Disk array control apparatus and control data transfer method using the same
First Claim
1. A disk array control apparatus comprising a plurality of disk array control units, each having:
- a channel interface interfacing with a host computer;
a disk interface interfacing with a magnetic disk device;
a cache memory for temporarily storing data to be read/written from/to the magnetic disk device;
a shared memory portion for storing control information concerning data transfer between the channel interface and the cache memory and between the disk interface and the cache memory and management information of the magnetic disk device;
connection means (thick line) for connecting the channel interface and the disk interface to the cache memory; and
connection means (thick line) for connecting the channel interface and the disk interface to the shared memory portion;
wherein for data read/write request from the host computer, the channel interface performs data transfer between the interface with the host computer and the cache memory while the disk interface performs data transfer between the magnetic disk device and the cache memory, thereby performing data read/write, and wherein connection network means is provided for connection between the shared memory portions in the plurality of disk array control units and connection network means is provided for connection between the cache memories in the plurality of disk array control units, thereby enabling transfer processing requiring data transfer between the shared memory portion in one of the disk array control units and the shared memory portion in another disk array control unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disk array control apparatus includes a plurality of disk array control units for controlling data transfer between a plurality of host computers and a plurality of magnetic disk devices via a channel interface and a disk interface. The apparatus also includes an interconnection network for connection between shared memory portions in the plurality of disk array control units and an interconnection network for connection between cache memories in the disk array control units so as to transfer control information concerning data transfer between the host computers and cache memories and management information of the magnetic disk devices from one of the disk array control units to another of disk array control units. This enables to execute data processing while data transfer is performed from one of the disk array control units to another thereof.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A disk array control apparatus comprising a plurality of disk array control units, each having:
-
a channel interface interfacing with a host computer;
a disk interface interfacing with a magnetic disk device;
a cache memory for temporarily storing data to be read/written from/to the magnetic disk device;
a shared memory portion for storing control information concerning data transfer between the channel interface and the cache memory and between the disk interface and the cache memory and management information of the magnetic disk device;
connection means (thick line) for connecting the channel interface and the disk interface to the cache memory; and
connection means (thick line) for connecting the channel interface and the disk interface to the shared memory portion;
wherein for data read/write request from the host computer, the channel interface performs data transfer between the interface with the host computer and the cache memory while the disk interface performs data transfer between the magnetic disk device and the cache memory, thereby performing data read/write, and wherein connection network means is provided for connection between the shared memory portions in the plurality of disk array control units and connection network means is provided for connection between the cache memories in the plurality of disk array control units, thereby enabling transfer processing requiring data transfer between the shared memory portion in one of the disk array control units and the shared memory portion in another disk array control unit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
2. A disk array control apparatus comprising a plurality of disk array control units, each having:
-
a channel interface interfacing with a host computer;
a disk interface interfacing with a magnetic disk device;
a cache memory for temporarily storing data to be read/written from/to the magnetic disk device;
a shared memory portion for storing control information concerning data transfer between the channel interface and the cache memory and between the disk interface and the cache memory and management information of the magnetic disk device;
connection means (thick line) for connecting the channel interface and the disk interface to the cache memory; and
connection means (thick line) for connecting the channel interface and the disk interface to the shared memory portion;
wherein for data read/write request from the host computer, the channel interface performs data transfer between the interface with the host computer and the cache memory while the disk interface performs data transfer between the magnetic disk device and the cache memory, thereby performing data read/write, and wherein connection network means is provided for connection between the shared memory portions in the plurality of disk array control units and connection network means is provided for connection between the cache memories in the plurality of disk array control units, thereby enabling transfer processing requiring data transfer between the shared memory portion in one of the disk array control units and the shared memory portion in another disk array control unit as well as data read/write processing to a transfer processing domain from the channel interface and the disk interface in the disk array control unit even during a transfer processing.
-
-
12. A control data transfer method of using a plurality of disk array control means for controlling data transfer between a plurality of host computers and a plurality of magnetic disk devices via channel interface and disk interface when control information concerning data transfer between the host computers and cache memories and management information of the magnetic disk devices are transferred from one of the disk array control means to another of the disk array control means, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) instructing a data transfer request from a micro-program of the channel interface of a data transfer source to the shared memory portion of the disk array control means;
(b) setting a transfer source start address of the shared memory of the data transfer source in transfer source start address means of a data transfer destination;
(c) setting a transfer destination start address of the shared memory of the data transfer destination in the transfer destination start address means;
(d) setting a transfer end address of the shared memory of the data transfer destination in transfer destination end address means;
(e) setting a valid bit indicating a data transfer start in transfer execution bit means of the transfer destination;
; and
(f) performing data transfer by setting the valid bit to execute address generation logic means for data transfer, transfer decision logic means for deciding a state of the data transfer, and transfer end decision logic means.
-
Specification