Remote copy system of storage systems connected to fibre network

• US 20010047460A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Naotaka, Abei, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US09/819,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2066 Optimisation of the communication load
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2071 using a plurality of controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A plurality of storage systems are connected by a fibre channel so that remote copy can be made through the fibre channel. At the time of remote copy, World Wide Name is used in order for the storage systems to recognize each other and be connected together. The World Wide Name is information unique to port, and depends upon boards having ports. The storage system as the copy source sends a login request including other information than the World Wide Name from which the login from the storage system can be recognized, while the storage system on the login receiving side sends back information indicative of a port that can participate in the remote copy, so that a storage system and port hopeful for remote copy can be decided from the remote site only when the login from the storage system can be recognized.

Claims

1. A remote copy system of storage systems comprising:

a host computer;

a storage system having a port as an initiator of remote copy;

another storage system having a target port; and

a fibre channel through which said host computer and said storage systems are connected, wherein said storage system having said port as said initiator has a controller by which a login request including first information from which said storage system can be recognized as a storage system is sent to said target port of said other storage system, and said other storage system having said target port has a controller by which an answer including second information that is unique to hardware and invariable and capable of specifying said target port is sent back when said other storage system recognizes said login source as storage system from said first information of said login request.

2. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 1

, wherein said second information is an identifier and port number that are unique to hardware of said storage system having said target port.

3. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 1

, wherein said second information is a machine serial number and port number of said storage system having said target port.

4. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 1

, wherein said first information is an identifier and port number unique to hardware of said storage system having said initiator port.

5. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 1

, wherein said first information is a machine serial number and port number of said storage system having said initiator port.

6. A remote copy system of storage systems according to any one of claims 3, 4 and 5, wherein said port number is an identification number of location that indicates the position at which said initiator port of said storage system is mounted.

7. A remote copy system of storage systems comprising:

a host computer;

a storage system serving as a copy source of remote copy, and having a master control unit;

another storage system having a target port; and

a fibre channel through which said host computer, and said storage systems are connected, wherein said master control unit sends a login request from an initiator port to said target port together with additional information indicative of said login being from said master control unit, and said storage system having said target port, upon recognition of login from said master control, sends back to said initiator an answer including information that is unique to hardware and variable and capable of specifying said target port as a storage system to be participated in remote copy.

8. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 7

, wherein said information indicative of the login from said master control unit is an identifier and port number unique to said master control unit.

9. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 8

, wherein said port number is an identification information of location that indicates the position at which said port of said master control unit is mounted.

10. A remote copy system of storage systems according to

claim 7

, wherein said information indicative of the login from said master control unit is an identifier other than an identifier used in a fibre channel communication protocol.

11. A remote copy system of storage systems comprising:

a host computer;

a plurality of storage systems each having a control unit; and

a fibre channel through which said host computer and said plurality of storage systems are connected, wherein the control unit of a storage system of said plurality of storage systems as a copy source of remote copy sends a login request including an identifier and port number unique to said control unit to a port of another one of said plurality of storage systems, and the control unit of said another one of said storage systems sends back to said control unit of said copy source an answer including an identifier and port number unique to said control unit of said another one of said storage systems when said identification number and port number unique to the control unit of said copy source are found in said login data.

13. A remote copy system of storage systems according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein said port number unique to said control unit of said storage system as said copy source is identification information of location that indicates a position at which a port of said control unit of said storage system is mounted on said control unit.

14. A remote copy system of storage systems according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein said port number unique to said control unit of said another storage system different from said copy source is identification information of location that indicates a position at which a port of said control unit of said another storage system is mounted on said control unit of said another storage system.

12. A remote copy system of storage systems comprising:

a host computer;

a plurality of storage systems each having a control unit; and

a fibre channel through which said host computer and said plurality of storage systems are connected;

a control unit of one of said plurality of storage systems as a copy source of remote copy for sendig a login request including information indicative of a login from a storage system to a port of another one of said plurality of storage systems;

a control unit of said another one of said plurality of storage systems for sending back to said control unit of said storage system as said copy source an answer including an identifier and a port number unique to said control unit of said another storage system when said information from which the login from said storage system can be found in data of said login;

a target management table for storing said identifier and port number unique to said control unit of said another storage system that are included in said answer, and a destination address of said port;

a logic path management table for storing an identifier and a port number unique to a copy destination control unit specified by an application layer; and

a logic-path-to-target conversion table for storing a target port having an identifier and a port number unique to said copy destination control unit as a copy destination port in common with said target management table and said logic path management table.