Data migration method, protocol converter and switching apparatus using it

• US 20040158652A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kiyohiro Obara
• Original Assignee: Kiyohiro Obara
• Inventors: Obara, Kiyohiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• 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 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

An online data migration method is provided for transferring data from a computer and an existing storage system using the conventional interface such as SCSI to a new storage system using SAN. The present method comprises the steps of disconnecting the connection between the computer and the first storage system with first interface protocol, connecting the computer to a switch connected to a second storage system with a second interface protocol through first protocol converter having protocol converting facility, connecting the switch to the first storage system through second protocol converter, and migrating data in the first storage system into the second storage system via the switch.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first storage system; and

a switch apparatus connectable the first storage system,

wherein the first storage system includes a plurality of ports connectable to the switch apparatus,

wherein the switch apparatus comprises;

a first port connectable to the first storage system,

a second port connectable to a host computer,

a third port connectable to a second storage system, and

a plurality of processing apparatuses connectable to the first, second, and third ports,

wherein the plurality of processing apparatuses convert a first protocol used in a first connection between the plurality of ports of the first storage system and the first port of the switch apparatus and a second connection between the host computer and the second port of the switch apparatus to a second protocol used in a third connection between the second storage system and the third port of the switch apparatus when the switch apparatus transfers data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the switch apparatus converts the second protocol to the first protocol when the switch apparatus transfers data from the second storage system to the first storage system.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first protocol is a SCSI protocol and the second protocol is a fiber channel protocol.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of processing apparatuses of the switch apparatus execute a migration of data from the first storage system to the second storage system via the first port and the third port.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the switch apparatus further comprises a memory in which information for converting the first protocol to the second protocol and information for converting the second protocol to the first protocol are stored.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the migration is executed while the host computer is accessing the first storage system.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the switch apparatus converts a command for responding to the first protocol to the first storage system, said command being transferred by the host computer, to a command for responding to the second protocol to the second storage system to transfer the converted command to the second storage system.

9. The switch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the switch apparatus converts the second protocol to the first protocol when the switch apparatus transfers data from the second storage system to the first storage system.

10. The switch apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first protocol is a SCSI protocol and the second protocol is a fiber channel protocol.

11. The switch apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of processing apparatuses of the switch apparatus execute a migration of data from the first storage system to the second storage system via the first port and the third port.

12. The switch apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the switch apparatus further comprises;

a memory in which information for converting the first protocol to the second protocol and information for converting the second protocol to the first protocol are stored.

13. The switch apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the migration is executed while the host computer is accessing the first storage system.

14. The switch apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the switch apparatus converts a command for responding to the first protocol to the first storage system, said command being transferred by the host computer, to a command for responding to the second protocol to the second storage system to transfer the converted command to the second storage system.

8. A switch apparatus comprising:

a first port connectable to a first storage system;

a second port connectable to a host computer;

a third port connectable to a second storage system; and

a plurality of processing apparatuses connectable to the first, second, and third ports,

wherein the plurality of processing apparatuses convert a first protocol used in a first connection between the plurality of ports of the first storage system and the first port of the switch apparatus and a second connection between the host computer and the second port of the switch apparatus to a second protocol used in a third connection between the second storage system and the third port of the switch apparatus when the switch apparatus transfers data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

15. A system comprising:

a first storage system;

a switch apparatus connectable the first storage system; and

a second storage system connectable to the switch apparatus,

wherein the first storage system includes a plurality of ports connectable to the switch apparatus,

wherein the second storage system includes a plurality of ports connectable to the switch apparatus,

wherein the switch apparatus comprises;

a first port connectable to the first storage system,

a second port connectable to a host computer,

a third port connectable to a second storage system, and

a plurality of processing apparatuses connectable to the first, second, and third ports,

wherein the plurality of processing apparatuses convert a first protocol used in a first connection between the plurality of ports of the first storage system and the first port of the switch apparatus and a second connection between the host computer and the second port of the switch apparatus to a second protocol used in a third connection between the plurality of ports of the second storage system and the third port of the switch apparatus when the switch apparatus transfers data from the first storage system to the second storage system.