Efficient Data Sync for Uninterrupted Access

Introduction

This asynchronous remote copy system is engineered for businesses requiring secure, efficient data synchronization across various locations. It offers a solution that keeps data accessible and up-to-date without the heavy bandwidth and infrastructure demands typical of traditional data replication methods. By focusing on an adaptive, asynchronous approach, this technology ensures that critical data is consistently backed up and available when it’s needed most, supporting business continuity and security across operations.

The Challenge: Reliable Data Access Across Distances

As organizations grow, their need for dependable data access across multiple sites becomes increasingly critical. Traditional synchronous replication systems consume significant bandwidth and often introduce latency, which can slow down operations and create vulnerabilities. Inconsistent replication leads to operational delays, compromising data integrity and increasing potential for data loss in high-stakes environments. The demand for a streamlined, efficient solution is essential for organizations dedicated to protecting data while maintaining consistent, fast access.

Adaptive Asynchronous Control for Flexible Replication

This system’s asynchronous control method allows for real-time data updates across distances without overloading network resources. By adjusting replication frequency and prioritizing critical data transfers, it enables faster, more reliable synchronization across storage environments. The system’s flexibility minimizes dependency on bandwidth while supporting robust data protection measures, ensuring that backups remain current and available. Its adaptive capabilities also enable effective performance in diverse environments, from cloud infrastructures to hybrid storage ecosystems.

Key Benefits for Data-Driven Industries

For cloud service providers and data storage managers, this technology significantly reduces the strain on network infrastructure, lowering costs and boosting system reliability. Disaster recovery teams can count on quick, reliable access to replicated data, ensuring clients experience minimal disruptions during critical times. Enterprises in finance, healthcare, and telecommunications benefit from enhanced data integrity without latency, preserving business operations and customer trust. The technology’s compatibility across multiple storage platforms makes it an ideal solution for organizations seeking flexible yet secure data management.

Lead in Data Protection and Continuity

Licensing this efficient data sync system empowers your organization with a robust, high-performance data replication solution that supports scalability and reliability. With its asynchronous, adaptive approach, this technology ensures secure data access without compromising network performance, making it a vital asset for industries committed to data resilience and operational stability. Position your organization at the forefront of data integrity and security, gaining a competitive advantage with a forward-looking approach to data management that meets the demands of today’s digital world.

In a previous storage apparatus, differential JNLs are reflected in order of the update numbers, to the data volumes thereof. If a first storage apparatus is suspended, it is determined which is newer: the update number which the journal recently reflected in a second storage apparatus or the update number reflected in a third storage apparatus. In the newer storage apparatus having the newer update number, it is determined whether one or more JNLs from the journal having the update number next to the update number which is not determined to be the newer to the journal having the update number determined to be the newer exist, or not. If the result of the determination is positive, from the newer storage apparatus to the previous storage apparatus which is not the newer of the second and the third storage apparatuses, one or more differential JNLs are copied.
1. A storage system comprising:

a first storage apparatus having a first controller with at least one processor for controlling processing, and a plurality of first storage devices configuring a first data volume storing data sent from a first host computer and a first journal volume storing journals, wherein each of the journals includes a sequential number and the data written to the first data volume;
a second storage apparatus having a second controller with at least one processor for controlling processing, and a plurality of second storage devices configuring a second journal volume storing journals sent from the first storage apparatus asynchronously with access to the first data volume and a second data volume to which each of the journals stored in the second journal volume is reflected in order of the sequential number included in each of the journals; and
a third storage apparatus having a third controller with at least one processor for controlling processing, and a plurality of storage devices configuring a third journal volume storing journals sent from the first storage apparatus asynchronously with access to the first data volume and a third data volume to which each of the journals stored in the third journal volume is reflected in order of the sequential number included in each of the journals;
wherein if a failure occurs in the first storage apparatus,
the second controller in the second storage apparatus compares a second sequential number in the latest reflected journal to the second data volume and a third sequential number in the latest reflected journal to the third data volume,
if the third sequential number is newer than the second sequential number, the second controller in the second storage apparatus receives one or more differential journals from the third storage apparatus to write the received differential journals to the second journal volume, and
if the second sequential number is newer than the third sequential number, the second controller in the second storage apparatus sends one or more differential journals to the third storage apparatus to write the sent one or more differential journals to the third journal volume.
2. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein the one or more differential journals read from the third storage apparatus is one or more journals, which include sequential number from sequential number next to the second sequential number to the third sequential number,
wherein the one or more differential journals sent to the third storage apparatus is one or more journals, which include sequential number from sequential number next to the third sequential number to the second sequential number.
3. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein the second controller in the second storage apparatus writes data in the journal in the second journal volume in order of sequential number in the journal, when the second controller in the second storage apparatus reflects the journal in the second journal volume to the second data volume, and
wherein the third controller in the third storage apparatus writes data in the journal in the third journal volume in order of sequential number in the journal, when the third controller in the third storage apparatus reflects the journal in the third journal volume to the third data volume.
4. A storage system according to claim 1, if a failure occurs in the first storage apparatus, the second controller in the second storage apparatus requires the third sequential number, and receives the third sequential number from the third storage apparatus.
5. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein after the second controller in the second storage apparatus writes the received differential journals to the second journal volume apparatus, the second controller in the second storage apparatus permits to write to the second data volume in case that the third sequential number is newer than the second sequential number,
wherein after the third controller in the third storage apparatus writes the received differential journals to the third journal volume, the second controller in the second storage apparatus permits to write to the second data volume in case that the second sequential number is newer than the third sequential number.
6. A method for storage system, the storage system comprising:

a first storage apparatus having a first controller with at least one processor for controlling processing, and a plurality of first storage devices configuring a first data volume storing data sent from a first computer and a first journal volume storing journals, wherein each of the journals includes a sequential number and the data written to the first data volume;
a second storage apparatus having a second controller with at least one processor for controlling processing, and a plurality of second storage devices configuring a second journal volume storing journals sent from the first storage apparatus asynchronously with access to the first data volume and a second data volume to which each of the journals stored in the second journal volume is reflected in order of the sequential number included in each of the journals; and
a third storage apparatus having a third controller with at least one processor for controlling processing, and a plurality of third storage devices configuring a third journal volume storing journals sent from the first storage apparatus asynchronously with access to the first data volume and a third data volume to which each of the journals host stored in the third journal volume is reflected in order of the sequential number included in each of the journals,
the method for occurrence of a failure in the first storage apparatus comprising:
comparing a second sequential number in the latest reflected journal to the second data volume and a third sequential number in the latest reflected journal to the third data volume,
receiving one or more differential journals from the third storage apparatus to write the received differential journals to the second journal volume if the third sequential number is newer than the second sequential number, and
sending one or more differential journals to the third storage apparatus to write the sent one or more differential journals to the third journal volume if the second sequential number is newer than the third sequential number.
7. A method according to claim 6,

wherein the one or more differential journals read from the third storage apparatus is one or more journals, which include sequential number from sequential number next to the second sequential number to the third sequential number,
wherein the one or more differential journals sent to the third storage apparatus is one or more journals, which include sequential number from sequential number next to the third sequential number to the second sequential number.
8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

writing data in the journal in the second journal volume in order of sequential number in the journal, when the journal in the second journal volume is reflected to the second data volume, and
writing data in the journal in the third journal volume in order of sequential number in the journal, when the journal in the third journal volume is reflected to the third data volume.
9. A method according to claim 6, if a failure occurs in the first storage apparatus, the second controller in the second storage apparatus requires the third sequential number, and receives the third sequential number from the third storage apparatus.
10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

after writing the received differential journals to the second journal volume apparatus, permitting to write to the second data volume in case that the third sequential number is newer than the second sequential number, after writing the received differential journals to the third journal volume, permitting to write to the second data volume in case that the second sequential number is newer than the third sequential number.

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Title

Asynchronous remote copy system and storage control method

Inventor(s)

Shuji Kondo, Katsuhiro Okumoto

Assignee(s)

Hitachi Ltd

Patent #

8375004

Patent Date

February 12, 2013

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