IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,949,488
Granted Patent B2
US 8,949,488 · App. 13/768,482 · Granted Feb 3, 2015

Data replication with dynamic compression

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,949,488
App. No.
13/768,482
Granted
Feb 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for replicating data between two or more network connected data storage devices, the method including dynamically determining whether to compress data prior to transmitting across the network based, at least in part, on bandwidth throughput between the network connected data storage devices. If it has been determined to compress the data, the method involves compressing the data and transmitting the compressed data over the network. If it has been determined not to compress the data, the method involves transmitting the data, uncompressed, over the network. Dynamically determining whether to compress data may include comparing bandwidth measurements with a predetermined policy defining when compression should be utilized. In some embodiments, the policy may define that compression should be utilized when an estimated time for compressing the data and transmitting the compressed data is less than an estimated time for transmitting the data uncompressed.

Claims (28)

1. A method for replicating data between two or more network connected data storage devices in a data storage subsystem, the method comprising:

dynamically determining whether to compress data prior to transmitting across the network from a first network connected data storage device to a second network connected data storage device based on a policy, the policy based, at least in part, on bandwidth throughput between the first and second network connected data storage devices, an estimated data compression time for the data, and an estimated reduction in size of the data after compression; and

if it has been determined to compress the data, compressing the data and transmitting the compressed data from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device;

else if it has been determined not to compress the data, transmitting the data, uncompressed, from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device to obtain a measurement indicative of bandwidth throughput between the first network connected data storage device and second network connected data storage device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising periodically repeating the step of transmitting data to obtain a measurement indicative of bandwidth throughput in order to obtain a measurement indicative of the bandwidth throughput between the first network connected data storage device and second network connected data storage device at a plurality of times.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of transmitting data to obtain a measurement of bandwidth throughput is repeated after a predetermined time interval.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of transmitting data to obtain a measurement of bandwidth throughput is repeated after a predetermined amount of data has been transmitted from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein dynamically determining whether to compress data comprises comparing a measurement indicative of bandwidth throughput with the policy defining when compression should be utilized.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the policy defines that compression should be utilized when a combination of the estimated data compression time and an estimated time for transmitting the compressed data is less than an estimated time for transmitting the data uncompressed.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the policy is based on information relating to at least one of an amount of the data, a type of the data, how long it would take to compress the data, a reduction in size of the data expected after compression, how long it would take to transmit the data uncompressed, how long it would take to transmit the data were it compressed, processing capabilities available, and compression algorithms available.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the policy further defines levels of compression aggressiveness for determining the amount of compression aggressiveness where it has been determined to utilize compression for the data.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the policy defines that compression should be utilized for a first portion of the data and not for a second portion of the data so as to stagger the compression for transmission of the data to the second network connected data storage device.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising where if the estimated amount of compression in the size of the data would be substantially negligible, determining not to compress the data prior to transmitting across the network from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device.

12. An information handling system comprising:

a first data storage site configured to transmit data over a computer network to a second data storage site for replication at the second data storage site, the first data storage site being further configured to dynamically determine whether to compress data prior to transmitting across the network based on a policy, the policy based, at least in part, on a measured bandwidth throughput between the first and second network connected data storage devices and an estimated data compression time for the data, wherein

if it has been determined to compress the data, the first data storage site is configured to compress the data and transmit the compressed data over the network;

else if it has been determined not to compress the data, the first data storage site is configured to transmit the data, uncompressed, over the network;

and wherein at least a portion of compressed data transmitted over the computer network to the second data storage site for replication is stored at the second data storage site in its compressed format until a request for access to that data is received.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the first data storage site and the second data storage site are remotely connected via the computer network.

14. The information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the first data storage site is further configured for periodically measuring the bandwidth throughput between the first and second network connected data storage devices in order to obtain a measurement indicative of the bandwidth throughput between the first and second network connected data storage devices at a plurality of times.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the first data storage site stores the policy for determining whether to compress data, and the first data storage site is configured to compare the periodic measurements indicative of bandwidth throughput with the policy to determine when compression should be utilized.

16. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the policy defines that compression should be utilized when a combination of the estimated data compression time and an estimated time for transmitting the compressed data is less than an estimated time for transmitting the data uncompressed.

17. The information handling system of claim 16 , wherein the policy further defines that compression should be utilized for a first portion of the data and not for a second portion of the data so as to stagger the compression for transmission of the data to the second network connected data storage device.

18. A method for replicating data between two or more network connected data storage devices in a data storage subsystem, the method comprising dynamically determining whether to transmit compressed data across the network from a first network connected data storage device to a second network connected data storage device, wherein dynamically determining whether to transmit compressed data comprises:

during the transmission of first data from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device, starting compression of second data; and

subsequently, if the compression of the second data has completed by the time the transmission of the first data from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device has completed, then transmitting the compressed second data from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device, otherwise transmitting the second data, uncompressed, from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising where if a total amount of compression in the size of the second data would be substantially negligible, determining not to compress the second data prior to transmitting across the network from the first network connected data storage device to the second network connected data storage device.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
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To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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MERGER Recorded Mar 10, 2016
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To: DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.
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PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
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