US6668264B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resynchronization of a target volume with a source volume
Assignee: NetApp Inc
•
Filing: 2001-04-03
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Granted: 2003-12-23
•
Expires: 2021-04-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus for quickly and efficiently updating the original source volume and original target volumes after the original source volume has become temporarily unavailable. The original target volume is characterized as a source volume while the original source volume is temporarily unavailable. Transfer lists of different data blocks are generated. Data blocks not originally found on a source are copied to the target. Data blocks included on a target that were not found on the source are removed. By focusing upon specific data blocks, this technique avoids the use of filer overhead and other computational resources that would be expended if the entire volume were recopied.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugo Patterson
- 👤 Michael Federwisch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2056; G06F11/2082; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1448; G06F11/1451; G06F11/1471; G06F11/2064; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/84; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99936; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953; Y10S707/99956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for aligning a target volume and a source volume after said source volume has been written to, including comparing information about a set of snapshots associated with said source volume with information about a set of snapshots associated with said target volume to determine common information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common; reverting said target volume back to a state associated with said common information; and transferring a set of data blocks from said source volume to said target volume based upon a result of said comparison, so as to align said target volume with said source volume.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for aligning a target volume and a source volume after said source volume has been written to, including comparing information about a set of snapshots associated with said source volume with information about a set of snapshots associated with said target volume to determine common information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common; reverting said target volume back to a state associated with said common information; and transferring a set of data blocks from said source volume to said target volume based upon a result of said comparison, so as to align said target volume with said source volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said step of comparing includes reading a set of data blocks included in said set of snapshots associated with said source volume; and reading a set of data blocks included in said set of snapshots associated with said target volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said step of transferring includes writing data associated with said source volume to said target volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1 , also including saving said information about said set of snapshots associated with said target volume, wherein said information concerns an initial state of said target volume prior to said step of transferring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said common information is a most recent information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 5 , wherein said state to which said target volume is reverted back is a stale associated with said most recent information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said step of transferring includes generating a transfer list of data blocks included in said source volume that are not included in said target volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 7 , wherein said transfer list is based upon a union of all data blocks associated with said source volume and a most recent common snapshot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said source volume may receive reads and writes from a client during said set of comparing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said step of comparing is performed by a set of logic coupled to both said source volume and said target volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 also including generating an alarm to inform a user that data associated with said target volume may be lost.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for aligning a target volume and a source volume after said source volume has been written to, including comparing information about a set of snapshots associated with said source volume with information about a set of snapshots associated with said target volume to determine common information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common; reverting said target volume back to a state associated with said common information; transferring a set of data blocks from said source volume to said target volume based upon a result of said comparison; and removing a set of data blocks from a target volume based upon a second result associated with said comparison.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for aligning a target volume and a source volume after said source volume has been written to, including comparing information about a set of snapshots associated with said source volume with information about a set of snapshots associated with said target volume to determine common information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common; reverting said target volume back to a state associated with said common information; transferring a set of data blocks from said source volume to said target volume based upon a result of said comparison; and removing a set of data blocks from a target volume based upon a second result associated with said comparison.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 12 , also including saving said information about said set of snapshots associated with said target volume, wherein said information concerns an initial state of said target volume prior to said step of transferring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said common information is a most recent information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein said state to which said target volume is reverted back is a state associated with said most recent information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of transferring includes generating a transfer list of data blocks included in said source volume that are not included in said target volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein said transfer list is based upon a union of all data blocks associated with said source volume and a most recent common snapshot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said source volume may receive reads and writes from a client during said set of comparing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of comparing is performed by a set of logic coupled to both said source volume and said target volume.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of removing includes removing a set of blocks included in said target volume that are not included in said source volume.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 12 , also including generating an alarm to inform a user that data associated with said target volume may be lost.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus, including a processor, a memory and a set of instructions for aligning a target volume and a source volume after said source volume has been written to, including an instruction to compare information about a set of snapshots associated with said source volume with information about a set of snapshots associated with said target volume to determine common information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common; an instruction to revert said target volume back to a state associated with said common information; and an instruction to transfer a set of data blocks from said source volume to said target volume based upon a result of said comparison.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus, including a processor, a memory and a set of instructions for aligning a target volume and a source volume after said source volume has been written to, including an instruction to compare information about a set of snapshots associated with said source volume with information about a set of snapshots associated with said target volume to determine common information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common; an instruction to revert said target volume back to a state associated with said common information; and an instruction to transfer a set of data blocks from said source volume to said target volume based upon a result of said comparison.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 22 , wherein said set of instructions include an instruction to save said information about said set of snapshots associated with said target volume, wherein said information concerns an initial state of said target volume.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 22 , wherein said common information is a most recent information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as in claim 24 , wherein said state to which said target volume is reverted back is a state associated with said most recent information that said set of snapshots associated with said target volume and said set of snapshot associated with said source volume share in common.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 22 , wherein said set of instructions includes an instruction to generate a transfer list of data blocks included in said source volume that are not included in said target volume.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 , wherein said transfer list is based upon a union of all data blocks associated with said source volume and a most recent common snapshot.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 22 , wherein said set of instructions includes an instruction to generate an alarm to inform a user that data associated with said target volume may be lost.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-22 | 2007-06-23 | 2007-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-22 | 2011-06-23 | 2011-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-22 | 2015-06-23 | 2015-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |