Storage system and method for controlling the same

• US 20030154281A1
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Uchiumi, Katsuhiro, Mitsuoka, Yoshio
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• 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 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A storage system storing data sending/receiving data to/from a plurality of external devices via a common network. The storage system controls access from the plurality of external devices. The storage system accepts accesses according to different protocols from the plurality of external devices via the common network. The storage system analyzes the protocol from the external devices which accessed through the external interface. The storage system sends/receives data based on the analysis result.

Claims

1. A storage control device for use in a storage system that carries out sending/receiving of data to/from a plurality of external devices via a common network, said storage control device controlling access from said plurality of external devices to a storage apparatus for storing said data, said storage control device comprising:

an external interface section for accepting access according to different types of protocols from said plurality of external devices via said common network; and

a data-transfer control section for analyzing said protocol used for said access from said external device accessing through said external interface, and for carrying out said sending/receiving of data based on a result of said analysis.

2. A storage control device according to claim 1, wherein

said data-transfer control section decides, upon said analysis of protocol, an access type of said external device based on a port number included in a header of said data, and carries out said sending/receiving of data between said storage apparatus and said external device according to said access type.

3. A storage control device according to claim 2, wherein

if said access type is decided to be a network-interface access, said data-transfer control section decides whether or not said access is a network access or a management request.

4. A storage control device according to claim 3, wherein

if said data-transfer control section decides that said access is said network access, an operating system of a processor for management carries out processing of said data.

5. A storage control device according to claim 4 wherein

if said network access is a file access from a network attached storage client, said operating system of said processor for management provides access to a network file system.

6. A storage control device according to claim 3, wherein

said storage control device comprises a shared memory holding a management-information database;

and

if said data-transfer control section decides that said access is a management-interface access according to an out-of-band mode, a management-application program installed in said operating system of said processor for management updates said management-information database.

7. A storage control device according to claim 2, wherein

if said access type is decided to be a block-storage-interface access, said data-transfer control section further decides whether or not said access is a data access or a management according to an in-band mode.

8. A storage control device according to claim 7, wherein

if said data-transfer control section decides that said access is said data access, a device driver carries out a block-device access to said storage apparatus.

9. A storage control device in claim 7 according to claim 7, wherein

said storage control device comprises a shared memory holding a management-information database;

and

if said access is decided to be said management according to said in-band mode, said data-transfer control section updates said management-information database in said shared memory.

10. A storage system for carrying out sending/receiving of data to/from a plurality of external devices via a common network, said storage system comprising:

a storage apparatus for storing said data; and

a storage control device for controlling access from said plurality of external devices,

said storage control device including;

an external interface section for accepting access according to different types of protocols from said plurality of external devices via said common network; and

a data-transfer control section for analyzing said protocol used for said access from said external device accessing through said external interface, and for carrying out said sending/receiving of data based on a result of said analysis.

11. A storage system according to claim 10, wherein

said data-transfer control section decides, upon said analysis of protocol, an access type of said external device based on a port number included in a header of said data, and carries out said sending/receiving of data between said storage apparatus and said external device according to said access type.

12. A storage system according to claim 11, wherein

if said access type is decided to be a network-interface access, said data-transfer control section decides whether or not said access is a network access or a management request;

and

if said data-transfer control section decides that said access is said network access, an operating system of a processor for management carries out processing of said data.

13. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein

said storage control device comprises a shared memory holding a management-information database;

and

if said data-transfer control section decides that said access is a management-interface access according to an out-of-band mode, a management-application program installed in said operating system of said processor for management updates said management-information database.

14. A storage system according to claim 11, wherein

if said access type is decided to be a block-storage-interface access, said data-transfer control section further decides whether or not said access is a data access or a management according to an in-band mode;

and

if said data-transfer control section decides that said access is said data access, a device driver carries out a block-device access to said storage apparatus.

15. A storage system according to claim 14, wherein

said storage control device comprises a shared memory holding a management-information database;

and

if said access is decided to be said management according to said in-band mode, said data-transfer control section updates said management-information database in said shared memory.

16. A method of controlling a storage system that carries out sending/receiving of data to/from a plurality of external devices via a common network, said method for controlling access from said plurality of external devices to a storage apparatus for storing said data, said method comprising the steps of:

accepting access according to different types of protocols from said plurality of external devices via said common network;

analyzing said protocol used for said access from said external device accessing through said external interface; and

carrying out said sending/receiving of data based on a result of said analysis.

17. A method of controlling a storage system according to claim 16, wherein

said step of analyzing said protocol includes:

deciding an access type of said external device based on a port number included in a header of said data; and

said step of carrying out said sending/receiving of data includes;

carrying out said sending/receiving of data between said storage apparatus and said external device according to said access type.

18. A method of controlling a storage system according to claim 17, wherein

said step of deciding an access type includes the steps of:

if said access type is decided to be a network-interface access, deciding whether or not said access is a network access or a management request;

if said access is decided to be said network access, making an operating system of a processor for management carry out processing of said data; and

if said access is decided to be a management-interface access according to an out-of-band mode, making a management-application program installed in said operating system of said processor for management update a management-information database.

19. A method of controlling a storage system according to claim 17, wherein

said step of deciding an access type includes the steps of:

if said access type is decided to be a block-storage-interface access, further deciding whether or not said access is a data access or a management according to an in-band mode;

if said access is decided to be said data access, making a device driver carry out a block-device access to said storage apparatus; and

if said access is decided to be said management according to said in-band mode, making a data-transfer control section update a management-information database in a shared memory.