Disk array device and controlling method thereof

• US 20050268033A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ogasawara, Hiroshi, Igarashi, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0637 Permissions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

The present invention provides a storage unit system that can be connected to a plurality of different kinds of networks and a controlling method for a system LU of a storage device control unit required in such a storage unit system. In the storage unit system, to an LDEV of a storage device, it is possible to set a system LU for storing control information in the storage unit system itself and a user LU for writing write data sent from a host device, while a management terminal specifies a system LU or a user LU to set a path definition to the LDEV and a CHN inhibits an access to the system LU from the host device in accordance with distinction specified by the management terminal. Furthermore, a path of the system LU is automatically defined to a backup LU, so that the control information stored in the system LU is backed up to the backup LU.

Claims

1. A disk array device comprising:

a plurality of storage devices for storing data;

a storage device control unit for controlling a data write or read operation to said plurality of storage devices;

a connection portion connected to said storage device control unit;

a plurality of channel control portions for receiving a write or read request from an external host device of the disk array device itself, converting file-level data sent from said host device into block-level data, and transferring it to said plurality of storage devices so that these data pieces may be classified into a plurality of cluster groups;

a shared memory storing control information exchanged between said plurality of channel control portions and said storage device control unit;

a cache memory temporarily saving data exchanged between said plurality of channel control portions and said storage device control unit; and

a management terminal for setting a logical configuration of said plurality of storage devices,

wherein, in a plurality of LDEVs which are logical storage regions of said plurality of storage devices, a system LU which is a storage region for storing control information in the disk array device itself and a user LU which is a storage region for writing write data sent from said host device are settable,

said management terminal has a function to specify said system LU or said user LU in order to set a path definition with respect to said plurality of LDEVs, and

said plurality of channel control portions each have a function to inhibit an access to said system LU from said host device in accordance with distinction of said system LU or said user LU specified by said management terminal.

2. The disk array device according to claim 1,

wherein, in said plurality of LDEVs of said plurality of storage devices, a backup LU which is a storage region for backing up said control information stored in said system LU is settable, and

a function is provided to automatically define a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU and to backup the control information stored in said system LU with respect to said backup LU.

3. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein said function to automatically define the path of said system LU is realized by said management terminal and said plurality of channel control portions,

said management terminal has a function to assign said system LU of which a path definition is desired, to the settable LDEV of said plurality of LDEVs, and

said plurality of channel control portions each have a function to automatically define a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU of said settable LDEV assigned by said management terminal.

4. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein said function to automatically define the path of said system LU is realized by said plurality of channel control portions, and

said plurality of channel control portions each have a function to assign said system LU for which a path definition is desired, to the settable LDEV of said plurality of LDEVs, and to automatically define a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU of said settable LDEV assigned.

5. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein said function to automatically define the path of said system LU is realized by said management terminal, and

said management terminal has a function to assign said system LU for which a path definition is desired, to the settable LDEV of said plurality of LDEVs, and to automatically define a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU of said settable LDEV assigned.

6. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is OS information, and

said OS information is backed up to said backup LU.

7. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is dump information, and

said dump information is backed up to said backup LU;

8. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is command device information, and

said command device information is backed up to said backup LU.

9. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is fault information, and

said fault information is backed up to said backup LU.

10. The disk array device according to claim 2,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is cluster-shared information, and

said cluster-shared information is backed up to said backup LU.

11. A controlling method of a disk array device, said disk array device comprising:

a plurality of storage devices for storing data;

a storage device control unit for controlling a data write or read operation to said plurality of storage devices;

a connection portion connected to said storage device control unit;

a plurality of channel control portions for receiving a write or read request from an external host device of the disk array device itself, converting file-level data sent from said host device into block-level data, and transferring it to said plurality of storage devices so that these data pieces may be classified into a plurality of cluster groups;

a shared memory storing control information exchanged between said plurality of channel control portions and said storage device control unit;

a cache memory temporarily saving data exchanged between said plurality of channel control portions and said storage device control unit; and

a management terminal for setting a logical configuration of said plurality of storage devices,

wherein, in a plurality of LDEVs which are logical storage regions of said plurality of storage devices, a system LU which is a storage region for storing control information in the disk array device itself and a user LU which is a storage region for writing write data sent from said host device are settable,

said management terminal specifies said system LU or said user LU in order to set a path definition with respect to said plurality of LDEVs, and

said plurality of channel control portions each inhibit an access to said system LU from said host device in accordance with distinction of said system LU or said user LU specified by said management terminal.

12. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 11,

wherein, in said plurality of LDEVs of said plurality of storage devices, a backup LU which is a storage region for backing up said control information stored in said system LU is settable, and

a path of said system LU is automatically defined with respect to said backup LU, and the control information stored in said system LU is backed up with respect to said backup LU.

13. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein said function to automatically define the path of said system LU is realized by said management terminal and said plurality of channel control portions,

said management terminal assigns said system LU of which a path definition is desired, to the settable LDEV of said plurality of LDEVs, and

said plurality of channel control portions each define automatically a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU of said settable LDEV assigned by said management terminal.

14. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein said function to automatically define the path of said system LU is realized by said plurality of channel control portions, and

said plurality of channel control portions each assign said system LU for which a path definition is desired, to the settable LDEV of said plurality of LDEVs, and define automatically a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU of said settable LDEV assigned.

15. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein said function to automatically define the path of said system LU is realized by said management terminal, and

said management terminal assigns said system LU for which a path definition is desired, to the settable LDEV of said plurality of LDEVs, and defines automatically a path of said system LU with respect to said backup LU of said settable LDEV assigned.

16. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is OS information, and

said OS information is backed up to said backup LU.

17. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is dump information, and

said dump information is backed up to said backup LU;

18. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is command device information, and

said command device information is backed up to said backup LU.

19. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is fault information, and

said fault information is backed up to said backup LU.

20. The controlling method of a disk array device according to claim 12,

wherein the control information stored in said system LU is cluster-shared information, and

said cluster-shared information is backed up to said backup LU.