Computer system with plurality of database management systems

• US 20040243647A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Oheda, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/256 in federated or virtual databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

According to the invention, a database combining module, such as a software on a server, is used together with a resource manager software of a disk storage system in which a database is stored. A resource allocation for the disk storage system is determined to satisfy specifications requested by a user provided to a database combining module. Host paths and volumes are allocated and snapshots are controlled based on the processing of these software modules.

Claims

1. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

a disk storage system that stores a plurality of databases;

a module that combines databases, said module disposed in a server connected to said disk storage system; and

a network that interconnects said disk storage system and said server, wherein said module that combines databases, responsive to receiving user-requested specifications, controls data transfer bandwidth for reflecting update data from a database in said disk storage system to another database; and

wherein said disk storage system performs resource allocations for said bandwidth responsive to control from said module that combines databases.

2. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

a disk storage system that stores a plurality of databases;

a module that combines databases, said module disposed in a server connected to said disk storage system; and

a network that connects said disk storage system with said server, wherein said module that combines databases, responsive to receiving user-requested specifications relating to a requested refresh rate and a replication data volume, determines a required bandwidth and resources therefor in order to satisfy said user-requested specifications, and wherein said module that combines databases controls resources of said disk storage system; and

wherein said disk storage system performs resource allocations for said bandwidth based on control from said module that combines databases.

3. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

a module that controls refreshes responsive to a requested refresh rate;

a module that controls replica creation;

wherein said module that controls refreshes further comprises a module that combines databases, which instructs, at intervals based on said requested refresh rate, said module that controls replica creation to replicate at least one database; and

a disk storage system that stores a plurality of databases, wherein said disk storage subsystem reflects update data from a first database to a second database under control of said module that controls replica creation.

4. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems for performing database replication, said computer system comprising:

a disk storage system that stores a database;

a module that combines databases which, when data from a data warehouse database is to be reflected in a plurality of data marts, measures replication processing time and, if said processing time is at or exceeds requested specifications, creates a replica of a data warehouse database in said disk storage system.

5. In a computer system comprising a first server and a second server, interconnected by a network to a disk storage subsystem, a method for replicating content of a first database associated with said first server to a second database associated with said second server, said first database and said second database disposed in said disk storage subsystem, said method comprising:

allocating resources to perform a copy within said disk storage subsystem; and

replicating content from said first database to said second database;

wherein said replicating is performed using said resources in said disk subsystem substantially independently of sending said content over said network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said first database is of a first format and said second database is of a second format, said replicating content from said first database to said second database in said disk subsystem further comprising:

replicating said content from said first database to an intermediate database, said intermediate database disposed on a shared volume of both said first format and said second format; and

replicating said content form said intermediate database to said second database.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said computer system further comprises a third server, said method further comprising:

receiving at said third server at least one of a plurality of requested specifications relating to replication;

determining a data transfer capacity according to said specifications;

determining at least one of a plurality of data transfer capacity settings according to said data transfer capacity;

notifying said disk subsystem of said data transfer capacity settings; and

allocating resources in said disk subsystem for data transfer based on said data transfer capacity settings.

8. In a computer system comprising a first server and a second server, interconnected by a network to a disk storage subsystem, a computer program product for replicating content of a first database associated with said first server to a second database associated with said second server, said first database and said second database disposed in said disk storage subsystem, said computer program product comprising:

code for allocating resources to perform a copy within said disk storage subsystem;

code for replicating content from said first database to said second database;

wherein said replicating is performed using said resources in said disk subsystem substantially independently of sending said content over said network; and

a computer readable storage medium for holding the code.

9. A disk storage subsystem, said disk storage subsystem operable in a computer system comprising a plurality of computers, said plurality of computers interconnected to said disk storage subsystem by at least one of a plurality of information channels, wherein said disk storage subsystem copies content from a first database to a second database using resources in said disk subsystem substantially independently of sending said content over said information channels;

and wherein said disk storage subsystem performs copies said content in accordance with a resource allocation received from one of said plurality of computers, said resource allocation based upon at least one of a plurality of data transfer capacity settings determined by said one of said plurality of computers in accordance with a data transfer capacity and at least one of a plurality of received specifications.

10. A disk storage subsystem operable in a computer system comprising a first server and a second server, interconnected by a network to said disk storage subsystem, wherein said disk storage subsystem replicates content of a first database associated with said first server to a second database associated with said second server, said first database and said second database disposed in said disk storage subsystem, wherein said disk storage subsystem allocates resources to perform content replication within said disk storage subsystem;

and said disk storage subsystem replicates content from said first database to said second database;

wherein said replicating is performed substantially independently of sending said content over said network.

11. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

a disk storage system storing a plurality of databases;

means for combining databases disposed in a server connected to said disk storage system and a network, receiving user-requested specifications, and controlling data transfer bandwidth involved in reflecting update data from a database in said disk storage system to another database; and

said disk storage system performing resource allocations for said bandwidth based on control from said database combining means.

12. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

a disk storage system storing a plurality of databases;

means for combining databases disposed in a server connected to said disk storage system and a network, receiving user-requested specifications relating to requested refresh rate and replication data volume, determining required bandwidth and resources therefor in order to satisfy said user-requested specifications, and controlling resources of said disk storage system; and

said disk storage system performing resource allocations for said bandwidth based on control from said database combining means.

13. In a computer system performing database replication, a computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

a disk storage system storing a plurality of databases, connected to a network, and including an interface relating to a plurality of heterogeneous database management systems, a shared volume acting as an intermediate file in replication operations, a plurality of host paths sending and receiving data to and from a server; and

means for creating replicas creating snapshots of a database serving as a transfer source of data in replication operations;

means for combining databases disposed in a server connected to said network, receiving user-requested specifications relating to requested data refresh rates and replication data volume, and specifying a number of said host paths, a number of said shared volumes, and a number of replicas based on snapshots in order to satisfy said requested specifications; and

wherein said disk storage system allocates said host paths and said shared volumes as specified, executes snapshots, reports results to said server, and allocates resources relating to said bandwidth.

14. A computer system with a plurality of database management systems comprising:

means for controlling refreshes receiving a requested refresh rate;

means for creating replicas controlling replica creation; and

said refresh controlling means including means for combining database instructing, at intervals based on said requested refresh rate, said replica creating means to execute replication, and a disk storage system storing a plurality of databases, and reflecting update data from a database to another database based on control from said replica creating means.