Storage Device Feature Validation via Remote Copy Kits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage management systems cannot accurately determine which storage devices support remote backup or disaster recovery features, leading to potential failures when external components like coordinator servers are missing or malfunctioning.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an automated feature validation process that uses validation kits to confirm whether storage devices support the required features, allowing for correct classification into storage classes and ensuring feature functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the storage management system manually checks device configurations, then it can identify devices with basic features, but it cannot determine whether remote backup/disaster recovery features work correctly because external components are not managed by the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces validation kits as intermediary components that mediate between the storage management system and external components (coordinator servers, destination storage devices). These kits contain pre-configured validation scripts and configurations that enable automated testing of remote backup and disaster recovery features without requiring the storage management system to directly manage external components. The validation kit acts as a bridge, allowing feature validation while maintaining the boundary between managed and unmanaged components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary validation by executing validation scripts against the storage device and its external components before allocating the device for remote backup operations. The storage management system proactively identifies devices with validated features by running predefined validation processes that test connectivity to coordinator servers and destination devices, ensuring feature functionality is confirmed in advance of actual use.
2Reliability
If the storage management system allocates devices based on basic configuration information, then allocation is simple and fast, but feature functionality cannot be guaranteed when external components are missing or malfunctioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs feature validation in advance before device allocation, executing validation scripts that test remote backup and disaster recovery functionality against external components. This preliminary validation ensures that only devices with confirmed working features are allocated, guaranteeing reliability while preventing time loss during actual operations. The validation results are cached and reused for subsequent allocation decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective validation where the storage management system applies comprehensive validation only to devices requiring remote backup/disaster recovery features, while using basic configuration checks for other devices. The validation depth is adjusted based on the specific feature requirements, performing excessive validation only where necessary to ensure reliability without unnecessarily delaying other device allocations.
3Measurement precision
If manual validation processes are used to check external components, then feature functionality can be confirmed, but the process is time-consuming and requires operator intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated self-service validation where the storage management system automatically executes validation scripts against storage devices and their external components without operator intervention. The system autonomously tests connectivity to coordinator servers and destination storage devices, interprets validation results, and updates device feature status accordingly. This automation maintains high validation accuracy while dramatically improving allocation speed by eliminating manual processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where validation results from testing external components are immediately fed back into the device configuration database. The storage management system continuously monitors validation status and automatically updates device feature availability information, enabling real-time accurate device allocation decisions without requiring manual re-validation or operator intervention for each allocation event.
4Productivity
If the storage management system does not validate external components, then device allocation is fast and simple, but remote backup features may fail when coordinator servers or destination devices are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of external components (coordinator servers, destination storage devices) before allocating storage devices for remote backup operations. Validation scripts test connectivity and functionality of these external components in advance, ensuring that allocated devices have working backup infrastructure. This preliminary check maintains fast allocation speeds by using cached validation results while ensuring backup feature reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage management system implements automated self-validation of external components by continuously testing coordinator server connectivity and destination device availability without operator intervention. The system autonomously monitors the health and accessibility of these external components, automatically updating device feature status based on validation results, thereby ensuring reliable remote backup functionality while maintaining efficient device allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein can involve for receipt of an addition or modification of a storage device, executing a validation process from one or more managed validation kits according to a remote copy function associated with the storage device, the one or more managed validation kits selected according to one or more feature types associated with the remote copy function; associating the storage device with a corresponding group of storage devices associated with the remote copy function based on information provided by the one or more managed validation kits; and for the association of the storage device with the corresponding group of storage devices and the execution of the validation process being successful, registering the storage device to a storage class associated with the remote copy function.