Cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication
First Claim
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1. A method for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the method comprising:
- arranging at least one subset of the multiple clusters into family members of a cluster family;
negotiating between cluster family members to determine which cluster family member is in the best position to obtain at least one outside data object from at least one cluster outside of the family;
selecting one family member of the cluster family to obtain the outside data object;
sharing the outside data objects among the cluster family so that each cluster within the cluster family is consistent with respect to outside data objects; and
achieving cumulative consistency within the cluster family of a plurality of outside data objects prior to sharing outside data objects among clusters within the cluster family.
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Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to create cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication. The clusters are grouped into family members of a cluster family base on their relationships and roles. Members of the cluster family determine which family member is in the best position to obtain replicated information and become cumulatively consistent within their cluster family. Once the cluster family becomes cumulatively consistent, the data is shared within the cluster family so that all copies within the cluster family are consistent.
26 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the method comprising:
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arranging at least one subset of the multiple clusters into family members of a cluster family; negotiating between cluster family members to determine which cluster family member is in the best position to obtain at least one outside data object from at least one cluster outside of the family; selecting one family member of the cluster family to obtain the outside data object; sharing the outside data objects among the cluster family so that each cluster within the cluster family is consistent with respect to outside data objects; and achieving cumulative consistency within the cluster family of a plurality of outside data objects prior to sharing outside data objects among clusters within the cluster family. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the method comprising:
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arranging at least one subset of the multiple clusters into family members of a cluster family; negotiating between cluster family members to determine which cluster family member is in the best position to obtain at least one outside data object from at least one cluster outside of the family; selecting one family member of the cluster family to obtain the outside data object; sharing the outside data objects among the cluster family so that each cluster within the cluster family is consistent with respect to outside data objects; and
favoring one of the family members in the cluster family for mount processing over clusters outside of the cluster family. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the system comprising:
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a network; a plurality of sites in communication over the network, each site comprising at least one host and a storage system comprising a plurality of clusters, each cluster comprising at least one tape drive configured to access volumes stored on magnetic tape, at least one tape volume cache, and a cluster manager configured to execute computer readable programs using a processor and a memory, wherein the computer readable programs comprising; a creation module configured to setup and arrange a group of clusters into family members of a cluster family; and a cooperative replication module configured to select a family member to cooperatively replicate data into the cluster family and achieve cumulative family consistency within the cluster family of a plurality of outside data objects prior to sharing outside data objects among clusters within the cluster family. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the apparatus comprising:
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a creation module comprising a computer readable program executing on a processor and configured to create a cluster family from a plurality of clusters, wherein the clusters are in communication over a network and each cluster comprises a cache; and a cooperative replication module comprising a computer readable program executing on a processor and configured to cooperatively replicate data into the cluster family, wherein the cooperative replication module is further configured to handle persistent replication source awareness by deferring replication, wherein persistent replication source awareness includes instructing a cluster family of the one or more cluster families having a consistent source to maintain the consistent source in cache in order to make the consistent source available to members of the cluster family for peer replication. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the apparatus comprising:
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a creation module comprising a computer readable program executing on a processor and configured to create a cluster family from a plurality of clusters, wherein the clusters are in communication over a network and each cluster comprises a cache; a cooperative replication module comprising a computer readable program executing on a processor and configured to cooperatively replicate data into the cluster family; and a mount processing module comprising a computer readable program executing on a processor and configured to favor family members within the cluster family over other cluster families for production purposes. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
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group a plurality of clusters into family members of a cluster family; determine which family member is in the best position to obtain outside data objects from a source; select one or more family members of the cluster family to obtain the outside data objects; cooperatively replicate the outside data objects into the cluster family; and share the outside data objects within the cluster family so that all copies of the outside data objects within the cluster family are consistent, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computer to achieve cumulative consistency within the cluster family of a plurality of outside data objects prior to sharing outside data objects among clusters within the cluster family. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification