Virtual Snapshot Reconstitution in File Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional file virtualization systems lack the ability to re-learn snapshots after a catastrophic failure, efficiently transfer snapshots to new devices, reflect volume splits in virtual snapshots, and provide replicated snapshots to disaster recovery sites, leading to complex and error-prone recovery processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for reconstituting virtual snapshots by forming a virtual snapshot from physical snapshots across multiple storage devices, receiving requests for operations, and reconstituting the snapshot when necessary, including mechanisms for snapshot management and sharing across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional file virtualization systems are used, then basic snapshot functionality is provided, but the systems cannot re-learn snapshots after catastrophic failure and require complex manual recovery operations
Solution Approach 1:
The file virtualization device automatically reconstitutes virtual snapshots by detecting missing physical snapshots and retrieving them from backup storage devices without manual intervention. The system self-manages the recovery process by identifying which snapshots are needed and orchestrating their retrieval and reassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical snapshots are pre-stored on backup storage devices before catastrophic failure occurs. When failure happens, these pre-positioned snapshots are immediately available for automatic retrieval and reconstitution, eliminating the need for manual recovery operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical snapshots are distributed across multiple storage devices, then virtual snapshot aggregation is enabled, but snapshot management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The file virtualization device maintains metadata that tracks the location of each physical snapshot across multiple storage devices. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically know where to retrieve snapshots from and how to reassemble them, managing complexity through information tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The file virtualization device acts as an intermediary layer between client computing devices and the distributed physical snapshots on multiple storage devices. It abstracts the complexity of snapshot distribution by presenting a unified virtual snapshot interface while managing the underlying distributed storage architecture.
3Reliability
If manual snapshot recovery operations are performed, then snapshot restoration is possible, but time consumption and error probability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the complete recovery process by detecting missing snapshots, retrieving them from backup devices, and reconstituting virtual snapshots without requiring manual operations. This self-service approach eliminates human error and significantly reduces recovery time.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic reconstitution process maintains continuous operation by immediately initiating snapshot recovery upon detecting failure, rather than requiring manual intervention to start the process. The system continuously monitors and automatically restores snapshot functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer readable medium, and a system for reconstituting a virtual snapshot of files in a file virtualization system includes forming at a file virtualization device a virtual snapshot that includes a plurality of physical snapshots associated with one or more file storage devices participating in the virtual snapshot, receiving a request for performing an operation on one or more physical snapshots in the plurality of physical snapshots, providing the one or more physical snapshots in response to the request for performing the operation when the one or more physical snapshots exists in the virtual snapshot, and reconstituting the virtual snapshot by including the one or more physical snapshots to form a reconstituted virtual snapshot in response to the request for performing the operation when the one or more physical snapshots do not exist in the virtual snapshot.