SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REPLICATING A GROUP OF DATA OBJECTS WITHIN A STORAGE NETWORK

• US 20120136828A1
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,108,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for replicating a group of data objects within a storage network. In particular, a module can designate an object in the storage network as an anchor object. The module can further evaluate a replication policy of the anchor object to determine a destination resource on which to replicate a related group of data objects. Further, the module can located the related group of data objects, and define a replication policy on each of the data objects that specifies that each of the data objects follow the anchor object. The module can replicate each of the data objects as well as the anchor object on the destination resource.

Claims

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

identifying an anchor object comprising a replication policy;

evaluating the replication policy to determine a destination resource;

detecting at least one data object associated with the anchor object; and

replicating the at least one data object on the destination resource.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

replicating the anchor object on the destination resource.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the anchor object comprises:

identifying an object in the storage network; and

designating the object as the anchor object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification indicating the destination resource; and

providing the notification to a user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining an additional replication policy for the at least one data object, wherein the additional replication policy indicates that the at least one data object follows the anchor object.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

replicating the at least one data object on the destination resource according to the additional replication policy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one data object associated with the anchor object comprises:

examining a link associated with the at least one data object, wherein the link indicates that the at least one data object follows the anchor object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one data object associated with the anchor object comprises:

examining a lookup table to identify the at least one data object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the replication policy specifies multiple destination resources, and wherein the at least one data object is replicated on the multiple destination resources.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor object is a holder for the replication policy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination resource comprises at least one of a server, a hard drive, virtual memory, a database, random access memory (RAM), and cache memory.

12. 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;

identify an anchor object comprising a replication policy;

evaluate the replication policy to determine a destination resource;

detect at least one data object associated with the anchor object; and

replicate the at least one data object on the destination resource.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

replicate the anchor object on the destination resource.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein identifying the anchor object comprises:

identifying an object in the storage network; and

designating the object as the anchor object.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a notification indicating the destination resource; and

provide the notification to a user.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

define an additional replication policy for the at least one data object, wherein the additional replication policy indicates that the at least one data object follows the anchor object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

replicate the at least one data object on the destination resource according to the additional replication policy.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein detecting the at least one data object associated with the anchor object comprises:

examining a link associated with the at least one data object, wherein the link indicates that the at least one data object follows the anchor object.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein detecting the at least one data object associated with the anchor object comprises:

examining a lookup table to identify the at least one data object.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the replication policy specifies multiple destination resources, and wherein the at least one data object is replicated on the multiple destination resources.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the anchor object is a holder for the replication policy.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the destination resource comprises at least one of a server, a hard drive, virtual memory, a database, random access memory (RAM), and cache memory.