Storage Replication Direction Reversal via Virtual ID Swapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for remote copy configuration between a secondary site and a primary site during failover require copying entire volume data, leading to time-consuming reconfiguration when reversing the remote copy direction from a snapshot at the secondary site to the primary site without a pre-configured remote copy pair.
Innovation Solution
A computer system with a management computer, a first storage apparatus, and a second storage apparatus, where the second storage apparatus switches the access destination of I/O requests from a third logical device to a second logical device upon receiving a command, allowing differential data copying and reversing the remote copy direction without establishing a new remote copy pair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new remote copy pair is constituted from the snapshot of the secondary site to the primary site, then the remote copy configuration can be restored, but it requires copying the entire volume area which takes time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the differential data (changes) from the snapshot at the secondary site and transfers it to the primary site, rather than copying the entire volume area. This differential data extraction approach maintains remote copy configuration reliability while significantly reducing reconfiguration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the snapshot that was already created at the secondary site during the failed test failover operation. By reusing this pre-existing snapshot and extracting differential data from it, the system avoids the time-consuming process of creating a new snapshot or copying entire volumes, thus reducing reconfiguration time while restoring remote copy functionality.
2Productivity
If the remote copy direction is reversed from the snapshot of the secondary site to the primary site, then the system can resume normal operation, but the process is time-consuming due to entire area copying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the differential data (changes) from the snapshot at the secondary site and transfers it to the primary site, rather than copying the entire volume area. This differential data extraction approach maintains remote copy configuration reliability while significantly reducing reconfiguration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs only the necessary partial action of copying differential data (the minimum required to restore remote copy functionality) rather than performing the excessive action of copying the entire volume area. This partial action approach accelerates system recovery while ensuring operational reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system includes a management computer, a first storage apparatus, and a second storage apparatus. A first logical device of the first storage apparatus and a second logical device of the second storage apparatus constitute a remote copy pair. The second logical device and a third logical device of the second storage apparatus constitute a copy pair. The second logical device and the third logical device have virtual IDs to be recognized by an issuer of an I/O request. The second storage apparatus interchanges the virtual IDs of the third logical device and the second logical device with reception of a command from the management computer as a trigger during processing of the I/O request from the issuer of the I/O request to the third logical device, thereby switching an access destination of the issuer of the I/O request from the third logical device to the second logical device.