Method and system for minimizing or eliminating downtime when updating a website

摘要

Websites, including supporting databases, are updated with little or no downtime. In one aspect, a database is replicated prior to updating, so that updates can be performed on one copy while the other remains operational. In another aspect, the data remains in one location while an application programming interface for interacting with the data using new software code is introduced. Another application programming interface remains operational while the update is taking place. Public and private synonyms are used to direct web traffic to the appropriate application programming interface during the update process.

主权项

1. At a computer system, the computer system including a processor and a database, the database storing a set of data in a first format, a method for updating a website, the website being available via a plurality of servers, the method comprising:
splitting the plurality of servers into a first subset of the plurality of servers and a second subset of the plurality of servers, wherein the plurality of servers uses software code of a first code release; disabling public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers; privately updating the website through the second subset of the plurality of servers while website traffic is redirected to the first subset of the plurality of servers, including:
the processor updating the software code of the first code release on the second subset of the plurality of servers to a second code release;the processor determining that a table structure of the set of data is to be changed to a new table structure as part of the privately updating the website;the processor accessing data transformation code developed for the website update, wherein the data transformation code includes one or more data transforms; andthe processor applying a data transform from the data transformation code to the set of data to move the set of data from the first format to a different second format to match the new table structure; and subsequent to privately updating the website, re-enabling public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers.