Patent attributes
A data storage system includes storage processors that execute respective datapath components and management components. The datapath components maintain logical storage objects being the target of the storage I/O commands and for which underlying data is stored on an array of storage devices. The management components operate in an active-standby fashion in which (1) the management components maintain respective separate copies of a management database storing information about the logical storage objects, (2) an active management component serves external requests from a storage administrator by accessing its copy of the management database, and (3) a standby management component responds to non-availability of the first management component by becoming the active management component and serving subsequent external requests from the storage administrator by accessing its copy of the management database. Failover speed is increased due to the standby management component maintaining a current copy of the management database.