SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REPLICATING DATA OBJECTS WITHIN A STORAGE NETWORK BASED ON RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES

• US 20120136829A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Darcy, Jeffrey, Lutterkort, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,311,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for replicating data from a primary resource to a secondary resource within a storage network based on resource attributes. In particular, a user can specify a policy framework comprising one or more count selections and one or more attributes. A policy generation module can determine candidate resources that match the policy framework, and order the candidate resources based on one or more factors. The policy generation module can generate a replication policy based on the ordered resources and replicate the data according to the replication policy.

Claims

1. A method of replicating data within a storage network, the method comprising:

detecting a data object to be replicated;

detecting a policy framework specifying a quantity of resources on which the data object is to be replicated and an attribute associated with the resources;

determining candidate resources of the storage network that match the attribute of the policy framework; and

determining a replication policy for the data object based on the candidate resources.

2. The method of claim 1, where determining the replication policy comprises:

selecting the quantity of the candidate resources; and

entering the quantity of the candidate resources into the policy framework.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

replicating the data object on the candidate resources according to the replication policy.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ordering the candidate resources based on a factor; and

determining the replication policy for the data object based on the ordering of the candidate resources.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the factor is specified by the policy framework.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the policy framework comprises:

providing a user interface to a user; and

receiving the policy framework via the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the policy framework comprises:

dynamically determining the quantity of the resources and the attribute associated with the resources.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the quantity of the resources specifies one of a maximum, minimum, or exact number of the resources.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the policy framework further specifies that each of the resources has a unique value for the attribute.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification indicating the replication policy; and

providing the notification to a user.

11. A system for replicating data within a storage network, the system comprising:

an interface to a set of resources; and

a processor, communicating with the set of resources via the interface, the processor being configured to;

detect a data object to be replicated;

detect a policy framework specifying a quantity of the set of resources on which the data object is to be replicated and an attribute associated with the set of resources;

determine candidate resources of the storage network that match the attribute of the policy framework; and

determine a replication policy for the data object based on the candidate resources.

12. The system of claim 11, where determining the replication policy comprises:

selecting the quantity of the candidate resources; and

entering the quantity of the candidate resources into the policy framework.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

replicate the data object on the candidate resources according to the replication policy.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

order the candidate resources based on a factor; and

determine the replication policy for the data object based on the ordering of the candidate resources.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the factor is specified by the policy framework.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein detecting the policy framework comprises:

providing a user interface to a user; and

receiving the policy framework via the user interface.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the policy framework comprises:

dynamically determining the quantity of the resources and the attribute associated with the resources.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the quantity of the resources specifies one of a maximum, minimum, or exact number of the resources.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the policy framework further specifies that each of the resources has a unique value for the attribute.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a notification indicating the replication policy; and

provide the notification to a user.