Virtual Data Volume Restoration via Metadata Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for restoring older versions of data in tape storage systems often violate legal restrictions or retention policies, as they require modification of data, which is not allowed for read-only volumes or volumes under strict protection rules, and involve costly and resource-intensive physical copying processes.
Innovation Solution
A method for virtual restoration of a data volume by configuring metadata to map a second volume to the first volume, allowing for rapid and low-cost restoration without modifying the original data, and deferring physical restoration until data access is requested, ensuring compliance with legal and policy restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical copying and data transfer is performed to restore older versions of data, then data restoration is achieved, but data modification is required which violates legal restrictions and retention policies for read-only volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the source volume by configuring metadata to map the target volume to the source volume. This virtual copy allows data restoration without modifying the original data, as the metadata mapping enables access to source volume data through the target volume identifier without physical data transfer or modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metadata as an intermediary layer between the storage system and data access requests. The metadata contains volume mapping information that redirects access requests to the appropriate source volume, enabling restoration without direct data modification while maintaining compliance with retention policies.
2Reliability
If physical copying processes are used to restore data volumes, then complete data restoration is achieved, but the process becomes costly and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a virtual copying mechanism where metadata is configured to map the target volume to the source volume instead of performing physical data copying. This approach achieves complete data restoration capability while consuming minimal computational resources, as only metadata configuration is required rather than actual data transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the volume from requiring physical data transfer to using metadata-based virtual mapping. By modifying the metadata parameters to include volume mapping information, the system achieves restoration without the resource-intensive physical copying process.
3Productivity
If metadata is configured to map target volume to source volume for virtual restoration, then restoration speed is improved and costs are reduced, but physical data access is deferred which may impact data availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary metadata configuration to establish volume mapping before data access is required. This preliminary action of configuring the metadata map enables immediate restoration capability while allowing physical data access to be deferred until actually needed, optimizing both speed and resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic restoration system where the metadata mapping can be configured in advance but physical data access occurs only when needed. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt between rapid restoration setup and on-demand data access, balancing speed improvements with actual availability requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a computer program product, system and method for restoring volumes in a data storage system. A virtual restoration of a volume of data stored in storage is performed using a target volume. In one embodiment, the virtual restoration includes configuring metadata associated with the target volume, to map the target volume to the recover volume as a virtual restoration of the recover volume. In response to a request by a host for data stored on the recover volume, physical restoration of data of the recover volume is performed using the target volume. In one embodiment, the physical restoration includes transferring data to the target volume from the recover volume to which the target volume is mapped by the virtual restoration. In addition, transferred data is relabeled as target volume data instead of recover volume data.