Multiple Revision Mailbox

• US 20140344228A1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Storage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cleversafe Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Resch, Jason K., Mark, Zachary J., Baptist, Andrew, Volvovski, Ilya
• Granted Patent: US 9,881,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/691
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1076 Parity data used in redundant arrays of independent storages, e.g. in RAID systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1443 Transmit or communication errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1474 in transactions G06F16/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1028 Distributed, i.e. distributed RAID systems with parity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A method begins by determining slice names of encoded data slices stored within a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method continues by determining dispersed storage (DS) units within the DSN storing a set of the encoded data slices associated with the slice names. The method continues by determining one or more revision numbers associated with the slice names. The method continues by determining if same slice names have different associated revision numbers and, when the same slice names have different associated revision numbers, adding the slice names to a revision mailbox for subsequent correction.

Claims

1. A method comprises:

determining slice names of encoded data slices stored within a dispersed storage network (DSN);

determining dispersed storage (DS) units within the DSN storing a set of the encoded data slices associated with the slice names;

determining one or more revision numbers associated with the slice names;

determining if same slice names have different associated revision numbers; and

when the same slice names have different associated revision numbers, adding the slice names to a revision mailbox.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the DS unit creating and sending a revision message to a multiple revisions agent via the revisions mailbox.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the revision message may include one or more of:

one or more slice names associated with different revision numbers;

revisions associated with the slice name;

a data identifier (ID);

a data object name;

a user ID;

a DS storage set ID; and

a DS unit ID.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the multiple revisions agent subsequently correcting errors in revision numbers.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the multiple revisions agent sending a check request message to the DS units and receiving check response messages to determine the correction.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the determining slice names in one or more of:

a range; and

discrete slice names.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining slice names is based on one or more of:

a first slice name;

a previous process progression;

an error message;

a command;

a list; and

a predetermination.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the slice names is based on one or more of:

slice names;

a DS unit query of the revision numbers associated with the slice names;

a virtual DSN address to physical location table lookup; and

a revision list.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining one or more revision numbers includes sending a revision number list query request to the DS units.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting the determining of slices with different revisions to a single DS unit.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the same slice names have different associated revision numbers being based on comparing the revision number list from one DS unit to the other DS units of the DS unit storage set for the same slice names.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the revision numbers are the same, returning to the determining slice names step.

13. A dispersed memory storage system comprising modules configured to:

determine slice names of encoded data slices stored within a dispersed storage network (DSN);

determine dispersed storage (DS) units within the dispersed storage network (DSN) storing a set of the encoded data slices associated with the slice names;

determine one or more revision numbers associated with the slice names;

determine if same slice names have different associated revision numbers; and

when the same slice names have different associated revision numbers, add the slice names to a revision mailbox.

14. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 13 further comprising a multiple revisions agent receiving a revision message via the revisions mailbox.

15. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 14, wherein the revision message may include one or more of:

one or more slice names associated with different revision numbers;

revisions associated with the slice name;

a data identifier (ID);

a data object name;

a user ID;

a DS storage set ID; and

a DS unit ID.

16. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 13 further comprising the multiple revisions agent subsequently correcting errors in revision numbers.

17. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 16 further comprising the multiple revisions agent sending a check request message to the DS units and receiving check response messages to determine the correction.

18. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 13 further comprising the determining slice names in one or more of:

a range; and

discrete slice names.

19. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 13, wherein the determining one or more revision numbers includes sending a revision number list query request to the DS units.

20. The dispersed memory storage system of claim 13 further configured to determine whether the same slice names have different associated revision numbers being based on comparing the revision number list from one DS unit to the other DS units of the DS unit storage set for the same slice names.