US 8,019,732 B2 · Managing access of multiple executing programs to non-local block data storage

Abstract

Techniques are described for managing access of executing programs to non-local block data storage. In some situations, a block data storage service uses multiple server storage systems to reliably store network-accessible block data storage volumes that may be used by programs executing on other physical computing systems. A group of multiple server block data storage systems that store block data volumes may in some situations be co-located at a data center, and programs that use volumes stored there may execute on other physical computing systems at that data center. If a program using a volume becomes unavailable, another program (e.g., another copy of the same program) may in some situations obtain access to and continue to use the same volume, such as in an automatic manner in some such situations.

A computer-implemented method for a block data storage service to manage access of executing programs to remote stored block data, the method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate access of a first copy of an indicated program to non-local block data storage provided by a block data storage service, the indicated program being an application program that is not part of the block data storage service and the first program copy executing on a first of a plurality of computing systems that are co-located at a first geographical location and that share one or more internal networks, the block data storage service using a first group of multiple other of the plurality of computing systems as block data storage systems that provide block data storage to multiple executing programs that include the indicated program, the first computing system not being part of the first group, the receiving of the request being performed by an executing system manager module of the block data storage service;
in response to the received request, attaching a first block data storage volume to the first computing system for use by the executing first program copy, the first block data storage volume having a primary copy stored on a second computing system and having a minor copy stored on a third computing system, the second and third computing systems each being part of the first group of block data storage systems, the attaching of the first block data storage volume including associating a first logical local block storage device of the first computing system with the first block data storage volume;
and
under control of the system manager module of the block data storage service, managing the providing of the block data storage to the multiple executing programs, by:
after receiving indications of one or more data access requests initiated by the executing first program copy to the first logical local block storage device, automatically responding by performing the data access requests on the primary copy and on the mirror copy of the first block data storage volume, the performing of the data access requests causing one or more modifications to block data stored on the first block data storage volume in such a manner that the same stored block data is maintained on each of the primary and mirror copies of the first block data storage volume;
after the performing of the data access requests, automatically determining that the execution of the first program copy has terminated, and in response to the determining, automatically maintaining access of the indicated program to the first block data storage volume, the maintaining of the access including initiating execution of a second copy of the indicated program on a distinct fourth computing system and attaching the first block data storage volume to the fourth computing system for use by the executing second program copy, the attaching including associating a second logical local block storage device of the fourth computing system with the first block data storage volume;
and
after receiving indications of one or more other data access requests initiated by the executing second program copy to the second logical local block storage device, automatically responding by performing the other data access requests on the primary copy and on the mirror copy of the first block data storage volume, the performing of the data access requests causing one or more further modifications to the block data stored on the first block data storage volume in such a manner that the primary and mirror copies of the first block data storage volume each store the same block data.

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Managing access of multiple executing programs to non-local block data storage

Life of this patent

Managing access of multiple executing programs to non-local block data storage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22