Virtual Volume Index Node Migration Without Data Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage systems have a fixed relationship between traditional volumes and physical disks, limiting flexibility and efficiency, as the size of traditional volumes is tied to the underlying physical storage, and unused space cannot be dynamically allocated or resized without adding or removing disks.
Innovation Solution
The migration of traditional volumes to virtual volumes without data copying, allowing for sizing, resizing, and management independently of physical storage, through the conversion of traditional volume index nodes to virtual volume index nodes that provide both physical and virtual address information, enabling flexible allocation of storage resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional volume is used with a fixed relationship to physical disks, then the volume has full control over the disks and exclusive access, but the size of the volume is tied to the physical storage capacity and unused space cannot be dynamically allocated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into two distinct layers: virtual volumes (logical layer) and physical disks (physical layer). The virtual volume index node is separated from the traditional volume-to-disk binding, allowing the virtual volume to be resized independently without physical disk changes. This segmentation enables flexible volume sizing while maintaining simple physical storage management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual volume index node as an intermediary between the file system and physical disks. This intermediary layer decouples the traditional fixed relationship, allowing virtual volumes to be allocated and resized independently from physical disk capacity. The virtual volume index node translates logical volume requirements into physical disk operations, enabling flexible storage management without direct volume-disk binding.
2Ease of operation
If the size of a traditional volume is increased or decreased, then the volume size can be adjusted, but physical disks must be added or removed from the storage system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the volume-to-disk relationship through the virtual volume index node. Instead of physically adding or removing disks to resize volumes, the system copies and modifies the virtual volume metadata (size, allocation) while maintaining the same physical disk infrastructure. This virtual copying approach allows instant volume resizing without physical hardware changes or data migration.
3Productivity
If unused space on disks is reserved for exclusive use of a traditional volume, then the volume has guaranteed storage capacity, but the unused space cannot be allocated to other volumes even if they need it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes physical storage space universal by introducing the virtual volume index node layer. Instead of dedicating physical disks to specific traditional volumes, the same physical storage pool serves multiple virtual volumes dynamically. The virtual volume index node manages allocation, allowing unused space to be automatically reassigned to other volumes that need it, while each volume still receives guaranteed capacity through virtual allocation metadata.
Data Source
AI summary
A file system migrates a traditional volume to a virtual volume without data copying. In an embodiment, a traditional volume index node is selected for migration. The traditional volume index node is converted to a virtual volume index node. In one embodiment, the virtual volume index node provides both physical address information and virtual address information.