Storage Network Resource Management for Remote Copy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In storage systems that use remote copying for data redundancy, excessive data write throughput can exceed network bandwidth, leading to data gaps and reduced availability, especially when availability is a contracted service feature.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that check I/O throughput settings to ensure network bandwidth usage does not exceed allocated resources for existing volumes with remote copying, establishing a remote copy relationship only if sufficient bandwidth is available, and adjusting write throughput limits to prevent network overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the storage device increases data write throughput to improve productivity, then the amount of data processed per unit time increases, but the network bandwidth is exceeded causing data accumulation and reduced availability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks of network bandwidth availability before establishing remote copy relationships. The bandwidth checking unit proactively assesses whether sufficient network resources exist before committing to data transfer operations, preventing future bandwidth exhaustion and maintaining system availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous monitoring of network bandwidth usage and provides feedback to control the remote copy operation. When bandwidth thresholds are approached, the system adjusts data write throughput dynamically to maintain reliable operation within network capacity limits.
2Reliability
If the storage device establishes remote copy relationships for multiple volumes to improve data redundancy, then data integrity is enhanced, but network bandwidth resources are depleted leading to performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
Before establishing remote copy relationships, the system performs preliminary bandwidth assessments to ensure network resources are sufficient. This prevents over-provisioning of remote copy relationships that would exhaust network bandwidth and degrade overall system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows remote copy relationships to be established up to the point where network bandwidth is optimally utilized, but not beyond. By controlling the number and scope of remote copy relationships based on available bandwidth, the system maintains data redundancy while preventing network overload.
3Productivity
If the storage device increases I/O processing capacity to meet service contract requirements, then QoS performance is improved, but network bandwidth is exceeded causing data gaps between storage devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system checks network bandwidth availability before committing to increased I/O processing capacity for remote copy operations. This preliminary assessment ensures that enhanced I/O performance will not result in data synchronization gaps caused by network bottlenecks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors both I/O processing performance and network bandwidth utilization, using feedback to maintain optimal data synchronization. When network bandwidth is constrained, the system adjusts I/O processing rates to prevent data gaps while still meeting service contract requirements where possible.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein can involve, responsive to a request of a volume requiring remote copy, checking an IO throughput setting of the volume; using network bandwidth based on the IO throughput setting of the volume; and for the use of the network bandwidth not exceeding total remote copy network resources allocated for existing volumes configured with remote copy and the volume requiring remote copy, establishing a remote copy relationship for the volume in response to the request.