Virtual Tape Library Storage De-duplication for Export Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual tape library systems, exporting and importing large numbers of logical volume groups simultaneously is time-consuming due to the inefficiencies in data copying and restoration processes.
Innovation Solution
A storage device and control method that divide data into blocks, determine duplicate blocks, and either store or prevent the storage of blocks based on their presence in the discharge unit, optimizing the export and import processes by using de-duplication and compression techniques to minimize data redundancy and enhance storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is copied and restored in the conventional virtual tape library system, then logical volumes can be exported and imported, but the process takes a lot of time when large numbers of logical volume groups need to be migrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into data blocks and processes them individually through de-duplication. The export function divides logical volumes into data blocks, identifies duplicates, and transfers only unique blocks to external storage media, significantly reducing the amount of data that needs to be copied and restored.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage parameter from storing complete logical volumes to storing only unique data blocks. By implementing de-duplication at the block level, the system transforms the export/import process from copying entire volume groups to transferring only novel data segments, reducing migration time.
2Reliability
If all data blocks are stored in the storage unit for discharge during export, then data can be restored during import, but storage media efficiency is reduced due to duplicate data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent discards duplicate data blocks during the export process by identifying and eliminating redundant blocks before writing to external storage media. The system maintains only unique data blocks in the discharge storage unit, and during import, recovers the original data by reconstructing logical volumes from these unique blocks combined with duplicate block information stored in the virtual library medium.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device includes a data division unit that divides data into data blocks, a duplicate storage determining unit that determines whether the same data block as that to be stored has been stored in a storage unit for discharge in an export process, and a data storage processing unit that stores the data block to be stored in the storage unit for discharge when the same data block has not been stored in the storage unit for discharge and prevents the data block to be stored from being stored in the storage unit for discharge when the same data block has been stored in the storage unit for discharge. According to the storage device, it is possible to reduce the amount of data stored in the storage unit for discharge.