Snapshot transmission from storage array to cloud using multi-path input-output

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory;

the processing device being configured to communicate over a network with a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices;

the processing device comprising:

a multi-path input-output driver configured to control delivery of input-output operations from the processing device to the storage system over selected ones of a plurality of paths through the network;

the paths being associated with respective initiator-target pairs wherein each of a plurality of targets of the initiator-target pairs comprises a corresponding port of the storage system;

wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured:

to create a plurality of input-output operation threads;

to use a given input-output operation thread of the plurality of input-output operation threads to retrieve a given input-output operation from an input-output queue;

to attempt to perform the given input-output operation on a given target of the plurality of targets; and

to return the given input-output operation to the input-output queue upon a failure to perform the given input-output operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing device is further configured to perform cloud tiering.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, following the returning of the given input-output operation to the input-output queue, the multi-path input-output driver is further configured to use another given input-output operation thread of the plurality of input-output operation threads to again retrieve the given input-output operation from the input-output queue.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured to attempt to perform the given input-output operation on another given target of the plurality of targets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured to determine whether a remaining number of the plurality of input-output operation threads is greater than one input-output operation thread prior to returning the given input-output operation to the input-output queue.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured:

to divide the input-output operations into a plurality of smaller input-output operations; and

provide the plurality of smaller input-output operations to the plurality of input-output operation threads.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured to use the plurality of input-output operation threads to add the plurality of smaller input-output operations to the input-output queue.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the given input-output operation corresponds to one of the plurality of smaller input-output operations.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing device is further configured receive an input from a user specifying the plurality of targets.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in creating the plurality of input-output operation threads, the multi-path input-output driver is configured to determine a number of the plurality of input-output operation threads based on a number of the plurality of targets.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the given input-output operation comprises a read operation of a snapshot from the storage system and transmission of the snapshot to a cloud storage platform over the network.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the given input-output operation comprises a write operation of a snapshot from a cloud storage provider to the storage system.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the failure to perform the given input-output operation is due to a failure of the given target, and wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured to temporarily eliminate from consideration in a path selection algorithm of the multi-path input-output driver any of the paths that are associated with the given target.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the multi-path input-output driver is further configured:

to determine that the given target is operational; and

to reverse the temporary elimination from consideration in the path selection algorithm of the multi-path input-output driver of any of the paths that are associated with the given target, wherein the reversal is performed after completion of the given input-output operation.

15. A method performed by a processing device configured to communicate over a network with a storage system, comprising:

configuring a multi-path input-output driver of the processing device to control delivery of input-output operations from the processing device to a storage system over selected ones of a plurality of paths through a network;

the paths being associated with respective initiator-target pairs wherein each of a plurality of targets of the initiator-target pairs comprises a corresponding port of the storage system;

the multi-path input-output driver:

creating a plurality of input-output operation threads;

using a given input-output operation thread of the plurality of input-output operation threads to retrieve a given input-output operation from an input-output queue;

attempting to perform the given input-output operation on a given target of the plurality of targets; and

returning the given input-output operation to the input-output queue upon a failure to perform the given input-output operation;

wherein the processing device comprises a processor coupled to a memory.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, following the returning of the given input-output operation to the input-output queue, the multi-path input-output driver uses another given input-output operation thread of the plurality of input-output operation threads to again retrieve the given input-output operation from the input-output queue.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the multi-path input-output driver attempts to perform the given input-output operation on another given target of the plurality of targets.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the multi-path input-output driver determines whether a remaining number of the plurality of input-output operation threads is greater than one input-output operation thread prior to returning the given input-output operation to the input-output queue.

19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code, when executed by a processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the processing device being configured to communicate over a network with a storage system and comprising a multi-path input-output driver, causes the multi-path input-output driver:

to control delivery of input-output operations from the processing device to the storage system over selected ones of a plurality of paths through the network;

the paths being associated with respective initiator-target pairs wherein each of a plurality of targets of the initiator-target pairs comprises a corresponding port of the storage system;

to create a plurality of input-output operation threads;

to use a given input-output operation thread of the plurality of input-output operation threads to retrieve a given input-output operation from an input-output queue;

to attempt to perform the given input-output operation on a given target of the plurality of targets; and

to return the given input-output operation to the input-output queue upon a failure to perform the given input-output operation.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein, following the returning of the given input-output operation to the input-output queue, the program code further causes the multi-path input-output driver to use another given input-output operation thread of the plurality of input-output operation threads to again retrieve the given input-output operation from the input-output queue.