Amazon.com, Inc.
Consensus-based authority selection in replicated network-accessible block storage devices

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided to manage replicas of a virtualized block storage volume. The master replica of the virtualized block storage volume can heartbeat with each secondary replica of the virtualized block storage volume to provide an indication of the status of the master replica. Each secondary replica can reply to the heartbeat of the master replica. Each replica can be configured to request an updated replica configuration based on not receiving a heartbeat from one of the replicas. The master replica can request an updated replica configuration after a first time period without receiving a reply from one of the secondary replicas and each secondary replica can request an updated replica configuration after a second time period without receiving a communication from the master replica. Use of the heartbeat process between the master replica and the secondary replicas can increase system speed or reduce power consumption.