System and method for ensuring the availability of a storage system

• US 20030097607A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bessire, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method are provided for ensuring the availability of a storage system. The method, for example, includes the steps of providing a first iSCSI controller having a first network address for processing an I/O request sent to the first network address, providing a second iSCSI controller having a second network address for processing an I/O request sent to the second network address, sensing the failure of the first controller, and arranging for the second controller to assume control of the first network address to receive the I/O request sent to the first address.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a server coupled to a client via a network;

a first iSCSI controller coupled to the server via the network for receiving an I/O request;

a second iSCSI controller coupled to the server via the network for receiving an I/O request, said first iSCSI controller adapted to assume the role of said second iSCSI controller and receive the I/O request therefor in the event the second iSCSI controller fails; and

a storage system for reading and writing an I/O request received from the first and second iSCSI controllers, the storage system being coupled to said first and second controllers.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first and second iSCSI controllers have been assigned first and second IP addresses.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the first iSCSI controller is adapted to assume the IP address of the second iSCSI controller.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the storage system includes a fiber channel storage unit.

5. A method for ensuring the availability of a storage system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first iSCSI controller having a first network address for processing an I/O request sent to the first network address;

providing a second iSCSI controller having a second network address for processing an I/O request sent to the second network address;

sensing the failure of the first controller; and

arranging for the second controller to assume control of the first network address to receive the I/O request sent to the first address.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second network addresses are IP addresses.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the storage system includes a fiber channel storage unit.

8. A computer system comprising:

a server connected to network;

a first iSCSI controller having a first network address for processing an I/O request sent to/from the first network address, said first iSCSI controller connected to the server via the network;

a second iSCSI controller having a second network address for processing an I/O request sent to/from the second network address, said second iSCSI controller connected to the server via the network, said second iSCSI controller adapted to assume responsibility for the first network address in the event the first iSCSI controller fails; and

a storage system connected to the first and second iSCSI controllers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second network addresses are IP addresses.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the storage system includes a fiber channel storage unit.

11. A method for processing I/O requests to or from a storage system via first and second iSCSI controllers, the iSCSI controllers having first and second network addresses, comprising the steps of establishing the communication between the first iSCSI controller and the second iSCSI controller and monitoring the first and second controllers to detect a failure.

12. A method for processing I/O requests to or from a storage system via first and second iSCSI controllers, the iSCSI controllers having first and second network addresses, comprising the steps of:

establishing communication between the first iSCSI controller and the second iSCSI controller;

storing the second address in memory of the first iSCSI controller;

monitoring the second controller to detect if it has failed; and

processing an I/O request sent to the second network address by the first controller, in the event the second controller fails.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second network addresses are IP addresses.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing step includes the step of reading or writing the I/O request to the storage system.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of detecting the failure of the second controller.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the storage system includes a fiber channel storage unit.

17. A computer program for performing the steps of a method for processing I/O requests to or from a storage system via first and second iSCSI controllers, the iSCSI controllers having first and second network addresses, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication between the first iSCSI controller and the second iSCSI controller;

storing the second address in memory of the first iSCSI controller;

monitoring the second controller to detect if it has failed; and

processing an I/O request sent to the second network address by the first controller, in the event the second controller fails.

18. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the first and second network addresses are IP addresses.

19. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises the step of reading or writing the I/O request to the storage system.