Database redistribution utilizing virtual partitions

Abstract

In some embodiments, a partitioned database is stored in a plurality of logical or physical partitions on at least a logical or physical first data storage node, and a subset of a first partition among the plurality of logical partitions is configured as a virtual partition. An input indicating an allocation of a second physical data storage node to store the partitioned database is received. A second partition is configured on the second data storage node. In response to the input, the partitioned database is redistributed over the first and second data storage nodes by moving data within the virtual partition on the first partition to the second partition.

1 . A method of data processing, comprising:
 storing a partitioned database in a plurality of partitions on at least a first data storage node of a data processing system;   configuring a subset of a first partition among the plurality of partitions as a virtual partition;   receiving an input indicating an allocation of a second data storage node to store the partitioned database;   configuring a second partition of the partitioned database on the second data storage node; and   in response to the input, redistributing the partitioned database over the first and second data storage nodes by moving data within the virtual partition on the first partition to the second partition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual partition comprises one or more data blocks of the first partition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the virtual partition includes only data within the first partition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method includes establishing a partition configuration data structure associating the virtual partition and the first partition; and   the redistributing includes updating the partition configuration data structure to indicate that the data moved to the second partition does not reside in a virtual partition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method includes establishing a partition map mapping data within the partitioned database to particular ones of the plurality of partitions and the virtual partition; and   the redistributing includes updating the partition map to indicate that data moved to the second partition is not mapped to a virtual partition.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the redistributing includes:
 creating a backup of the data within the virtual partition;   restoring the data from the backup to the second partition.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the data within the virtual partition is first data;   prior to the redistributing, the first partition stores the first data and second data that is not within the virtual partition; and   creating the backup comprises creating a backup including the first data and excluding the second data.