Storage layout and data replication

• US 7,275,142 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Veritas Operating Corporation (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, Debra H., Schultz, Margaret E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hiep T.
• Application Number:
  US10/898,794
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 711/162, 711/114, 707/204, 714/6
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2097 maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups

Abstract

Various embodiments of volume replication are disclosed. A request may be received to replicate a storage layout of a first storage system to a second storage system. A storage layout (e.g., configuration) of the first storage system may be determined, and one or more storage options of the second storage system may be determined. The storage options of the second storage system may include one or more storage devices available to the second storage system. A storage layout for the second storage system may be determined based on the storage options of the second storage system and the storage layout of the first storage system. Determining the storage layout of the second storage system may be based on the user input. The determined storage layout for the second storage system may be implemented, and data from the first storage system may be replicated onto the second storage system.

Claims

1. A memory medium storing program instructions which are computer-executable to:

receive a request to replicate a storage layout of a first storage system onto a second storage system;

determine the storage layout of the first storage system;

determine storage options of the second storage system; and

determine a storage layout for the second storage system based on the storage options and the storage layout of the first storage system.

2. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein, in determining the storage layout for the second storage system, the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

examine one or more storage devices available to the second storage system.

3. The memory medium of claim 2,

wherein, in determining the storage layout for the second storage system, the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

examine available storage space of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system; and

determine storage allocations based on the available storage space of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system and the storage layout of the first storage system.

4. The memory medium of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system is available through a network.

5. The memory medium of claim 3,

wherein the storage layout for the first storage system includes one or more volumes to be replicated;

wherein, in determining the storage allocations, the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

determine rules from a rules data structure; and

for each volume to be replicated, iteratively perform;

determining a minimal storage layout for the volume to be replicated, wherein said determining the minimal storage layout is based on the determined rules; and

reserving storage space for the volume to be replicated.

6. The memory medium of claim 5,

wherein, in determining the storage allocations, the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

for each volume to be replicated, iteratively perform;

unreserving the storage space for the volume to be replicated; and

determining a maximal storage layout for the volume to be replicated.

7. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

implement the storage layout for the second storage system.

8. The memory medium of claim 7,

wherein the request to replicate the storage layout of the first storage system onto the second storage system includes information indicating one or more volumes for replication.

9. The memory medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

replicate the one or more volumes for replication onto the second storage system.

10. The memory medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

replicate data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

11. The memory medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

detect a change of a volume of the storage layout of the first storage system; and

replicate the change of the volume of the storage layout of the first storage system to a volume of the storage layout of the second storage system.

12. The memory medium of claim 11,

wherein, in replicating the change of the volume of the storage layout of the first storage system to the volume of the storage layout of the second storage system, replicating is performed in a synchronous fashion.

13. The memory medium of claim 11,

wherein, in replicating the change of the volume of the storage layout of the first storage system to the volume of the storage layout of the second storage system, replicating is performed in an asynchronous fashion.

14. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first storage system is coupled to the second storage system through a network;

wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

receive a network identification (ID) associated with the second storage system.

15. The memory system of claim 14, wherein the network ID includes an Internet protocol (IP) address.

16. The memory medium of claim 14, wherein the network ID includes a logical name.

17. The memory medium of claim 14, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

implement a graphical user interface (GUI);

wherein, in receiving network ID associated with the second storage system, the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

receive the network ID associated with the second storage system through the GUI.

18. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

implement a graphical user interface (GUI);

display the storage layout for the second storage system through the GUI; and

receive user input indicating a confirmation to create the storage layout for the second storage system.

19. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

receive a request to create a storage layout of the first storage system;

determine existing storage capabilities in the first storage system;

receive information regarding an application;

automatically determine a storage layout for the first storage system based on the existing storage capabilities of the first storage system and the information regarding the application; and

implement the storage layout for the first storage system.

20. A system for volume replication comprising:

means for receiving a request to replicate a storage layout of a first storage system onto a second storage system;

means for determining the storage layout of the first storage system;

means for determining storage options of the second storage system; and

means for determining a storage layout for the second storage system based on the storage options and the storage layout of the first storage system;

wherein said means for determining storage options of the second storage system includes;

means for examining one or more storage devices available to the second storage system;

means for examining available storage space of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system; and

means for determining storage allocations based on the available storage space of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system and the storage layout of the first storage system.

21. A computer-implemented method for replicating a storage layout of a first storage system onto a second storage system, the method comprising:

receiving a request to replicate a storage layout of a first storage system onto a second storage system;

determining the storage layout of the first storage system;

determining storage options of the second storage system; and

determining a storage layout for the second storage system based on the storage options and the storage layout of the first storage system.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21,

wherein said determining the storage layout for the second storage system includes:

examining one or more storage devices available to the second storage system.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22,

wherein said determining the storage layout for the second storage system includes:

examining available storage space of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system; and

determining storage allocations based on the available storage space of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system and the storage layout of the first storage system.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein at least one of the one or more storage devices available to the second storage system is comprised in the second storage system.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 23,

wherein the storage layout for the first storage system includes one or more volumes to be replicated;

wherein said determining the storage allocations includes;

receiving information associated with the storage layout of the first storage system;

determining one or more rules from a rules data structure; and

for each volume to be replicated, iteratively performing;

determining a minimal storage layout for the volume to be replicated, wherein said determining the minimal storage layout for the volume to be replicated is based on the determined one or more rules; and

reserving storage space for the volume to be replicated based on said determining the minimal storage layout for the volume to be replicated.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25,

wherein said determining the storage allocations includes:

for each volume to be replicated, iteratively performing;

unreserving the storage space for the volume to be replicated;

determining a maximal storage layout for the volume to be replicated; and

reserving storage space for the volume to be replicated based on said determining the maximal storage layout for the volume to be replicated.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:

implementing the storage layout for the second storage system.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27,

wherein the request to replicate the storage layout of the first storage system onto the second storage system includes information indicating one or more volumes for replication.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, further comprising:

replicating the one or more volumes for replication onto the second storage system.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

replicating data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

detecting a change of a volume of the storage layout of the first storage system; and

replicating the change of the volume of the storage layout of the first storage system to a volume of the storage layout of the second storage system.