Storage control apparatus
First Claim
1. A storage system comprising:
- a plurality of ports for receiving data from a plurality of host computers wherein each host computer is identified by a World Wide Name (WWN) and wherein the WWNs of the host computers include at least one priority WWN and at least one non-priority WWN;
a plurality of storage regions including a plurality of storage devices wherein at least one storage device is a priority storage device and at least one storage device is a non-priority storage device; and
a processor operative to selectively process an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a WWN associated with a host computer, wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority WWN and if there is a priority WWN whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level, and wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority storage device and if there is a priority storage device whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In response to requests for I/O processing sent from a computer, I/O which should be processed at a priority is enabled to be processed without being affected by other processing, by classifying I/O into those to be processed at a priority and those not to be processed at a priority. The storage control apparatus comprises an I/O processing controller with a memory that is common for the whole controller. The storage control apparatus manages information for dividing and controlling a plurality of I/O processes as priority and non-priority in that memory and operates while suppressing non-priority I/O processing on the basis of information in the memory.
11 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A storage system comprising:
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a plurality of ports for receiving data from a plurality of host computers wherein each host computer is identified by a World Wide Name (WWN) and wherein the WWNs of the host computers include at least one priority WWN and at least one non-priority WWN;
a plurality of storage regions including a plurality of storage devices wherein at least one storage device is a priority storage device and at least one storage device is a non-priority storage device; and
a processor operative to selectively process an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a WWN associated with a host computer, wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority WWN and if there is a priority WWN whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level, and wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority storage device and if there is a priority storage device whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A storage system comprising:
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a plurality of ports for receiving data from a plurality of host computers wherein each host computer is associated with a path and wherein the paths associated with said host computers include at least one priority path and one non-priority path;
a plurality of storage regions including a plurality of storage devices wherein at least one storage device is a priority storage device and at least one storage device is a non-priority storage device; and
a processor operative to selectively process an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a path associated with a host computer;
wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority path and if there is a priority path whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level, and wherein said processor delays processing the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority storage device and if there is a priority storage device whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A storage system comprising:
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a plurality of ports for receiving data from a plurality of host computers wherein each host computer is associated with a path and wherein the paths associated with said host computers include at least one priority path and one non-priority path;
a plurality of storage regions including a plurality of storage devices wherein at least one storage device is a priority storage device and at least one storage device is a non-priority storage device; and
a processor operative to selectively process an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a path associated with a host computer;
wherein an I/O request that specifies a priority path and a priority storage device defines a priority request, and wherein said processor delays processing an I/O request that is not a priority request if there is a priority request whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of storing data, the method comprising:
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receiving an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a World Wide Name (WWN) associated with a host computer;
determining whether the I/O request specifies a priority WWN or a non-priority WWN;
determining whether the I/O request specifies a priority storage device or a non-priority storage device;
delaying processing of the I/O request if the I/O specifies a non-priority WWN and if there is a priority WWN whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level; and
delaying processing of the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority storage device and if there is a priority storage device whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of storing data, the method comprising:
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receiving an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a path associated with a host computer;
determining whether the I/O request specifies a priority path or a non-priority path;
determining whether the I/O request specifies a priority storage device or a non-priority storage device;
delaying processing of the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority path and if there is a priority path whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level; and
delaying processing of the I/O request if the I/O request specifies a non-priority storage device and if there is a priority storage device whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of storing data, the method comprising:
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receiving an I/O request that specifies a storage device for storing or retrieving data, the I/O request further specifying a path associated with a host computer;
determining whether the I/O request specifies a priority path or a non-priority path;
determining whether the I/O request specifies a priority storage device or a non-priority storage device;
detecting a priority request if the I/O request specifies a priority path and the I/O request specifies a priority storage device; and
delaying processing of the I/O request if the I/O request is not a priority request and if there is a priority request whose actual I/O activity exceeds its threshold activity level. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification