Computer platform cache data remote backup processing method and system

• US 20070101186A1
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chih-Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/266,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2056 by mirroring

Abstract

A computer platform cache data remote backup processing method and system is proposed, which is designed for providing a main computer platform with a cache data remote backup capability through a backup computer platform; which is characterized by the provision of an interlinking mechanism between the main and backup computer platforms such that all the cache data in the main computer platform can be mirrored via the interlinking mechanism to the backup computer platform for backup, and when a failure occurs to the main computer platform, the mirrored copy of cache data is transferred to a permanent data storage unit. When the failed main computer platform resumes normal operation, it can then regain the lost cache data from the permanent data storage unit. This feature can help prevent the cache data in the main computer platform from loss due to abnormal operating conditions.

Claims

1. A computer platform cache data remote backup processing method for use on a main computer platform and a backup computer platform, where main computer platform includes a main control unit and a cache memory unit, for providing the main computer platform with a cache data remote backup capability through the backup computer platform;

the computer platform cache data remote backup processing method comprising;

establishing an interlinking mechanism between the main computer platform and the backup computer platform;

during actual operation, monitoring the refresh and backup status of each data block stored in the cache memory unit of the main computer platform; and

in the event of a cache data block being refreshed, issuing a backup refresh enable message and transfer this backup refresh enable message via the interlinking mechanism to the backup computer platform;

on the backup computer platform, responding to the backup refresh enable message by making a mirrored copy of the current cache data stored in the cache memory unit of the main computer platform, and storing the mirrored copy of cache data to a cache data backup memory module; and

in the event of a failure to the main computer platform, transferring the mirrored copy of cache data stored in the cache data backup memory module to a permanent data storage unit.

2. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing method of claim 1, wherein the main computer platform and the backup computer platform are each a network server.

3. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing method of claim 1, wherein the permanent data storage unit is an RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit.

4. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a diagnostic procedure on the mirrored cache data stored in backup computer platform to check whether the mirrored cache data can be reliably transferred for permanent storage on the permanent data storage unit.

5. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing method of claim 1, further comprising:

in the event that the current cache data stored in the cache memory unit of the main computer platform has been permanently stored into a permanent data storage unit, deleting the mirrored copy of cache data stored in the cache data backup memory module.

6. A computer platform cache data remote backup processing system for use with a main computer platform and a backup computer platform, where main computer platform includes a main control unit and a cache memory unit, for providing the main computer platform with a cache data remote backup capability through the backup computer platform;

the computer platform cache data remote backup processing system being based on a distributed architecture comprising a main-side unit and a backup-side unit;

wherein

the main-side unit is integrated to the main computer platform, and which includes;

a main-side interlinking module, which is integrated to the main computer platform for the main computer platform to exchange data with the backup computer platform; and

a cache data mirroring module, which is integrated to the main computer platform, and which is capable of monitoring the refresh and backup status of each data block stored in the cache memory unit of the main computer platform, and in the event of a cache data block being refreshed, capable of issuing a backup refresh enable message and activating the main-side interlinking module to transfer this backup refresh enable message to the backup computer platform;

and wherein

the backup-side unit is integrated to the backup computer platform, and which includes;

a backup-side interlinking module, which is integrated to the backup computer platform for the backup computer platform to receive data and messages from the main computer platform, including backup refresh enable message and cache data;

an abnormal operating condition monitoring module, which is integrated to the backup computer platform, and which is capable of remotely monitoring the operating condition of the main computer platform via the interlinking mechanism provided by the main-side interlinking module and the cache data mirroring module; and

in the event of an abnormal operating condition, capable of responding by issuing an abnormal operating condition message;

a cache data backup module, which is integrated to the backup computer platform, and which is capable of responding to the backup refresh enable message received by the backup-side interlinking module from the main-side unit by making a mirrored copy of the current cache data stored in the cache memory unit of the main computer platform, and storing the mirrored copy of cache data to a cache data backup memory module; and

a mirrored cache data permanent storage module, which is integrated to the backup computer platform, and which is capable of responding to the abnormal operating condition message issued by the abnormal operating condition monitoring module by transferring the mirrored copy of cache data currently stored in the cache data backup memory module to a permanent data storage unit.

7. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing system of claim 6, wherein the main computer platform and the backup computer platform are each a network server.

8. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing system of claim 6, wherein the permanent data storage unit is an RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) unit.

9. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing system of claim 6, wherein the backup-side unit further includes:

a mirrored cache data diagnostic module, which is integrated to the backup computer platform, and which is capable of performing a diagnostic procedure on the mirrored cache data stored in backup computer platform to check whether the mirrored cache data can be reliably transferred for permanent storage on the permanent data storage unit.

10. The computer platform cache data remote backup processing system of claim 6, wherein the backup-side unit further includes:

a deletion module, which is capable of being activated in the event that the current cache data stored in the cache memory unit of the main computer platform has been permanently stored into a permanent data storage unit, and which is capable of thereupon deleting the mirrored copy of cache data stored in the cache data backup memory module.