Virtual Disk Snapshot Data Relocation to Backup Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The storage of redundant snapshots in active storage devices consumes valuable space, as outdated data in the virtual disk volume hierarchy is not efficiently managed, leading to unnecessary storage usage.
Innovation Solution
Outdated data is moved from the active virtual disk to a backup storage device, utilizing a method that identifies shadowed data blocks across the COW volume chain and transfers them to a backup storage device, thereby freeing up space on the active storage device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If snapshots are stored in an active storage device, then data integrity and rollback capability are improved, but storage space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage into two distinct parts: active storage device for currently needed snapshots and backup storage device for outdated snapshots. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data integrity by preserving all snapshots while reducing active storage consumption by moving obsolete data to backup storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts outdated snapshot data from the active storage device and relocates it to a backup storage device. This extraction process identifies snapshots that are no longer needed for active virtual machine operations while preserving them for potential historical recovery needs, thereby freeing up valuable active storage space.
2Reliability
If multiple snapshots are stored in the virtual disk volume hierarchy, then rollback capability is improved, but storage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backup storage device as an intermediary between the active storage device and outdated snapshots. This intermediary allows the system to maintain complete rollback capability by preserving all historical snapshots while improving storage efficiency by relocating obsolete data to the backup storage, thus decoupling the relationship between snapshot retention and active storage consumption.
3Reliability
If outdated data is retained in the active virtual disk, then data recovery options are improved, but available storage capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to storage architecture by introducing a backup storage device separate from the active storage device. This dimensional change allows outdated data to be preserved for recovery options while removing it from the active storage volume, thereby maintaining data recovery capabilities without consuming active storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes identifying, by a host computing device hosting a virtual machine, a plurality of disk volumes of a virtual disk stored on a first storage device, wherein the disk volumes are arranged in a hierarchical order. The method further includes determining, by the host computing device, a block that is present in a first disk volume and a second disk volume of the plurality of disk volumes, wherein the second disk volume is at a higher level in the hierarchical order than the first disk volume. The method also includes copying, by the host computing device, data from the block stored on the first storage device to a backup disk volume residing on a second storage device and removing the block on the first storage device.