Storage System Simulated Target Responses for Replication Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data replication methods require actual network bandwidth resources and additional storage systems, increasing complexity and expense when assessing replication scenarios and achieving desired recover point objectives.
Innovation Solution
A storage system is configured to simulate the participation of a target storage system, allowing for accurate and efficient replication scenario assessment without actual network bandwidth allocation, using simulation parameters like network round trip time and target processing time to generate simulated responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If actual network bandwidth resources are allocated to assess replication scenarios, then accurate estimation of recover point objectives is achieved, but complexity and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simulated target storage system that copies the essential behavior and response characteristics of an actual target storage system without requiring physical deployment. The simulation generates virtual responses to replication messages, allowing accurate assessment of replication scenarios while eliminating the need for actual network bandwidth allocation and additional physical storage systems.
2Reliability
If actual target storage system is deployed for replication assessment, then reliable evaluation of replication performance is achieved, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a simulated target storage system that replicates the functional behavior of actual target systems using software-based response generation. This virtual copy maintains reliable evaluation capabilities while consuming minimal resources compared to deploying physical storage systems and network infrastructure for assessment purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a simulation intermediary layer between the source storage system and the actual target storage system. This intermediary generates simulated responses that faithfully represent target system behavior, enabling reliable evaluation without requiring direct connection to actual target systems or allocation of real network bandwidth resources.
3Measurement precision
If multiple distinct replication scenarios are assessed using actual production applications and storage volumes, then accurate replication configuration is achieved, but complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of target storage systems that can be configured to simulate different replication scenarios without requiring actual production applications and storage volumes to be replicated to physical target systems. This allows accurate assessment of multiple distinct replication configurations while significantly reducing the complexity of setting up and managing the assessment infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system in one embodiment comprises a plurality of storage devices and a storage controller. The storage system is configured to operate as a source storage system in a replication process in which participation of a target storage system is simulated. In conjunction with the replication process, the source storage system is configured to monitor outbound replication messages, and responsive to a given one of the replication messages being designated for transmission over a particular communication link of a predetermined type, to generate a simulated response from the target storage system to the given replication message based at least in part on one or more simulation parameters specified for the replication process. The source storage system then processes the simulated response as if it were an actual response from the target storage system. The particular communication link of a predetermined type illustratively comprises a pseudo IP link.