Operating method of a storage area network system

• US 20020138642A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Yoshihiko, Murakami, Masaharu, Watanabe, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,965,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• 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 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An operating method of a storage area network system which conducts transmittance of data by a plurality of servers accessing a storage through a storage area network, the storage area network system operating: obtaining and monitoring a data transfer amount between the respective servers and the storage; comparing a prescribed data transfer amount prescribed by the server and the obtained actual data transfer amount; selecting one of a plurality of ports provided in the storage according to the comparison result; and providing the relevant server an instruction to connect to the selected port.

Claims

1. An operating method of a storage area network system that conducts transmittance of data by a plurality of servers accessing a storage through a storage area network, comprising the step of:

first step for obtaining and monitoring a data transfer amount between each said server and said storage area network system;

second step for comparing a predetermined data transfer amount set in each said server and said obtained data transfer amount;

third step for selecting one of a plurality of ports provided in said storage area network system using said comparison result; and

fourth step for providing a relevant server an instruction to connect to said selected port.

2. The operating method according to claim 1, wherein

when said obtained data transfer amount between each said server and said storage area network system exceeds said predetermined data transfer amount,

said instruction is to switch to a port with a lower data transfer speed in said storage area network system.

3. The operating method according to claim 2, wherein said obtained data transfer amount is further imposed on with a lower access frequency to said storage area network system than a predetermined access frequency.

4. The operating method according to claim 1, wherein

when said obtained data transfer amount between each said server and said storage area network system does not exceed said predetermined data transfer amount, and

when said obtained data transfer amount is further imposed on with a higher access frequency to said storage area network system than a predetermined access frequency,

said instruction is to switch to a port except a port with a maximum data transfer speed.