Storage System Autonomous Volume Reservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems for backup sites are complex and require manual management, leading to operational inefficiencies and potential mistakes during capacity expansion or volume allocation, as they often require maintenance PCs and servers, complicating the management of remote copy processes.
Innovation Solution
A storage system comprising a primary-side storage device and a secondary-side storage device, where the primary-side device reserves storage areas and requests the secondary-side device to reserve corresponding areas, with both devices managing and transferring data without the need for maintenance PCs at the backup site, simplifying the management and operation by eliminating the necessity for manual volume management at the backup site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the storage device at the backup site is configured to be associated with the volume configuration of the storage device at the business site, then data backup functionality is achieved, but the system complexity increases and requires maintenance PCs for volume management operations
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device at the backup site performs volume management operations autonomously without requiring external maintenance PCs. When the controller receives a request to change volume configuration, it automatically executes the operation and manages the storage device itself, eliminating the need for separate maintenance equipment at the backup location.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller at the backup site is designed to perform multiple functions including both data reception from the business site and autonomous volume management operations. This multi-functional design allows the same device to handle both backup operations and configuration changes, reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual volume management operations are performed at the backup site to match configuration changes at the business site, then storage capacity can be expanded, but operational errors increase and management becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism where the controller at the backup site receives information about volume configuration changes from the business site and automatically responds by performing corresponding operations. This closed-loop approach ensures that configuration changes are synchronized without manual intervention, reducing errors and simplifying operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller at the backup site is pre-configured with the capability to perform volume management operations autonomously. Before any configuration change occurs, the system is prepared to handle such operations automatically, eliminating the need for manual preliminary setup or intervention when expansion is needed.
3Ease of operation
If maintenance PCs are installed at the backup site for executing maintenance work, then configuration changes can be managed, but the number of required components increases and simplification of backup site configuration is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance PC function is extracted and integrated into the storage device controller itself. Instead of requiring a separate maintenance PC at the backup site, the controller is designed to perform all necessary maintenance and configuration operations internally, eliminating the need for additional external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of data reception, storage management, and maintenance operations are merged into a single controller at the backup site. This consolidation combines multiple previously separate functions into one integrated component, reducing the total number of devices required while maintaining full operational capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes a primary-side storage device and a secondary-side storage device. The primary-side storage device includes a first storage unit that functions as: a primary-side reserving unit to reserve a primary-side storage area in the first storage unit; a request unit to request the secondary-side storage device to reserve a secondary-side storage area; a checking unit to receive identifying information of the reserved secondary-side storage area; a management storage unit to store the identifying information of the secondary-side storage area in the way of being associated with the primary-side storage area; and a transfer unit to transfer data stored in the primary-side storage area to the secondary-side storage area. The secondary-side storage device includes a second storage unit that functions as: a request accepting unit to accept a request for reserving the secondary-side storage area from the primary-side storage device; a secondary-side reserving unit to reserve the secondary-side storage area in the second storage unit in response to the request; and a report unit to report the identifying information of the reserved secondary-side storage area to the primary-side storage device.