Cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsThomas W. BISH, Takeshi NOHTA, Joseph M. SWINGLER, Rufus-John Y. TWITO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication are created. The clusters are grouped into family members of a cluster family base on their relationships and roles. Members of the cluster family determine which family member is in the best position to obtain replicated information and become cumulatively consistent within their cluster family. Once the cluster family becomes cumulatively consistent, the data is shared within the cluster family so that all copies within the cluster family are consistent.
Claims20
A method for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the method comprising:
- arranging at least one subset of the multiple clusters into family members of a cluster family;
- negotiating between cluster family members to determine which cluster family member is in the best position to obtain at least one outside data object from at least one cluster outside of the cluster family;
- selecting one family member of the cluster family to obtain the outside data object;
- and
- sharing the outside data objects among the cluster family so that each cluster within the cluster family is consistent with respect to outside data objects.
A system for cooperative replication of multiple clusters, the system comprising:
- a network;
- a plurality of sites in communication over the network, each site comprising at least one host and a storage system comprising a plurality of clusters, each cluster comprising at least one tape drive configured to access volumes stored on magnetic tape, at least one tape volume cache, and a cluster manager configured to execute computer readable programs using a processor and a memory, wherein the software readable programs comprising:
- a creation module configured to setup and arrange a group of clusters into family members of a cluster family;
- and
- a cooperative replication module configured to select a family member to cooperatively replicate data from at least one cluster outside of the cluster family into the cluster family and achieve cumulative family consistency.
A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
- group a plurality of clusters into family members of a cluster family;
- determine which family member is in the best position to obtain outside data objects from a source, the source included in at least one cluster outside of the cluster family;
- select one or more family members of the cluster family to obtain the outside data objects;
- cooperatively replicate the outside data objects into the cluster family;
- and
- share the outside data objects within the cluster family so that all copies of the outside data objects within the cluster family are consistent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.