Heterogeneous computer system, heterogeneous input/output system and data back-up method for the systems

• US 20050138241A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Akira Yamamoto, Toshio Nakano, Yasuko Fukuzawa
• Original Assignee: Akira Yamamoto, Toshio Nakano, Yasuko Fukuzawa
• Inventors: Fukuzawa, Yasuko, Yamamoto, Akira, Nakano, Toshio
• Application Number:
  US11/058,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138241A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0623 in relation to content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays

Abstract

A system for storing data including first and second storage systems, each having a disk controller and plural disks under control of the disk controller. The first disk controller receives plural first I/O requests each including a different first disk ID from the other first I/O requests, and determines if the first disk ID indicates one of the second disks. If the first disk ID indicates one of the second disks, the first disk controller obtains an address of the second disk controller and a second disk ID of the second disks, and sends a second I/O request to the second disk controller based on the obtained address and disk ID. Plural second I/O requests, whose target second disk is different from each other based on the different first disk ID, are sent from the first storage system to the second storage system.

Claims

1. A system for storing data comprising:

a first storage system including a first disk controller and a plurality of first disks under control of the first disk controller; and

a second storage system including a second disk controller and a plurality of second disks under control of the second disk controller,

wherein the first disk controller is configured to receive a plurality of first I/O requests each including a different first disk ID from the other first I/O requests, and for each first I/O request, determine if the first disk ID indicates one of the plurality of second disks, and

wherein for each first I/O request, if the first disk ID indicates one of the plurality of second disks, the first disk controller is configured to obtain an address of the second disk controller and a second disk ID of the one of the plurality of second disks based on the first disk ID, and sends a second I/O request to the second disk controller according to the obtained address of the second controller and the obtained second disk ID, and

wherein a plurality of second I/O requests, whose target second disk is different from each other based on the different first disk ID, are sent from the first storage system to the second storage system.

2. A system for storing data according to claim 1, wherein the first storage system further comprises:

correlation information among a first disk ID, the address of the second disk controller, and a second disk ID, for each first disk ID included in the plurality of first I/O requests.

3. A system for storing data according to claim 2, wherein the correlation information is set in the first disk controller by a computer, which is different from a computer sending the plurality of first I/O requests to the first disk controller.

4. A system for storing data according to claim 1, wherein the second disk ID is an address of a second disk to identify the second disk among the plurality of second disks.

5. A system for storing data according to claim 1, wherein the second disk ID is an address assigned to the second storage system.

6. A system for storing data according to claim 1, wherein for each first I/O request, if the first disk ID indicates one of the plurality of first disks, the first disk controller is configured to execute I/O processing to the one of the plurality of first disks according to the received first I/O request.

7. A system for storing data according to claim 1, wherein the second storage system further comprises:

an interface for coupling to a computer.

8. A system for storing data according to claim 7, wherein the second storage system is coupled to the first storage system via the same type of interface as the interface for coupling to a computer.

9. A system for storing data comprising:

a first storage system including a first disk controller and a plurality of first disks coupled to the first disk controller; and

a second storage system including a second disk controller and a plurality of second disks coupled to the second disk controller,

wherein the first disk controller is configured to manage a plurality of first disk IDs, which includes a plurality of first type first disk IDs each designating one of the plurality of second disks,

wherein the first disk controller is configured to receive a first I/O request including a first disk ID, and select one disk controller coupled to a disk designated by the first disk ID included in the receive first I/O request, and

wherein if the selected disk controller is the second disk controller, the first disk controller is configured to obtain an address of the second disk controller, obtain a second disk ID of a second disk associated with the first disk ID among a plurality of second disk IDs each associated with one of the plurality of second type first disk IDs, and send a second I/O request to the second storage system according to the obtained address of the second disk controller and the obtained second disk ID.

10. A system for storing data according to claim 9, wherein the first storage system further comprises:

correlation information among a second type first disk ID, the address of the second disk controller, and a second disk ID for each of the plurality of second type first disk IDs.

11. A system for storing data according to claim 9, wherein the second disk ID is an address assigned to the second storage system.

12. A system for storing data according to claim 10, wherein the correlation information is set in the first disk controller by a computer, which is different from a computer issuing a first I/O request to the first storage system.

13. A system for storing data according to claim 9, wherein if the selected disk controller is the first disk controller, the first disk controller is configured to execute I/O process to one of the plurality of first disks according to the received first I/O request.

14. A system for storing data according to claim 9, wherein the second storage system further comprises:

an interface for coupling to a computer.

15. A system for storing data according to claim 14, wherein the second storage system is coupled to the first storage system via the same type of interface as the interface for coupling to a computer.

16. A system for storing data comprising:

a first disk controller; and

a plurality of first disks coupled to the first disk controller,

wherein the first disk controller is configured to manage a plurality of first disk IDs, which includes a plurality of first type first disk IDs each designating one of a plurality of second disks of another storage system including a plurality of said second disks and a second disk controller,

wherein the first disk controller is configured to receive a first I/O request including a first disk ID, and select one disk controller coupled to a disk designated by the first disk ID included in the receive first I/O request, and

wherein if the selected disk controller is the second disk controller, the first disk controller is configured to obtain an address of the second disk controller, obtain a second disk ID of a second disk associated with the first disk ID among a plurality of second disk IDs each associated with one of a plurality of second type first disk IDs, and send a second I/O request to the second storage system according to the obtained address of the second disk controller and the obtained second disk ID.

17. A storage system according to claim 16, further comprising:

correlation information among a second type first disk ID, the address of the second disk controller, and a second disk ID for each of the plurality of second type first disk IDs.

18. A storage system according to claim 17, wherein the correlation information is set in the first disk controller by a computer, which is different from a computer issuing a first I/O request to the first storage system.

19. A storage system according to claim 16, wherein the second disk ID is an address assigned to the second storage system.

20. A storage system according to claim 16, wherein if the selected disk controller is the first disk controller, the first disk controller is configured to execute I/O process to one of the plurality of first disks according to the received first I/O request.