Test Virtual Volumes for Storage System I/O Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing storage systems requires a large number of volumes, which can be expensive due to the need for production volumes, making it costly to adequately test operations.
Innovation Solution
The creation of test virtual volumes that include only volume contents data, allowing I/O operations to be directed to this data while declining operations not intended for it, enabling efficient operation testing without the need for extensive production volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If production volumes are used for testing, then testing accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual volumes that are copies of production volumes, containing identical volume contents data structure but without actual volume data. This allows testing operations to be performed on realistic volume structures while avoiding the high cost of provisioning actual production volumes for testing purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs virtual volumes as disposable test objects that can be created and destroyed repeatedly. These virtual volumes provide the necessary testing capability without the permanent resource commitment and high cost associated with production volumes, enabling extensive testing with minimal cost impact.
2Reliability
If numerous volumes are created for testing, then testing completeness is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating multiple physical production volumes for comprehensive testing, the patent creates multiple virtual volume copies. Each virtual volume consumes minimal resources while maintaining the structural characteristics of production volumes, enabling complete operational testing without proportional resource consumption increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual volumes serve multiple testing functions simultaneously - they can be used for various I/O operations, different test scenarios, and multiple test cases without requiring separate dedicated volumes for each test type, thereby reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining testing completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
For test virtual volume operation testing, an identification module determines if an input/output (I/O) operation for a test virtual volume is directed to volume contents data. A disposition module executes the I/O operation in response to the I/O operation being directed to the volume contents data and declines the I/O operation in response to the I/O operation not being directed to the volume contents data.