Apparatus and method for mirroring and restoring data
AssigneeEMC Corporation
InventorsMadhav Mutalik, John G. Deshayes, Allan Scherr, Jeff Donovan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for mirroring data is provided wherein integrity of data on a mirror device is maintained during and after a restore process of data to a standard volume. Because integrity of the mirror is maintained, data from the mirror may be used to perform a later restore to the standard volume if data becomes corrupted, or data is unavailable for any other reason. As a result, the mirror may be used for backup or other operations.
Claims35
A method for mirroring data of a first storage area, comprising:
- placing a second storage area in a first state, wherein the first state of the second storage area is a state in which updates to the first storage area are made to the second storage area;
- mirroring data from the first storage area to the second storage area while the second storage area is in the first state;
- changing a state of the second storage area from the first state to a second state in which updates to the first storage area are not made to the second storage area;
- and
- restoring data to the first storage area from the second storage area while maintaining the second storage area in the second state.
A storage system comprising:
- a first storage area;
- a second storage area;
- and
- at least one controller that:
- places the second storage area in a first state, wherein the first state of the second storage area is a state in which updates to the first storage area are made to the second storage area;
- mirrors data from the first storage area to the second storage area while the second storage area is in the first state;
- changes a state of the second storage area from the first state to a second state in which updates to the first storage area are not made to the second storage area;
- and
- restores data to the first storage area from the second storage area while maintaining the second storage area in the second state.
A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program that, when executed on a computer system, causes the computer system to perform a method comprising acts of:
- placing a second storage area in a first state, wherein the first state of the second storage area is a state in which updates to the first storage area are made to the second storage area;
- mirroring data from the first storage area to the second storage area while the second storage area is in the first state;
- changing a state of the second storage area from the first state to a second state in which updates to the first storage area are not made to the second storage area;
- and
- restoring data to the first storage area from the second storage area while maintaining the second storage area in the second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.