Storage Virtualization Absolute Path Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storage virtualization systems face challenges in accessing and managing files on NAS systems that use a single home directory share convention, as they lack access to the internal mapping databases required to resolve physical path addresses, hindering their ability to migrate and manage data across different NAS systems with varying protocols.
Innovation Solution
The system enables storage virtualization to impersonate a user and issue query commands to discover absolute paths for shares on NAS systems using symbolic home directory paths, allowing it to maintain file attributes and permissions consistency and store mapping information for future access, thereby extending compatibility with a wider range of NAS systems without significant overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a NAS system uses a single home directory share convention with symbolic path names, then user access simplicity is improved, but storage virtualization systems cannot resolve physical path addresses without access to internal mapping databases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component within the storage virtualization system that acts as a mediator between the symbolic path names and physical path addresses. This intermediary maintains and queries mapping information to resolve the physical locations of files, enabling storage virtualization functionality without requiring direct access to the NAS internal mapping databases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively querying the NAS system for mapping information and caching the results. By pre-fetching and storing path mappings before they are needed for migration operations, the system avoids the need for direct database access during critical migration tasks, thus maintaining compatibility while enabling functionality.
2Measurement precision
If storage virtualization systems query NAS systems for mapping information, then path resolution capability is improved, but system overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs mapping information queries in advance and caches the results for future use. By pre-fetching path mappings during idle periods or as part of initial system setup, the system reduces the frequency and intensity of queries during actual migration operations, thereby improving path resolution capability while minimizing ongoing system overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a caching mechanism that creates copies of mapping information and stores them locally within the storage virtualization system. These cached copies serve as substitutes for repeated queries to the NAS system, significantly reducing the computational overhead and network traffic associated with path resolution while maintaining accurate mapping data.
3Productivity
If storage virtualization systems access internal mapping databases of NAS systems, then file migration capability is improved, but system complexity and compatibility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that abstracts the complexity of accessing NAS internal mapping databases. This intermediary component handles all interactions with the NAS system, translating storage virtualization operations into NAS-specific protocols and conventions. By mediating between the storage virtualization system and NAS internals, the solution enables file migration capability without requiring the storage virtualization system to directly understand or access diverse NAS database structures, thus maintaining compatibility across different NAS vendors while preserving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method provides for enabling a storage virtualization system to dynamically discover shares on a network attached storage file system is disclosed. Certain network attached storage systems represent user shares using abbreviated symbolic path names rather than full absolute path names. These network attached storage systems can correctly map the abbreviated path address to the actual file location; however, when a storage virtualization system is implemented to manage shares or files in these shares, it cannot access these files because it does not have the absolute path address. An embodiment of the present invention provides software instructions to augment the capabilities of the storage virtualization system, enabling it to map files with abbreviated share names, and therefore provide it with the ability to access these types of network attached storage systems.