Volume Hot Migration for Non-Disruptive Storage Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data protection systems face challenges in maintaining continuous data protection without disrupting production site operations, as they struggle to keep pace with high data transaction rates, leading to potential shutdowns and data loss in the event of disasters.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for non-disruptively moving a replicated volume from one storage medium to another, utilizing a splitter to manage IOs and journaling, allowing for dynamic adaptation to changing data transaction rates and enabling point-in-time recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If journaling is used to maintain continuous data protection, then data recovery capability is improved, but system overhead increases and may force production site shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup site operations into multiple threads that can process different data transactions concurrently. This allows the backup site to handle high-volume data transactions without forcing the production site to slow down, while still maintaining the ability to recover to any point in time through journaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by allowing the backup site to adjust its processing capacity based on incoming data transaction rates. The system can dynamically allocate resources and adjust buffering strategies to maintain both high transaction rates and complete journaling coverage.
2Reliability
If backup site processes all data transactions, then data protection completeness is improved, but backup site performance becomes bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the backup site process and journal data transactions at a rate that matches its capacity, while using buffering and threading to handle peaks. Not every transaction needs immediate processing - the system tolerates some delay in backup processing while maintaining data protection completeness through the journal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffering mechanisms and threaded processing as intermediaries between the production site and backup site. These intermediaries decouple the processing rates, allowing the production site to maintain high transaction rates while the backup site processes at its optimal speed without becoming a bottleneck.
3Reliability
If production site is forced to slow down, then backup site can keep pace, but data transaction throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary buffering at the backup site to anticipate and prepare for incoming data transactions. By pre-allocating resources and setting up threaded processing in advance, the backup site can absorb bursts of transactions without requiring the production site to slow down, maintaining both synchronization and throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method, system, and computer program product for non-disruptively moving a replicated volume from a first storage medium to a second storage medium, the method comprising notifying a first data protection appliance that the replicated volume is moving from a first storage medium to a second storage medium; setting a replication connection between second volume and target of the first volume while maintaining replication connection from first volume to target of the first volume.