Storage Configuration Metadata Rollback Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face performance and stability issues when rolling back to a past point in time due to storage configuration changes, as current solutions do not adequately synchronize data and configuration metadata, leading to insufficient rollback capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method for creating and synchronizing point-in-time images of data and configuration metadata in a storage system, using tags to indicate synchronization, allowing independent rollback of data and configuration, and enabling the system to restore to a previous state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If data rollback is performed without synchronizing configuration metadata, then rollback speed is improved, but system stability deteriorates due to configuration inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rollback process of data and configuration metadata into a unified synchronized operation. The system creates point-in-time images of both data and configuration metadata, then performs their restoration together in a coordinated manner, ensuring that data and its corresponding configuration are consistently restored to matching states, thereby preventing instability from configuration mismatches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating and storing point-in-time images of both data and configuration metadata before rollback is needed. These pre-prepared images include synchronization information that enables rapid coordinated restoration, eliminating the need to synchronize during the actual rollback process and thus maintaining both speed and stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual synchronization of data and configuration metadata is performed, then data consistency is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically tracking and managing the synchronization state of data and configuration metadata. It autonomously creates point-in-time images, attaches synchronization tags, and coordinates rollback operations without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of keeping data and configuration consistent, freeing operators from manual synchronization tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through synchronization tags that automatically track the relationship between data and configuration metadata. The system continuously monitors and records the synchronization state, providing feedback that enables automatic coordination during rollback operations, thereby maintaining data consistency without manual effort.
3Productivity
If point-in-time images of data and configuration are created independently, then creation speed is improved, but synchronization reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces synchronization tags as intermediaries that bridge independently created point-in-time images of data and configuration metadata. These tags act as mediators that record and link the relationship between the independently created images, enabling their coordinated restoration later while maintaining synchronization reliability despite independent creation processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for continuous protection of data and storage configuration metadata. Content protected by snapshots, for example, in connection with continuous snapshotting and/or continuous data protection, may be extended to include not only user data but further include configuration metadata of the storage management system. In particular, a user may want to rollback a storage management system to a past point due to performance or stability issues attributed to configuration changes. The system described herein enables rollback to prior states based on storage configuration metadata in addition to rollback of user data and provides for synchronization of the data and configuration metadata in connection with a rollback. The system also enables roll forward processing.