Device and method for generating a logical path between connection of control device connected to a host device and memory device provided in said control device

• US 20060101169A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Akio Shiga, Dai Taninaka, Tatsuya Murakami
• Original Assignee: Akio Shiga, Dai Taninaka, Tatsuya Murakami
• Inventors: Murakami, Tatsuya, Taninaka, Dai, Shiga, Akio
• Application Number:
  US11/020,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/36
• 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 3/0665 at area level, e.g. provisioning of virtual or logical volumes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A control device (4A) has a plurality of memory devices (1A), a first connection (92B) to be connected to a host device, and a second connection (92A) to be connected to an external memory control device (4B). The plurality of memory devices includes a memory device associated with the external memory device (4A). Provided are a first specifying unit (800) for specifying a host access external memory device, which is to be accessed by the host device, among the plurality of external memory devices; a second specifying unit (800) for specifying a mapping memory device, which is associated with the specified host access external memory device, among the plurality of memory devices; and a logical path generation unit for generating a logical path between the specified mapping memory device and the first connection.

Claims

1. A device,

wherein an external memory control device and a host device are connected to a control device;

said external memory control device has a plurality of external memory devices containing an external memory device to be accessed by said host device;

said control device has a plurality of memory devices, a first connection to be connected to said host device, and a second connection to be connected to said external memory control device;

said plurality of memory devices include a memory device associated with an external memory device;

said device comprising;

a first specifying unit for specifying a host access external memory device, which is an external memory device to be accessed by said host device, among the plurality of external memory devices;

a second specifying unit for specifying a mapping memory device, which is a memory device associated with said specified host access external memory device, among the plurality of memory devices; and

a logical path generation unit for generating a logical path between said specified mapping memory device and said first connection.

2. A device according to claim 1,

wherein said first specifying unit inputs host external information containing external device identifying information for identifying said host access external memory device, and acquires said external device identifying information from said host external information;

said second specifying unit acquires identifying information of said mapping memory device associated with said acquired external device identifying information from the mapping information in which identifying information of the memory device is associated with the identifying information of the external memory device; and

said logical path generation unit generates host first path information containing identifying information of said acquired mapping memory device, and connection identifying information of the first connection connected to said host device among one or more first connections.

3. A device according to claim 2,

wherein said connection identifying information is a number for specifying a first connection;

and

said logical path generation unit acquires an unused number if the number scheduled to be contained in said host first path information has already been assigned to another first connection in said control device, and generates host first path information containing said acquired unused number.

4. A device according to claim 2,

wherein said host external information contains an external logical unit number associated with said host access external memory device;

said logical path generation unit determines whether the external logical unit number acquired from said host external information is usable in said control device, and, if usable, includes said external logical unit number in host first path information as the logical unit number associated with said mapping memory device, and, if unusable, acquires a usable logical unit number, and generates host first path information containing the acquired logical unit number.

5. A device according to claim 2,

wherein said external memory control device performs IO processing to the external memory device according to the IO request from said host device, generates IO monitor data, which is data relating to said IO processing, for each external memory device, and outputs IO-related information containing the identifying information of said external memory device and the IO monitor data;

said host external information is said IO-related information; and

said first specifying unit receives the IO-related information output from said external memory control device, and acquires identifying information of said external memory device from said IO-related information.

6. A device according to claim 2,

wherein said host external information is a text file described in a prescribed format.

7. A device according to claim 1,

wherein said first specifying unit, said second specifying unit and said logical path setting unit are mounted on at least one of said control device, said host device and said external memory control device in a concentrated or dispersed manner.

8. A method,

wherein an external memory control device and a host device are connected to a control device;

said external memory control device has a plurality of external memory devices containing an external memory device to be accessed by said host device;

said control device has a plurality of memory devices, a first connection to be connected to said host device, and a second connection to be connected to said external memory control device;

said plurality of memory devices include a memory device associated with an external memory device;

said method comprising;

a step of specifying a host access external memory device, which is an external memory device to be accessed by said host device, among the plurality of external memory devices;

a step of specifying a mapping memory device, which is a memory device associated with said specified host access external memory device, among the plurality of memory devices; and

a step of generating a logical path between said specified mapping memory device and said first connection.

9. A control device,

wherein an external memory control device and a host device are connected to a control device;

said external memory control device has a plurality of external memory devices containing an external memory device to be accessed by said host device;

said control device has a plurality of memory devices, a first port to be connected to said host device, and a second port to be connected to said external memory control device;

said plurality of memory devices include a mapping memory device associated with an external memory device;

said control device comprising;

a memory area for storing one or more computer programs; and

a processor operated by reading at least one among the one or more computer programs from said memory area;

said processor inputs host external information containing external device identifying information for identifying the host access external memory device to be accessed by said host device, and acquires said external device identifying information from said host external information;

acquires identifying information of said mapping memory device associated with said acquired external device identifying information from the mapping information in which the identifying information of the memory device is associated with the identifying information of the external memory device; and

generates host first path information containing said acquired identifying information of said mapping memory device, and the number of the first connection connected to said host device among the one or more first connections.