Virtual Machine IO Path Redirection for Storage Failure Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
High availability solutions in virtualized computing environments face challenges when all input/output (IO) paths between a virtual machine and a storage system fail, leading to potential downtime and service disruption.
Innovation Solution
The virtual machine is migrated to a host with a shared storage system that has at least one functioning IO path, where execution control is transferred, and IO operations are redirected through the new path, ensuring continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant IO paths are provided for virtual machines, then availability during single path failure is improved, but the system cannot prevent downtime when all IO paths fail simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by migrating the virtual machine to a different host before all IO paths fail completely. The management server detects path failures and initiates migration to a host with functioning storage paths, ensuring continuous operation without waiting for complete path failure.
Solution Approach 2:
A management server acts as an intermediary between the virtual machine host and the storage system. It monitors IO path status, detects failures, and coordinates migration operations to ensure seamless transition of virtual machines to hosts with healthy storage paths.
2Reliability
If virtual machine migration is implemented to maintain availability, then service disruption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automated detection and migration processes. The management server automatically monitors IO path status, identifies failures, and initiates migration to appropriate hosts without requiring manual intervention, reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the management server continuously monitors the status of IO paths and storage connectivity. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts migration decisions and coordinates with hosts to maintain service continuity while managing complexity through automated control loops.
Data Source
AI summary
High availability of a virtual machine is ensured even when all of the virtual machine's IO paths fail. In such a case, the virtual machine is migrated to a host that is sharing the same storage system as the current host in which the virtual machine is being executed and has at least one functioning IO path to the shared storage system. After execution control of the virtual machine is transferred to the new host, IO operations from the virtual machine are issued over the new IO path.