Storage System Replacement via Parallel Volume Migration Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The replacement of large and complex storage systems with low operational load hours is challenging due to the time required for data migration and the need to minimize adverse effects on operations, especially with increasing host computer access and system complexity.
Innovation Solution
A management system for storage system replacement that includes data migration and related processes, allowing hosts to use the target storage system similarly to the source system, by creating migration jobs for selected volumes and executing them in parallel, with common configuration steps like RG mapping, external-path configuration, and I/O port mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data migration is performed for storage system replacement, then data is transferred from source to target storage system, but replacement time becomes excessively long due to system complexity and host access requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system replacement process into multiple independent migration jobs, each handling specific source volumes. This segmentation allows parallel execution of multiple migration operations simultaneously, significantly reducing the total replacement time while ensuring complete data migration from source to target storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration actions before actual data migration begins. This includes pre-configuring the target storage system with the same host group associations, port mappings, and security attributes as the source system. This preliminary setup eliminates configuration delays during and after migration, reducing overall replacement time.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If storage system replacement is performed during low operational load hours, then adverse effects on operations are minimized, but the long replacement time still causes operational disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the replacement into parallel migration jobs, the total duration is reduced, allowing the process to complete within a shorter low-load window, thereby minimizing operational disruption while maintaining data migration completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous parallel execution of multiple migration jobs without interruption, maximizing the utilization of low operational load periods. This continuous action ensures replacement completes efficiently within the constrained time window, reducing harmful operational effects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complete configuration copying is performed from source to target storage system, then host compatibility is ensured, but the complexity of the replacement process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent automatically copies the complete configuration from the source storage system to the target system, including host group associations, port mappings, and security attributes. This copying approach ensures full host compatibility without requiring manual reconfiguration, while the automated nature of the process manages complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal configuration copying mechanism that handles multiple configuration elements (host groups, ports, security attributes) through a single standardized process. This multi-functional approach ensures host compatibility across different storage system configurations while reducing overall process complexity through unification.
Data Source
AI summary
A management system receives a job definition condition that defines a migration job corresponding to partial migration that is part of data migration for replacement from a replace source storage system to a replace target storage system. The management system selects one or more source volumes and creates a migration job for the one or more source volumes in accordance with the job definition condition. The migration job is a job in which, for each of the one or more source volumes, a target volume is created in the replace target storage system, and in which data is migrated from each of the one or more source volumes to a corresponding one of the one or more target volumes. The management system executes each of a plurality of migration jobs.