Subsystem replacement method

• US 20030145169A1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katsunori Nakamura, Takeshi Koide, Teruo Nagasawa
• Original Assignee: Katsunori Nakamura, Takeshi Koide, Teruo Nagasawa
• Inventors: Nakamura, Katsunori, Koide, Takeshi, Nagasawa, Teruo
• Granted Patent: US 6,950,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1423 by reconfiguration of paths
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2071 using a plurality of controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2082 Data synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD

Abstract

A storage system which includes a first storage device, and a storage control device connected to a higher level device and the first storage device. The storage control device controls reading or writing of data from or to the higher level device to or from the storage control device. The storage control device can be connected to another storage control device, and can acquire device information of the other storage control device.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a first storage device; and

a storage control device connected to a higher level device and said first storage device,

wherein said storage control device controls reading or writing of data from said higher level device to said storage control device, and

wherein said storage control device can be connected to another storage control device, and can acquire device information of said another storage control device.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage control device a request to said another storage control device for said device information of said another storage control device, and acquires said device information issued by said another storage control device in response to said request.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage control device sends said device information to said higher level device when requested by said higher level device.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage control device receives from said higher level device, an access command requesting read or write of data, and relays the received access command to said another storage control device.

5. A storage system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third access path connected between said storage control device and said another storage control device,

wherein said storage control device relays the received access command to said another storage control device, through said third access path, without performing a process related to said access command.

6. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage control device performs either one of processing the received access command by itself, or processing to relay the received access command to said another storage control device, when said access command is received from said higher level device.

7. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage control device performs the process of the received access command by itself, when the process is to be performed by itself.

8. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage control device relays said access command to said another storage control device, when the process is to be performed to relay said access command.

9. A storage system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third access path connected between said storage control device and said another storage control device,

wherein said storage control device relays the received access command to said another storage control device, through said third access path without performing the process related to said access command.

10. A method in a storage system having a first storage device, a storage control device connected to a higher level device and said first storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

controlling, performed by said storage control device, reading or writing of data from or to said higher level device to said storage control device;

connecting, performed by said storage control device, said storage control device and another storage control device; and

acquiring, performed by said storage control device, device information of said another storage control device.

11. A storage method according to claim 10, wherein said storage control device sends a request to said another storage control device for said device information of said another storage control device, and acquires said device information issued from said another storage control device in response to said request.

12. A storage method according to claim 10, wherein said storage control device sends said device information to said higher level device when requested from said higher level device.

13. A storage method according to claim 10, wherein said storage control device receives from said higher level device, an access command requesting read or write of data, and relays the received access command to said another storage control device.

14. A storage method according to claim 13, wherein said storage control device relays the received access command to said another storage control device, through a third access path, without performing a process related to said access command, said third access path being connected between said storage control device and said another storage control device.

15. A storage method according to claim 10, wherein said storage control device performs either one of processing the received access command by itself, or processing to relay the received access command to said another storage control device, when said access command is received from said higher level device.

16. A storage method according to claim 10, wherein said storage control device performs the process of the received access command by itself, when the process is to be performed by itself.

17. A storage method according to claim 10, wherein said storage control device relays said access command to said another storage control device, when the process is to be performed to relay said access command.

18. A storage method according to claim 17, wherein said storage control device relays the received access command to said another storage control device, through a third access path, without performing the process related to said access command, said third access path being connected between said storage control device and said another storage control device.