Patent · US Active

Maintaining data consistency in mirrored cluster storage systems with write-back cache

US8244999B1 · kind B1 · utility

352Cited by
43References
17Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2011
Grant dateAug 14, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/2082
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques for maintaining mirrored storage cluster data consistency on systems with write back cache can employ write-intent logging and periodic log clearing. The techniques can track any outstanding I/Os, data in caches, and data that has gone out of sync between mirrored nodes due to link failures. The techniques can ensure that a power failure on any of the storage nodes does not result in inconsistent data among the storage nodes. The techniques can use gate bitmaps to log outstanding I/Os. The gate bitmaps may be periodically cleared. The clearing period may be selected as to allow enough time for all caches to be flushed and for all synchronizing I/Os to complete. Efficient queuing of I/O requests in conjunction with the efficient operation of multiple gate bitmaps can reduce performance impacts of the gating or logging operations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.