Predictive optimization system and method for data generation and transmission in storage networks

1. A data generation control system comprising:

a plurality of storage devices and an administrative device, wherein the administrative device

receives designation of generation target data and of a generation destination storage device constituting a storage device in which the generation target data is generated,

identifies data similar to the generation target data,

calculates a first predicted time expected to be required for a first transmission process of transmitting basic data from a generation source storage device holding the basic data corresponding to the generation target data to the generation destination storage device, and a second predicted time expected to be required for a second transmission process of transmitting the similar data from a similar data storage device holding the similar data to the generation destination storage device and of transmitting difference data between the basic data and the similar data from the generation source storage device to the generation destination storage device, and

performs, if the second predicted time is shorter than the first predicted time, the second transmission process to transmit the similar data and the difference data to the generation destination storage device so as to generate the generation target data in the generation destination storage device, and performs, if the second predicted time is not shorter than the first predicted time, the first transmission process to transmit the basic data to the generation destination storage device so as to generate the generation target data in the generation destination storage device.

2. The data generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of storage devices include a backup execution storage device that stores backup data at a given point in time of data administered by the storage devices, into a backup storage device as a storage device for backup use, and

the administrative device identifies, as the similar data, the backup data for the generation target data in the backup storage device.

3. The data generation control system according to claim 2 , wherein

the backup execution storage device also stores therein the backup data to be stored into the backup storage device, and

the generation source storage device identifies the difference data on a basis of the basic data and the backup data if the generation source storage device is the backup execution storage device.

4. The data generation control system according to claim 3 , wherein

the administrative device in the second transmission process,

causes the generation source storage device to transmit the difference data to the backup storage device, and

causes the generation destination storage device to acquire the difference data from the backup storage device.

5. The data generation control system according to claim 3 , wherein

the administrative device in the second transmission process,

causes the generation source storage device to transmit the difference data to the generation destination storage device.

6. The data generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the generation source storage device

determines whether or not the difference data is able to be extracted, and transmits a result of the determination to the administrative device, and

the administrative device

performs the first transmission process upon receipt of the result of the determination indicating that the difference data is not able to be extracted from the generation source storage device, and

determines which of the first transmission process and the second transmission process is to be executed, upon receipt of the result of the determination indicating that the difference data is able to be extracted from the generation source storage device.

7. The data generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the generation source storage device

calculates an amount of the difference data and transmits the calculated data amount to the administrative device, and

the administrative device

calculates the second predicted time on a basis of an amount of the similar data and the amount of the difference data.

8. A data generation control system comprising:

a plurality of storage devices and an administrative device, wherein

a communication rate of a path between a first storage device and a second storage device is lower than a communication rate of a path between a third storage device and the second storage device, and

the administrative device

determines whether or not data similar to the generation target data exists in the third storage device, upon receipt of an instruction to generate, in the second storage device, predetermined generation target data stored in the first storage device,

causes the similar data to be transmitted to the second storage device if the similar data exists in the third storage device,

causes difference data between the target data and the similar data to be transmitted to the second storage device, and

causes the generation target data to be generated in the second storage device on a basis of the similar data and the difference data.

9. A data generation control method for use with a data generation control system including a plurality of storage devices and an administrative device, the method comprising by the administrative device:

receiving designation of generation target data and of a generation destination storage device constituting a storage device in which the generation target data is generated;

identifying data similar to the generation target data;

calculating a first predicted time expected to be required for a first transmission process of transmitting basic data from a generation source storage device holding the basic data corresponding to the generation target data to the generation destination storage device, and a second predicted time expected to be required for a second transmission process of transmitting the similar data from a similar data storage device holding the similar data to the generation destination storage device and of transmitting difference data between the basic data and the similar data from the generation source storage device to the generation destination storage device; and

performing, if the second predicted time is shorter than the first predicted time, the second transmission process to transmit the similar data and the difference data to the generation destination storage device so as to generate the generation target data in the generation destination storage device, and performing, if the second predicted time is not shorter than the first predicted time, the first transmission process to transmit the basic data to the generation destination storage device so as to generate the generation target data in the generation destination storage device.