and system startup time become excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the physical disk device into multiple storage areas (e.g., partition 1, partition 2, partition 3) and synchronizes them sequentially rather than simultaneously. This segmentation allows the system to synchronize only the necessary portions of the disk, reducing the overall synchronization time while maintaining data consistency for each synchronized area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial synchronization by synchronizing only specific storage areas (e.g., partitions containing virtual machine images) rather than the entire disk device. This partial action approach ensures that critical data is synchronized while avoiding the time-consuming synchronization of unnecessary areas, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and time loss.
2Loss of time
If the physical disk device is divided into multiple storage areas, then synchronization time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the physical disk into multiple storage areas using standard partitioning techniques. This segmentation is implemented through the operating system's partition management capabilities, which are well-established and do not significantly increase device complexity. The segmentation enables selective synchronization of specific partitions, reducing synchronization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses universal partition management mechanisms that are already present in standard operating systems to achieve storage area division. By leveraging existing multi-functional partition management capabilities, the system avoids introducing complex new hardware or software structures, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while still achieving reduced synchronization time.
3Reliability
If initialization and synchronization are performed before virtual machine image installation, then data consistency is ensured, but the system startup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by synchronizing storage areas that will be needed for virtual machine operation before the actual VM image installation. This allows the synchronization to be completed in advance, and when the VM needs to start, the data is already consistent, eliminating the need for time-consuming synchronization during the startup process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by identifying and synchronizing only the specific storage areas that contain or will contain virtual machine images, rather than synchronizing the entire disk before VM installation. This partial preliminary synchronization ensures data consistency for the VM while avoiding unnecessary synchronization time that would increase system startup time.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device according to one aspect includes a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and one or more physical storage devices. The processor is configured to execute a configuration process of configuring a plurality of storage areas by dividing the one or more physical storage devices, a first synchronization process of initializing at least one of the storage areas and of synchronizing data stored in the initialized storage area with another information processing device, and a second synchronization process of writing file data used for generating a virtual machine to the storage area initialized and synchronized by the first synchronization process, and of synchronizing the file data written to the storage area with the another information processing device.