Storage system

• US 20010016919A1
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koichi, Takamoto, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2092 Techniques of failing over between control units

Abstract

The storage controlling apparatus has a function for setting each of a plurality of ports in a controller for the current controller or for the standby controller, so that one port is switched to the other in a controller in case an error occurs in a controller or in a port. When in a normal operation, both of the controllers can be operated so as to improve the performance of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Storage system with redundant components comprising:

a plurality of disk devices,

a first controller having a current port connected to a first host and a standby port connected to a second host, and connecting to said disk devices to access a data from said first host using by said current port of said first controller,

a second controller having a current port connected to said second host and a ready port connected to said first host, and connecting to said disk devices to access a data from said second host using by said current port of said second controller, and

a plurality of communication lines between a first controller and said second controller,

wherein said first controller and said second controller have a processor each other to detect error in the other side of the controller, and if said first controller occurs error, said second controller switches said ready port of said second controller as a current port and continues processing said access from said first host using by said communication lines.

2. Storage system claimed as said

claim 1

, further comprising:

a first controller and said second controller have a plurality of current ports and a plurality of standby ports so as to connect a plurality of hosts.

3. Storage system claimed as said

claim 1

,

wherein said second controller receives control information concerned to said first controller when error occurs in said first controller via said communication lines.

4. Storage system claimed as said

claim 3

,

wherein said first controller receives control information concerned to said second controller after recovering said error in said first controller.

5. Storage system claimed as said

claim 4

, further comprising:

a input device to switching

6. Storage system claimed as said

claim 1

,

wherein said current port and said standby port in said first controller and said second controller connect to said first host and said second host via fibre channel.