Storage Federation Data Migration via Virtual Volume Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current online data migration solutions often require redundant migration capabilities or additional software/SAN-based equipment, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a storage federation system with a low-level migration engine that enables data migration between storage systems while maintaining data consistency, allowing for the reuse of existing migration capabilities and eliminating the need for redundant solutions by using a virtual volume layer and logical disk mirroring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current online data migration solutions are implemented, then data migration can occur without system downtime, but redundant migration capabilities and additional equipment are required, increasing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system's native migration engine is enhanced to perform both traditional migration functions and federated migration functions across multiple storage systems. The migration engine is designed to be universal, capable of operating within a single system or across federated systems without requiring separate dedicated migration equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the migration capability into a single unified storage federation system rather than requiring separate migration equipment. The federated storage system merges multiple storage systems into a coordinated unit that can perform migration internally, eliminating the need for external redundant migration infrastructure.
2Reliability
If storage federation with low-level migration engine is implemented, then data consistency is maintained during migration, but system architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The low-level migration engine acts as an intermediary component within the storage federation architecture. It mediates data transfer between storage systems at the block level, ensuring data consistency through coordinated operations. The engine serves as a bridge that manages the complexity of cross-system migration while presenting a simplified interface to upper layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The migration process is segmented into distinct layers: high-level application-level operations and low-level block-level operations. This segmentation allows each layer to handle specific aspects of migration independently, with the low-level engine focusing on data consistency at the block level while higher layers manage application-specific requirements.
3Device complexity
If virtual volume layer and logical disk mirroring are used, then redundant migration equipment is eliminated, but migration capability flexibility may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual volume layer is designed to provide universal migration capabilities that work across different storage systems and configurations. The logical disk mirroring mechanism is implemented as a general-purpose feature that can be applied to various migration scenarios, eliminating the need for specialized equipment while maintaining flexibility through software-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in the virtual volume configuration to enable and control migration capabilities. By modifying virtualization parameters and logical disk configurations, the system can adapt migration behavior to different requirements without hardware changes, maintaining flexibility through software parameters rather than fixed hardware configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for migrating data in a storage system includes generating a first set of logical disks (LDs), the LDs being mapped to physical storage space in the storage system, generating a temporary virtual volume (VV) mapped to the first set of LDs, generating a second set of LDs mapped to the temporary VV, and migrating data between the second set of LDs and a third set of LDs.