Flexible data replication mechanism
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Abstract
A data replication management (DRM) architecture comprising a plurality of storage cells interconnected by a fabric. Flexibility in connectivity is provided by configuring each storage cell port to the fabric to handle both host data access requests and DRM traffic. Each storage cell comprises one or more storage controllers that can be connected to the fabric in any combination. Processes executing in the storage controller find a path to a desired destination storage cell. The discovery algorithm implements a link service that exchanges information related to DRM between the storage controllers. The DRM architecture is symmetric and peer cooperative such that each controller and storage cell can function as a source and a destination of replicated data. The DRM architecture supports parallel and serial “fan-out” to multiple destinations, whereby the multiple storage cells may implement data replicas.
188 Citations
35 Claims
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1-17. -17. (canceled)
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18. A SAN storage controller comprising:
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a data processor system configured to implement software processes;
at least one host port;
a pool of storage accessible through the data processor system;
processes executing in the processor to enable the at least one host port to couple to an external communication network;
processes executing in the processor for communicating data access requests with the at least one host port; and
processes executing in the processor for communicating data replication transactions with external storage controllers through the at least one host port. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A storage controller, comprising:
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a first port adapted to provide a connection to a switch and configured to handle data transactions and data replication traffic;
a second port adapted to provide a connection to a switch and configured to handle data transactions and data replication traffic, wherein;
the first port serves as a primary port for a data replication operation with a first destination and a redundant port for a data replication operation with a second destination;
the second port serves as a primary port for a data replication operation with a second destination and a redundant port for a data replication operation with a first destination;
data transactions and data replication traffic managed by the first port are routed to the second port in when a data replication operation fails on the first controller; and
data transactions and data replication traffic managed by the second port are routed to the first port in when a data replication operation fails on the first controller. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A data replication controller, comprising:
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a data processor system configured to implement a software process;
a first port adapted to provide a connection to a switch and configured to handle data transactions and data replication traffic;
a second port adapted to provide a connection to a switch and configured to handle data transactions and data replication traffic;
a pool of storage accessible through the data replication controller;
a first software process executing in the data processor to enable the first host port to couple to an external communication network;
a second software process executing in the data processor to designate a source virtual disk in the pool of storage; and
a third process processes executing in the processor to create a destination virtual disk in the pool of storage. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification