IP Library Granted Patent US 11,561,867
Granted Patent B2
US 11,561,867 · App. 17/145,658 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Synchronizing data copy operations for storage system with active-active storage configuration

Inventor: Sunil Kumar (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
G06F11/1469G06F3/067G06F3/0619G06F3/0659G06F3/0689G06F11/1451G06F11/1461
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,561,867
App. No.
17/145,658
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques disclosed herein provide techniques for coordinating host devices to synchronize data copy operations on storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration. For example, a method comprises managing generation of a backup copy of data in each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration by causing one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays prior to causing the backup copy to be created in each of the set of storage arrays.

Claims (36)

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processing device, when executing program code, is configured to:

manage generation of a backup copy of data in each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration by causing one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays;

wherein managing generation of the backup copy is configured to:

receive notification from the one or more host devices that input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays have been halted; and

instruct the one or more host devices to initiate a backup copy operation once the notification is received from the one or more host devices to cause the backup copy to be created in each of the set of storage arrays.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises querying each of the set of storage arrays to discover the one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises instructing each of the discovered one or more host devices to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises receiving a request from each of the discovered one or more host devices to create a backup copy on each of the set of storage arrays.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises instructing each of the set of storage arrays to create a backup copy.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises receiving notification from each of the set of storage arrays that a backup copy has been created.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises notifying each of the discovered one or more host devices that a backup copy has been created on each of the set of storage arrays and to release the halt on the input-output operations.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing device, when executing program code, is further configured to cause a restore operation on each of the set of storage arrays using a respective backup copy created for each of the set of storage arrays.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processing device, when executing program code, is further configured to cause a verification that the data restored on each of the set of storage arrays is identical on each of the set of storage arrays.

10. A method comprising:

managing generation of a backup copy of data in each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration by causing one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays;

wherein managing generation of the backup copy further comprises:

receiving notification from the one or more host devices that input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays have been halted; and

instructing the one or more host devices to initiate a backup copy operation once the notification is received from the one or more host devices to cause the backup copy to be created in each of the set of storage arrays;

wherein the steps are performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory executing program code.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises:

querying each of the set of storage arrays to discover the one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays; and

instructing each of the discovered one or more host devices to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises receiving a request from each of the discovered one or more host devices to create a backup copy on each of the set of storage arrays.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein managing generation of a backup copy at each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration further comprises instructing each of the set of storage arrays to create a backup copy.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving notification from each of the set of storage arrays that a backup copy has been created.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising notifying each of the discovered one or more host devices that a backup copy has been created on each of the set of storage arrays and to release the halt on the input-output operations.

16. 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 at least one processing device causes the at least one processing device to:

manage generation of a backup copy of data in each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration by causing one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays prior to causing the backup copy to be created in each of the set of storage arrays;

cause a restore operation on each of the set of storage arrays using the respective backup copy created for each of the set of storage arrays; and

cause a verification that the data restored on each of the set of storage arrays is identical on each of the set of storage arrays.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processing device, when executing program code, is configured to:

manage generation of a backup copy of data in each of a set of storage arrays in an active-active storage configuration by causing one or more host devices that access the set of storage arrays to synchronously halt input-output operations associated with the set of storage arrays prior to causing the backup copy to be created in each of the set of storage arrays;

cause a restore operation on each of the set of storage arrays using a respective backup copy created for each of the set of storage arrays; and

cause a verification that the data restored on each of the set of storage arrays is identical on each of the set of storage arrays.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0342) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0460 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0051) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056136/0752) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0771 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 055408 FRAME 0697 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056136/0752 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0051 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0342 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 055408/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2021
From: KUMAR, SUNIL
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 054876/0207 →