Virtual Machine Block Mapping for Cross-Storage Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods face difficulties in accurately and efficiently migrating virtual machine data, such as VMDKs, between different storage environments, particularly from an enterprise storage system to a cloud-based system, due to differences in virtual machine management domains and storage protocols.
Innovation Solution
A processing device obtains index node information to identify block locations, maps these blocks to a second storage volume, and migrates them in a contiguous manner while preserving their ordering, using a cycle-based asynchronous replication process to ensure accurate migration of virtual machine data between distinct storage environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If virtual machine data is migrated using conventional methods between distinct storage environments, then migration can be performed, but accuracy and efficiency are compromised due to differences in virtual machine management domains and storage protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates between different storage environments. The system creates a mapping between virtual machine data blocks in the source storage environment and corresponding blocks in the target storage environment, enabling accurate migration despite protocol and domain differences. This intermediary mapping layer resolves the compatibility issues between distinct storage environments while maintaining high migration accuracy.
2Productivity
If virtual machine data blocks are migrated individually without reorganization, then migration simplicity is maintained, but migration efficiency and space utilization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scattered virtual machine data blocks into contiguous storage spaces during migration. The system identifies all blocks belonging to a virtual machine data set and relocates them to adjacent storage locations in the target environment, creating contiguous storage allocations. This merging process improves migration efficiency by enabling sequential data transfer and optimizes space utilization by eliminating fragmentation.
3Reliability
If block locations are not preserved during migration, then storage flexibility is improved, but data integrity and ordering are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mapping of block locations before actual data migration. The system first identifies the source locations of all virtual machine data blocks, creates a mapping to target locations that preserves relative ordering, and then executes the migration according to this pre-established map. This preliminary action ensures data integrity and correct ordering while allowing the target storage system to maintain its own internal flexibility and optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The at least one processing device is configured to obtain index node information for a set of virtual machine data of a particular virtual machine in a source domain comprising a source storage system, to utilize the index node information to identify locations of respective blocks of the set of virtual machine data among other blocks present in a first storage volume of the source storage system, to map the blocks of the set of virtual machine data to a second storage volume of the source storage system based at least in part on their respective locations in the first storage volume, and to migrate the second storage volume comprising the mapped blocks of the set of virtual machine data to a target storage system of a target domain. The migration illustratively uses asynchronous replication.