Remote mirroring in a switched environment
First Claim
1. In a remote data mirroring arrangement of data storage systems, a method of connecting ports on a data storage system to ports on other data storage systems comprising:
- providing each storage system with configuration topology information;
determining from a switch fabric that connects to ports of all of the data storage systems information identifying ports of the other data storage systems connected to the switch fabric; and
using the configuration topology information and the information obtained from the switch fabric to establish a logical link between a port on the storage system and a second port on a second storage system so that data residing on a device group supported by the port and a corresponding, mirrored device group supported by the second port can be exchanged between the data storage system and the second data storage system.
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Abstract
A mechanism to support remote mirroring of storage devices by data storage systems in a one-to-many switched environment. Each data storage system includes a disk director that is adapted to control at least one device group that is supported in a mirrored configuration with a corresponding device group controlled by one of the other data storage systems. For each device group and corresponding device group, there are first ports associated with the device group and second ports associated with the corresponding device group. A switch element is adapted to connect one of the first ports to at least one of the second ports so that data may be exchanged between the ports for each device group and corresponding device group. The disk director selects which first port is to be connected to which second port via the switch element in the establishment of a logical link. Thus, each port connected to the switch is capable of achieving multiple connections to multiple destinations for increased connectivity, redundancy and performance (load balance) without additional hardware.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a remote data mirroring arrangement of data storage systems, a method of connecting ports on a data storage system to ports on other data storage systems comprising:
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providing each storage system with configuration topology information;
determining from a switch fabric that connects to ports of all of the data storage systems information identifying ports of the other data storage systems connected to the switch fabric; and
using the configuration topology information and the information obtained from the switch fabric to establish a logical link between a port on the storage system and a second port on a second storage system so that data residing on a device group supported by the port and a corresponding, mirrored device group supported by the second port can be exchanged between the data storage system and the second data storage system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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an arrangement of storage systems each adapted to control at least one group of devices that are supported in a mirrored configuration with a corresponding group of devices controlled by one of the other storage systems;
for each device group and corresponding device group, first ports associated with the device group and second ports associated with the corresponding device group; and
a switch element adapted to connect one of the first ports to at least one of the second ports so that data may be exchanged between the first and second ports for each device group and corresponding device group.
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14. In a remote, mirrored arrangement of data storage systems, a data storage system comprising:
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a port adapted to control at least one device group;
a switch element coupled to the port and ports in the other storage systems; and
wherein the port uses the switch element to link the port to a selected one of the ports controlling a second device group that mirrors the device group controlled by the port.
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Specification