Active-Active Storage Snapshot Synchronization via Host I/O Halting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In active-active storage configurations, snapshot restoration across multiple storage arrays is inefficient due to the lack of synchronization, leading to time-consuming mirror rebuilds as snapshots taken on different arrays may not be consistent, requiring restoration from one array and rebuilding on another.
Innovation Solution
The method synchronizes data copy operations across storage arrays by halting input-output operations on host devices before creating backup copies, ensuring consistent snapshots on all arrays, allowing each array to restore from its own snapshot and avoiding mirror rebuilds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If snapshots are taken separately on each storage array, then snapshot creation can proceed independently, but the snapshots may not be consistent and require time-consuming mirror rebuilds
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by coordinating host devices to halt I/O operations before snapshot creation, ensuring all storage arrays are in a consistent state before the actual snapshot is taken. This preliminary coordination prevents inconsistency without requiring mirror rebuilds later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the snapshot operations across multiple storage arrays by implementing a coordinated approach where all arrays participate in a single synchronized snapshot event. This combines previously separate operations into one unified process, ensuring consistency across all arrays simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If restore is performed from one storage array, then restoration can proceed, but the other storage array requires a time-consuming mirror rebuild
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary coordinated snapshot creation across all storage arrays before any restore operation. This preliminary synchronization ensures that when restore is needed, all arrays have consistent snapshots ready, eliminating the need for mirror rebuilds and allowing parallel restore operations.
3Reliability
If I/O operations continue during snapshot creation, then system availability is maintained, but snapshot consistency cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary coordination with host devices to temporarily halt I/O operations only during the brief snapshot capture moment. This preliminary coordination ensures consistency while minimizing disruption to overall system availability, as the I/O halt is brief and coordinated across all arrays simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques disclosed herein provide techniques for coordinating host devices to synchronize data copy operations on storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration. For example, a method comprises managing generation of a backup copy of data in each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration by causing one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays prior to causing the backup copy to be created in each of the set of storage arrays.