Three-Site Data Replication Configurator for Disaster Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and validating replication configurations across three sites in a z/OS environment for disaster recovery is complex, particularly due to the need for consistent data replication and the risk of missing volumes, which can lead to data loss in the event of a disaster.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface and system data mover are used to configure and validate data replication across three sites using multiple copy technologies, including Peer to Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) and Extended Remote Copy (XRC), with features to manage sessions, volumes, and pacing levels, ensuring data consistency and visibility across all sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration and management of replication across three sites is performed, then flexibility and control over replication parameters are improved, but the complexity of management and risk of configuration errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary tool that acts as a mediator between the administrator and the complex three-site replication system. This tool automatically generates, validates, and manages replication configurations across primary, secondary, and tertiary sites, reducing manual intervention while maintaining system control and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service capabilities where the replication configuration tool automatically performs validation, generates configuration files, and ensures consistency across all three sites without requiring manual intervention for each configuration detail, thereby simplifying management while handling complexity automatically.
2Reliability
If comprehensive validation of all DASD volumes is performed, then data loss prevention is improved, but the time and resources required for configuration validation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing comprehensive validation of all DASD volumes, replication configurations, and site readiness before actual disaster recovery operations. The tool validates configurations in advance, ensuring all volumes are properly replicated and accessible, which prevents data loss while the time investment is made beforehand rather than during critical recovery operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables skipping time-consuming manual validation steps by automatically rushing through comprehensive configuration checks, volume verification, and consistency validation across all three sites. This automated rapid validation ensures reliability without requiring prolonged manual inspection time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple copy technologies (PPRC and XRC) are used for three-site replication, then data consistency and recovery options are improved, but the complexity of managing different replication protocols increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a unified configuration tool that can manage multiple copy technologies (PPRC and XRC) through a single interface. The tool automatically determines which technology to use based on site requirements, handles both synchronous and asynchronous replication modes, and manages configurations across all three sites regardless of the underlying technology, thereby providing versatility without increasing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration and replication can be managed across multiple sites for datacenter volumes. A visual representation of a current configuration for a first of a plurality of replication techniques can be conveyed for display on a display device. Changes can be made to the current configuration, producing a future configuration. The future configuration can be analyzed for replication errors, and an updated visual representation can be produced that identified discovered replication errors and highlights differences between the current configuration and the future configuration. The updated visual representation can be conveyed, for display on a display device.