Storage subsystem that connects fibre channel and supports online backup

• US 20050102555A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenichi Takamoto, Yoshiko Matsumoto
• Original Assignee: Kenichi Takamoto, Yoshiko Matsumoto
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Yoshiko, Takamoto, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• 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

Abstract

A disk array connected to a storage area network via a fibre channel has one or more ports each controlled by a processor. Even the disk array with one port and one processor executes online processing and backup processing at the same time while considering an online processing load. A port controller not only accepts a request from a host computer but issues a request to other storage controllers to allow online processing and backup processing to be executed at the same time. In addition, the disk array, if provided with a plurality of ports, selects ports or schedules processing depending upon the load to prevent backup processing from affecting online processing performance.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of controllers,

wherein each controller comprises;

a port connected to one or more host computers via a fibre channel network for receiving first data transferred from said host computers,

a port controller connected to said port for controlling said port,

a cache memory connected to said port controller for storing data temporarily,

a disk device group, connected to said plurality of controllers, for storing said first data from said host computers, said disk device group including a plurality of disk devices,

wherein said port controller receives said first data from said host computers via said port, sends second data via said port to an external storage system connected to said port via said fibre channel network, and executes receiving said first data and sending said second data in a time-sharing manner, and

wherein said controller executes backup processing via said port.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said controller executes backup processing and online processing via said port.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein if a backup request is sent from a host computer, said controller executes backup processing to said external storage system and duplexing data stored in said disk device group on two different logical volumes for backup processing in a time-sharing manner.

4. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of controllers,

wherein each controller comprises;

a port connected to one or more host computers via a fibre channel network for receiving first data transferred from said host computers,

a port controller connected to said port for controlling said port,

a cache memory connected to said port controller for storing data temporarily,

a disk device group, connected to said plurality of controllers for storing said first data from said host computers, said disk device group including a plurality of disk devices,

wherein said port controller receives said first data from said host computers via said port, sends second data via said port to an external storage system connected to said port via said fibre channel network, and executes receiving said first data and sending said second data in a time-sharing manner, and

wherein said port controller executes at least two tasks at the same time in a time-sharing manner.

5. A storage system according to claim 4, wherein said at least two tasks include an initiator task executed in response to an access request to be sent to another storage system and a target task executed in response to an access request received from another system.

6. A storage system according to claim 5, wherein said another system is the host computer.

7. A storage system according to claim 6, wherein said initiator task is a communication task by which said controller transfers data to said another storage system for backup processing, and

wherein said target task is a task by which said controller sends and receives data input/output (I/O) commands to or from the host computer.

8. A storage system according to claim 7, wherein said disk device group has a main logical volume and a sub-logical volume,

wherein said sub-logical volume is the duplicate of said main logical volume, and

wherein said port controller receives said first data which is transferred from said host computers to said main logical volume, and sends second data which is stored in said sub-logical volume to an external storage system for backup while said main logical volume and said sub-logical volume are maintained in a suspended state.

9. A storage system according to claim 4, wherein said at least two tasks include first task and second task,

wherein said first task is a task to be generated by said controller and to be sent to said external storage system, and

wherein said second task is a task executed in response to an access request received from another system.

10. A disk controller for use in a storage system comprising:

a plurality of controllers,

wherein each controller comprises;

a port connected to one or more host computers via a fibre channel network for receiving first data transferred from said host computers,

a port controller connected to said port for controlling said port,

a cache memory connected to said port controller for storing data temporarily,

a disk device group, connected to said plurality of controllers, for storing said first data from said host computers, said disk device group including a plurality of disk device,

wherein said port controller receives said first data from said host computes via said port, sends second data via said port to an external storage system connected to said port via said fibre channel network, and executes receiving said first data and sending said second data in a time-sharing manner, and

wherein said controller executes backup processing via said port.

11. A disk controller according to claim 10, wherein said controller executes backup processing and online processing via said port.

12. A disk controller according to claim 10, wherein if a backup request is sent from a host computer, said controller executes backup processing to said external storage system and duplexing data stored in said disk device group on two different logical volumes for backup processing in a time-sharing manner.

13. A disk controller for use in a storage system comprising:

a plurality of controllers,

wherein each controller comprises;

a port connected to one or more host computers via a fibre channel network for receiving first data transferred from said host computers,

a port controller connected to said port for controlling said port,

a cache memory connected to said port controller for storing data temporarily,

a disk device group, connected to said plurality of controllers, for storing said first data from said host computers, said disk device group including a plurality of disk devices,

wherein said port controller receives said first data from said host computers to said port via said fibre channel network, and executes receiving said first data and sending said second data in a time-sharing, and

wherein said port controller executes at least two tasks at the same time in a time-sharing manner.

14. A disk controller according to claim 13, wherein said at least two tasks include an initiator task executed in response to an access request to be sent to another storage system and a target task executed in response to an access request received from another system.

15. A disk controller according to claim 14, wherein said another system is the host computer.

16. A disk controller according to claim 15, wherein said initiator task is a communication task by which said controller transfers data to said another storage system for backup processing, and

wherein said target task is a task by which said controller sends and receives data input/output (I/O) commands to or from the host computer.

17. A disk controller according to claim 16, wherein said disk device group has a main logical volume and a sub-logical volume,

wherein said sub-logical volume is the duplicate of said main logical volume, and

wherein said port controller receives said first data which is transferred from said host computers to said main logical volume, and sends second data which is stored in said sub-logical volume to an external storage system for backup while said main logical volume and said sub-logical volume are maintained in a suspended state.

18. A disk controller according to claim 13, wherein said at least two tasks include first task and second task,

wherein said first task is a task to be generated by said controller and to be sent to said external storage system, and

wherein the said second task is a task executed in response to an access request received from another system.