Storage Controller Failover via Network Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for maintaining high availability in virtual server systems, such as real-time replication and clustered file systems, are complex and costly, and face challenges in minimizing failover time and ensuring compatibility with network components.
Innovation Solution
A system with active and standby storage controllers dynamically remaps network connections to ensure high availability of shared data, where the standby controller takes over by disabling the active controller at a network level and assumes control, using techniques like zoning and LUN masking to restrict access and ensure seamless failover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time replication is used to maintain high availability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses shared storage to create a copy of data accessible by multiple storage controllers. Instead of replicating entire system states across multiple controllers, only the data copy is maintained in shared storage, reducing the complexity of replication while maintaining availability through failover capability.
2Reliability
If clustered file systems are used to support high availability, then reliability is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces shared storage as an intermediary between storage controllers and data. This mediator layer allows different storage controllers to access the same data without requiring compatible file systems, as the shared storage handles data management and provides a unified access interface to multiple controllers.
3Reliability
If real-time replication is implemented across multiple systems, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares failover in advance by maintaining data copies in shared storage and pre-configuring multiple storage controllers. When failover is needed, the standby controller is already prepared with access to the data, eliminating the need for time-consuming data transfer or system reconstruction during the failover event.
4Reliability
If two data stores with copies of data are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data storage function with the redundancy function by using shared storage that is simultaneously accessible by multiple storage controllers. Instead of maintaining separate physical data stores for each controller, the same storage resources are shared and protected through access control and failover mechanisms, reducing total storage requirements while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage system and method are described. The system may comprise a data repository to store data, and first and second storage controllers. The first and second storage controllers may be connected via at least one network device to the data repository. One or more clients may be connected to the first storage controller and to the second storage controller to access the data in the data repository via the first and second storage controllers. The second storage controller may be configured to at least partially inhibit network connectivity of the first storage controller if the first storage controller at least partially fails. The system may include a Storage Area Network providing the data repository, each of the first and second storage controllers being connected to the Storage Area Network via switch. Each switch comprises at least one fiber channel gateway and at least two Target Channel Adaptors.