METHOD FOR UTILIZING HETEROGENEOUS STORAGE SYSTEMS BY COOPERATING WITH SERVER SIDE STORAGE SOFTWARE
First Claim
1. A service system, comprising:
- a plurality of servers arranged for applications to run thereon;
in each server, a storage library arranged such that the applications use the storage library to read/write data via a network to/from plural storage nodes of different types;
wherein each server is arranged to hold a storage list of storage nodes that store objects, and the storage library in each server is arranged to manage capabilities of the storage nodes, including object replication in response to a request by an application for the object replication or object integrity checking in response to a request by the application for the object integrity checking, and in the event the storage node targeted by the request lacks the capability to perform the requested object replication or object integrity checking;
wherein the storage library in each server is further arranged to create a write profile for each object created, the write profile including a storage node location for holding an object replica before replication of the object is performed, and information indicating whether an object replication is to be performed by the storage library or by a storage node having a location for holding the object replica;
wherein each storage node is arranged to hold a write profile of an object indicating whether the object is stored in a storage node holding the write profile; and
wherein in response to a request by an application for object replication, and if the write profile of the object specifies replication by the storage library, the storage library writes an object data together with its write profile to a primary storage node identified in the write profile as storing an original of the object, and writes the object data together with its write profile to all secondary storage nodes identified in its write profile as storage nodes in which replicas of the object data are stored.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a service system having plural servers and storage systems connected via a network, a storage library is installed on all servers on which applications are running. All applications can use the storage library to create new data, read data, and update data in different types of backend storage systems. In one embodiment, the storage library holds a list of all storage systems which can be used for storing data, and manages capabilities of the storage systems, such as data replication and data integrity checking. The storage library is arranged to create a write profile for each created data in order to indicate how the data is being managed. A storage system and the storage library are thus able to avoid performing unnecessary data management (for example, redundant replication) by checking whether such data management is or has been performed by the storage library or by the storage system by referring to the write profile.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A service system, comprising:
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a plurality of servers arranged for applications to run thereon; in each server, a storage library arranged such that the applications use the storage library to read/write data via a network to/from plural storage nodes of different types; wherein each server is arranged to hold a storage list of storage nodes that store objects, and the storage library in each server is arranged to manage capabilities of the storage nodes, including object replication in response to a request by an application for the object replication or object integrity checking in response to a request by the application for the object integrity checking, and in the event the storage node targeted by the request lacks the capability to perform the requested object replication or object integrity checking; wherein the storage library in each server is further arranged to create a write profile for each object created, the write profile including a storage node location for holding an object replica before replication of the object is performed, and information indicating whether an object replication is to be performed by the storage library or by a storage node having a location for holding the object replica; wherein each storage node is arranged to hold a write profile of an object indicating whether the object is stored in a storage node holding the write profile; and wherein in response to a request by an application for object replication, and if the write profile of the object specifies replication by the storage library, the storage library writes an object data together with its write profile to a primary storage node identified in the write profile as storing an original of the object, and writes the object data together with its write profile to all secondary storage nodes identified in its write profile as storage nodes in which replicas of the object data are stored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for managing capabilities of a storage library and storage nodes in a service system, comprising the steps of:
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creating a write profile of an object to be written in response to a write request; adding a specification to the write profile that indicates whether the object is to be replicated by the storage library or by a primary storage node identified in the write profile and to which the object is to be written in response to the write request; writing the object data and the write profile to the primary storage node identified in the write profile; and replicating the object data and write profile to a secondary storage node identified in the write profile. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable information which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for managing capabilities of a storage library and storage nodes in a service system comprising the steps of:
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creating a write profile of an object to be written in response to a write request; adding a specification to the write profile that indicates whether the object is to be replicated by the storage library or by a primary storage node identified in the write profile and to which the object is to be written in response to the write request; writing the object data and the write profile to the primary storage node identified in the write profile; and replicating the object data and write profile to a secondary storage node identified in the write profile. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification