Dynamic storage device pooling in a computer system

• US 20040221114A1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kumar, Manoj, Kottomtharayil, Rajiv, Devassy, Varghese
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/151
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• 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 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]

Abstract

A method for dynamically allocating control of a storage device, the method comprising receiving an access request from a first computer requesting access to a storage device; directing, based upon the access request, a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state with respect to control of the storage device; and directing, based upon the access request, a second storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically allocating control of a storage device, the method comprising:

receiving an access request from a first computer requesting access to a storage device;

directing, based upon the access request, a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state with respect to control of the storage device; and

directing, based upon the access request, a second storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting access to a storage device comprises requesting access to a backup storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting access to a storage device comprises requesting access to a storage device via a storage area network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein directing a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state comprises demounting the storage device from the first computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein directing a second storage controller computer to assume an active state comprises mounting the storage device to the second computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an access request from a first computer comprises receiving an access request at a storage controller computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an access request from a first computer comprises receiving an access request at a storage manager computer.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising generating storage path data indicating a network path to the storage device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating storage path data comprises generating storage path data at the second storage controller computer.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising communicating the storage path data to a storage manager computer.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising communicating the storage path data to the first computer.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising allocating control of the storage device based on the priority of a storage operation.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising storing, in a database, control data indicating a change in control of the storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein storing control data in a database comprises storing control data in a storage controller computer database.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein storing control data in a database comprises storing control data in a storage manager computer database.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising identifying, based upon the control data, whether the first or second storage controller computer is available to perform a storage operation.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising directing, based upon the availability of the first or second controller computer, a third storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device.

18. A system for dynamically allocating control of a storage device, the system comprising:

a storage device for performing storage operations as directed by a storage controller computer;

a first storage controller computer programmed to direct storage operations performed by the storage device;

a second storage controller computer programmed to direct storage operations performed by the storage device; and

a storage manager computer programmed, based upon an access request from a first computer requesting access to the storage device, to direct a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state with respect to control of the storage device and to direct a second storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage device comprises a backup storage device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the access request is communicated via a storage area network.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein directing a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state comprises demounting the storage device from the first computer.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein directing a second storage controller computer to assume an active state comprises mounting the storage device to the second computer.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the access request is received at a storage controller computer.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the access request is received at a storage manager computer.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage controller computers are programmed to generate storage path data indicating a network path to the storage device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the storage controller computers are programmed to communicate the storage path data to the storage manager computer.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the storage controller computers are programmed to communicate the storage path data to the first computer.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage manager computer is programmed to generate storage path data indicating a network path to the storage device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the storage manager computer is programmed to communicate the storage path data to the first computer.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage controller computer is programmed to allocate control of the storage device based on the priority of a storage operation.

31. The system of claim 18, comprising a database for storing control data indicating a change in control of the storage device.

32. The system of claim 31 ,wherein the database comprises a storage controller computer database.

33. The system of claim 31 ,wherein the database comprises a storage manager computer database.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the storage manager computer is programmed to identify, based upon the control data, whether the first or second storage controller computer is available to perform a storage operation.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein, based upon the availability of the first or second storage controller, the storage manager computer is programmed to direct a third storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device.