Upgrading an engine when a scenario is running

• US 9,923,762 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Haiyang, Wang, Xiaopin, Shuai, Ran, Yu, Pengfei
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Michael Y
• Application Number:
  US13/965,607
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 709208, 709212, 709213, 709219, 709226, 709246, 709248, 715203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method includes receiving a request for modification of computer readable program code associated with a scenario being executed at a production server. The production server is configured to provide a computing service. Writing to a storage medium associated with the production server with respect to data specified by the protection scenario is suspended during the modification responsive to the request, such that synchronization of the data specified by the scenario is maintained between the production server and a standby server during the modification. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a request for modification of computer readable program code that provides a protection service for a production server, wherein the protection service protects data specified by a scenario via replication, and wherein the production server is configured to provide a client computing service that is distinct from the protection service for the production server;

suspending, by the processor, writing to a storage medium associated with the production server with respect to the data specified by the scenario in response to the receiving the request; and

performing, by the processor, a modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server, wherein synchronization of the data specified by the scenario is maintained between the storage medium associated with the production server and a different storage medium that is associated with a standby server during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to proceed with the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server in response to receiving the request;

receiving an indication of completion of the modification responsive to transmitting the notification;

capturing changes for the data specified by the scenario without writing the changes to the storage medium associated with the production server during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server; and

transferring the changes to the different storage medium that is associated with the standby server responsive to receiving the indication and independent of a synchronization operation for the data specified by the scenario after completion of the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein capturing the changes without writing the changes to the storage medium during the modification comprises:

tracking input/output (I/O) requests for the data specified by the scenario received during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server; and

executing the I/O requests responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein suspending the writing comprises:

providing an instruction to halt write operations to a storage area of the storage medium associated with the production server that includes the data specified by the scenario responsive to the request for modification; and

providing an instruction to resume the write operations to the storage area responsive to the indication of completion,

wherein the I/O requests are received between providing the instruction to halt and providing the instruction to resume the write operations.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a duration of time between providing the instruction to halt and providing the instruction to resume the write operations is about one to two seconds.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer readable program code comprises an engine module, and wherein the modification comprises an update and/or upgrade to the engine module, the method further comprising:

saving a status of the data specified by the scenario or the engine module responsive to providing the instruction to halt the write operations to the storage area;

transmitting the notification to proceed with the modification responsive to saving the status; and

restoring the status of the data specified by the scenario or the engine module responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the following prior to restoring the status:

starting the engine module responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification; and

transmitting a notification to proceed with modification of a driver module associated with the scenario responsive to starting the engine module.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the data specified by the scenario corresponds to a file system of the production server, and wherein the I/O requests comprise file input/output events intended for the file system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server is performed without interruption of the client computing service, and wherein a synchronization operation for the data specified by the scenario is not performed between the storage medium associated with the production server and the different storage medium associated with the standby server responsive to the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

permitting writing to the storage medium associated with the production server with respect to data that is not specified by the scenario during the modification.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code to recognize a request for modification of computer readable program code that provides a protection service for a production server, wherein the protection service protects data specified by a scenario via replication from a storage medium associated with the production server to a different storage medium associated with a standby server, and wherein the production server is configured to provide a client computing service that is distinct from the protection service for the production server; and

computer readable program code to suspend writing to the storage medium associated with the production server with respect to the data specified by the scenario in response to recognizing the request; and

computer readable program code to perform a modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server such that synchronization of the data specified by the scenario is maintained between the production server and the standby server during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable program code to transmit a notification to proceed with the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server, responsive to receipt of the request;

computer readable program code to receive an indication of completion of the modification responsive to transmission of the notification;

computer readable program code to capture changes for the data specified by the scenario without writing the changes to the storage medium associated with the production server during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server; and

computer readable program code to transfer the changes to the standby server responsive to the indication and independent of a synchronization operation for the data specified by the scenario after the completion of the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program code to capture the changes without writing the changes to the storage medium associated with the production server during the modification comprises:

