Storage Management System for Cloud Tiering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage management systems face inefficiencies in managing and archiving data due to limitations in memory technology, requiring complex methodologies to navigate these shortcomings, particularly in efficiently identifying and transferring files to remote cloud-based storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that locally processes data files on a local storage system to identify archivable files for storage on a remote cloud-based system, using a remote tiering appliance to obtain and store these files, and providing identifiers for redirection, employing inode traversal and namespace methodologies, as well as protocols like SMB and NFS for efficient data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex methodologies are used to navigate memory technology limitations, then data storage reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a tiering appliance as an intermediary component between local storage and remote cloud storage. This appliance automatically identifies, archives, and manages seldom-accessed data files, shielding users from the complexity of memory technology limitations while ensuring data reliability through automated tiering and retrieval processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual file identification and transfer methods are used, then storage control precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage control precisionVSAvoiddata archiving efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tiering appliance operates autonomously to identify archivable files based on access patterns and automatically transfer them to remote storage. The system self-manages the entire archiving process including file identification, selection, transfer, and retrieval without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining precise storage control while dramatically improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors file access patterns and uses this feedback to dynamically determine which files should be archived. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of archiving decisions based on actual usage, ensuring precise storage control while eliminating manual file identification processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If local storage capacity is increased to accommodate all files, then storage volume is improved, but loss of substance increases due to inefficient space utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidstorage space waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments storage capacity into two distinct tiers: local high-speed storage for frequently accessed files and remote cloud storage for seldom-accessed archived files. This segmentation enables efficient space utilization by placing each file type in the most appropriate storage medium, eliminating the waste that would occur from pre-allocating excessive local capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10891257B2Storage management system and method
Publication Date: 2021.01.12 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US10891257B2 patent drawing
  • US10891257B2 patent drawing
  • US10891257B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method, computer program product, and computing system for locally processing a plurality of data files stored on a local data storage system to identify an archivable file for storage on a remote data storage system. A remote tiering appliance is enabled to obtain the archivable file, wherein the remote tiering appliance stores the archivable file at a defined remote address on the remote data storage system. An identifier is received from the remote tiering appliance that locates the archivable file at the defined remote address on the remote data storage system. The identifier is stored on the local data storage system.