Video Server Rebuild Control for Continuous Recording
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current video servers face challenges in efficiently rebuilding content data across multiple storage units due to the dual system design, which increases costs and can lead to data loss during continuous recording operations, especially when errors occur or storage units fail, as traditional RAID systems require stopping recording to rebuild data.
Innovation Solution
A video server with a RAID (n+1) configuration that includes a table generator, rebuild processing module, and rebuild control module, allowing for continuous recording by managing content data IDs and parity information to recover data without interrupting the recording process, enabling rebuild processing to start without affecting ongoing recordings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dual system design is implemented to improve reliability, then reliability is improved, but cost rises drastically
Solution Approach 1:
The video server is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a primary system and incorporating backup capabilities through RAID (n+1) configuration. The system can perform both normal content data recording and rebuild operations using the same hardware resources, eliminating the need for separate dual system infrastructure while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If rebuild processing is carried out using traditional RAID system, then data recovery is possible, but recording operations must be stopped causing loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The rebuild processing is segmented into two distinct phases: a preparation phase where the rebuild target is identified and prepared without interrupting recording operations, and an execution phase where the actual rebuild occurs. This segmentation allows recording operations to continue during the preparation phase, reducing time loss while ensuring data recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by identifying and preparing the rebuild target before actual rebuild execution. The management table is updated to mark the rebuild target in advance, and necessary data is pre-positioned in memory, allowing the rebuild to proceed efficiently without interrupting ongoing recording operations.
3Reliability
If rebuild processing takes a long time, then data recovery is possible, but problems may occur in several storage units making read impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and preparation of the rebuild target storage unit before the actual rebuild execution. By marking the rebuild target in the management table in advance and pre-positioning necessary data in memory, the system reduces the overall rebuild time, minimizing the window during which multiple storage unit failures could occur and rendering the system unavailable.
Data Source
AI summary
A video server has a table generator, a rebuild processor, and a rebuild controller. The table generator generates a management table of content data ID that specifies the content data and the write location of the content data in the storage unit where the content data are recorded. When a problem takes place in at least one of the storage devices, the rebuild processor executes a rebuild process to recover the content data of the troubled storage device. When a rebuild start request is generated by the rebuild processor, the rebuild controller controls the start and stop of the rebuild process by referring to the management table.