Virtual Volume Copy Latency Reduction via Local Mapping Cache
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualization environments, the processing time for copying volumes is prolonged due to the need to determine physical volume numbers from device names, which involves managing relations between virtual and physical volumes by a management server, leading to increased copy times and potential communication delays.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that stores management information and obtains the relation between virtual and physical volumes, allowing it to determine if a designated virtual volume is present in the management information, and if not, updates the information to facilitate efficient copy instructions to the storage apparatus, reducing the need for frequent inquiries to the management server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the management machine manages the relation between virtual volumes and physical volumes, then the virtual machine does not need to manage the mapping information, but the processing time for copy operations is prolonged due to frequent inquiries to the management machine
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine obtains and stores the mapping relation between virtual volumes and physical volumes in advance before copy operations are needed. This preliminary action allows the virtual machine to have the mapping information readily available when copy operations are requested, eliminating the need for frequent real-time inquiries to the management machine and thereby reducing copy processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine creates a local copy of the mapping relation information between virtual volumes and physical volumes. This copied information is stored in the virtual machine's memory or storage, allowing it to independently resolve volume mappings without continuously querying the management machine, thus accelerating copy operations.
2Reliability
If the virtual machine obtains mapping information from the management machine for each copy operation, then the mapping information is always up-to-date, but the copy processing becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine performs the action of obtaining mapping information from the management machine in advance, before copy operations are needed. By storing this mapping information locally beforehand, the virtual machine ensures it has accurate and up-to-date mapping relations ready for use, while avoiding the complexity of real-time queries during copy operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine acts as an intermediary that caches the mapping relation information between virtual volumes and physical volumes. This intermediary storage allows the virtual machine to maintain accurate mapping information without directly and frequently querying the management machine for each copy operation, thereby simplifying the copy processing workflow.
3Productivity
If the virtual machine stores mapping information locally, then copy processing time is reduced, but the virtual machine must manage and update the mapping information
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine establishes a feedback mechanism where it periodically queries the management machine to update its stored mapping relation information. This feedback loop ensures the virtual machine maintains current and accurate mapping data, allowing it to benefit from reduced copy processing times while managing the complexity of information maintenance through systematic updates.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuously maintaining and updating mapping information, the virtual machine employs periodic action by updating the mapping relation at predetermined time intervals or when changes are detected. This periodic maintenance approach reduces the operational burden on the virtual machine while ensuring the mapping information remains sufficiently current for efficient copy operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a memory and a processor configured to obtain information on a relation between virtual volumes used by a virtual machine and physical volumes provided in a storage apparatus from a management machine configured to manage allocations of the virtual volumes to the physical volumes; store the obtained information into a management information stored in the memory; and in response to receiving a copy request, obtain information on a first physical volume allocated to the first virtual volume designated as a copy participant in the copy request from the management information when the information on the first virtual volume is present in the management information, and send the storage apparatus a copy instruction designating the first physical volume as a copy participant. Obtain the information on the relation is performed when the information on the first virtual volume is not present in the management information.