computer readable program code to track input/output (I/O) requests for the data specified by the scenario received during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server; and

computer readable program code to execute the I/O requests responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code to suspend the writing comprises:

computer readable program code to provide an instruction to halt write operations to a storage area of the storage medium associated with the production server that includes the data specified by the scenario responsive to the request for modification; and

computer readable program code to provide an instruction to resume the write operations to the storage area responsive to the indication of completion,

wherein the I/O requests are received between providing the instruction to halt and providing the instruction to resume the write operations.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server comprises an engine module, and wherein the modification comprises an update and/or upgrade to the engine module, the computer program product further comprising:

computer readable program code to save a status of the data specified by the scenario or the engine module responsive to providing the instruction to halt the write operations to the storage area;

computer readable program code to transmit a notification to proceed with the modification responsive to saving the status; and

computer readable program code to restore the status of the data specified by the scenario or the engine module responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

computer readable program code to start the engine module responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification; and

computer readable program code to transmit the notification to proceed with modification of a driver module associated with the scenario responsive to starting the engine module and prior to restoration of the status.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the data specified by the scenario corresponds to a file system of the production server, and wherein the I/O requests comprise file input/output events intended for the file system.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable program code to permit writing to the storage medium associated with the production server with respect to data that is not specified by the scenario during the modification such that the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server is performed without interruption of the client computing service, wherein a synchronization operation for the data specified by the scenario is not performed between the production server and the standby server responsive to the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer readable program code embodied therein that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive a request for modification of computer readable program code that provides a protection service for a production server, wherein the protection service protects data specified by a scenario via replication of the data specified by the scenario from a storage medium associated with the production server to a different storage medium that is associated with a standby server, and wherein the production server is configured to provide a client computing service that is distinct from the protection service for the production server;

suspend writing to the storage medium associated with the production server with respect to the data specified by the scenario in response to the request; and

perform a modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server such that synchronization of the data specified by the scenario is maintained between the production server and a standby server during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

transmit a notification to proceed with the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server, in response to receipt of the request;

receive an indication of completion of the modification responsive to transmission of the notification;

capture changes for the data specified by the scenario without writing the changes to the storage medium associated with the production server during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server; and

transfer the changes to the different storage medium that is associated with the standby server responsive to receiving the indication and independent of a synchronization operation for the data specified by the scenario after the completion of the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the processor to capture the changes without writing the changes to the storage medium associated with the production server during the modification, causes the processor to:

track input/output (I/O) requests for the data specified by the scenario received during the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server; and

execute the I/O requests responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the processor to suspend the writing, causes the processor to:

provide an instruction to halt write operations to a storage area of the storage medium associated with the production server that includes the data specified by the scenario responsive to the request for modification; and

provide an instruction to resume the write operations to the storage area responsive to the indication of completion,

wherein the I/O requests are received between the instruction to halt and the instruction to resume the write operations.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the computer readable program code that provides the protection service comprises an engine module, wherein the modification comprises an update and/or upgrade to the engine module, and wherein the memory further comprises computer readable program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

save a status of the data specified by the scenario or the engine module responsive to providing the instruction to halt the write operations to the storage area;

transmit the notification to proceed with the modification responsive to saving the status; and

restore the status of the data specified by the scenario or the engine module responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

start the engine module responsive to receiving the indication of completion of the modification; and

transmit a notification to proceed with modification of a driver module associated with the scenario responsive to starting the engine module and prior to restoration of the status.

25. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the data specified by the scenario corresponds to a file system of the production server, and wherein the I/O requests comprise file input/output events intended for the file system.

26. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

permit writing to the storage medium associated with the production server with respect to data that is not specified by the scenario during the modification such that the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server is performed without interruption of the client computing service, wherein a synchronization operation for the data specified by the scenario is not performed between the production server and the standby server responsive to the modification of the computer readable program code that provides the protection service for the production server.