NAS system and information processing method for the same
First Claim
1. A NAS system communicating with a host system via a communication network, having a plurality of NAS units that process information involved in the communication, being configured to be able to transmit/receive information to/from the respective NAS units, and controlling access from the host system to storage devices, whereineach NAS unit has a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to another NAS unit, and the respective NAS units are connected one another via the backend ports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Enhancing expansion of a NAS system without restrictions from a communication network. In the NAS system having existing NAS units and disk storage apparatuses, when adding another NAS unit and disk storage apparatus to expand the system, FC ports of the NAS units are loop-connected to one another via an FC loop.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A NAS system communicating with a host system via a communication network, having a plurality of NAS units that process information involved in the communication, being configured to be able to transmit/receive information to/from the respective NAS units, and controlling access from the host system to storage devices, wherein
each NAS unit has a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to another NAS unit, and the respective NAS units are connected one another via the backend ports.
-
12. A method for processing information performed in a NAS system that communicates with a host system via a communication network, has a plurality of NAS units for processing information involved in the communication, and controls access to storage devices by transmitting/receiving information to/from the respective NAS units,
wherein each NAS unit includes a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to the adjacent NAS units, the respective backend ports are connected to one another, one of the plurality of the NAS units is configured as a master NAS unit, another NAS unit is configured as a backup NAS unit, and the rest are configured as sub NAS units, the method comprising: -
a step in which the master NAS unit monitors the statuses of the other NAS units by transmitting/receiving information to/from them via the respective backend ports based on system information; and a step in which the master NAS unit processes information regarding load balancing and failure-period operations based on the monitoring result.
-
-
13. A method for processing information performed in a NAS system that communicates with a host system via a communication network, has a plurality of NAS units for processing information involved in the communication, and controls access to storage devices by transmitting/receiving information to/from the respective NAS units,
wherein each NAS unit includes a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to the adjacent NAS units, the respective backend ports are connected to one another, one of the plurality of the NAS units is configured as a master NAS unit, another NAS unit is configured as a backup NAS unit, and the rest are configured as sub NAS units, the method comprising: -
a step in which the master NAS unit monitors the statuses of the other NAS units by transmitting/receiving information to/from them via the respective backend ports based on system information; and a step in which the master NAS unit mirror-copies transferred information in a storage device to the backup NAS unit.
-
-
14. A method for processing information performed in a NAS system that communicates with a host system via a communication network, has a plurality of NAS units for processing information involved in the communication, and controls access to storage devices by transmitting/receiving information to/from the respective NAS units,
wherein, each NAS unit includes a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to the adjacent NAS units, the respective backend ports are connected to one another, one of the plurality of the NAS units is configured as a master NAS unit, another NAS unit is configured a backup NAS unit, and the rest are configured as sub NAS units, the method comprising: -
a step in which the master NAS unit monitors the statuses of the other NAS units by transmitting/receiving information to/from them via the respective backend ports based on system information; a step in which, when an FC failure occurs in one of the other NAS units, the master NAS unit commands that NAS unit to lock out and bypass its faulty port; a step in which the master NAS unit transfers the information that NAS unit was processing at the time the failure occurred to the backup NAS unit; and a step in which, when the problem in the faulty FC is solved, the master NAS unit restores the information saved in the backup NAS unit to the NAS unit that has recovered from the FC failure.
-
-
15. A method for processing information performed in a NAS system that communicates with a host system via a communication network, has a plurality of NAS units for processing information involved in the communication, and controls access to storage devices by transmitting/receiving information to/from the respective NAS units,
wherein, each NAS unit includes a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to the adjacent NAS units, the respective backend ports are connected to one another, one of the plurality of the NAS units is configured as a master NAS unit, another NAS unit is configured as a backup NAS unit, and the rest are configured as sub NAS units, the method comprising: -
a step in which the master NAS unit monitors the statuses of the other NAS units by transmitting/receiving information to/from them via the respective backend ports based on system information; a step in which, when a LAN failure occurs in one of the other NAS units, the master NAS unit commands that NAS unit to lock out and bypass its faulty port; a step in which the master NAS unit transfers the information that NAS unit was processing at the time the failure occurred to the backup NAS unit; and a step in which, when the problem in the faulty LAN is solved, the master NAS unit restores the information saved in the backup NAS unit to the NAS unit that has recovered from the LAN failure.
-
-
16. A method for processing information performed in a NAS system that communicates with a host system via a communication network, has a plurality of NAS units for processing information involved in the communication, and controls access to storage devices by transmitting/receiving information to/from the respective NAS units,
wherein, each NAS unit includes a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to the adjacent NAS units, the respective backend ports are connected to one another, one of the plurality of the NAS units is configured as a master NAS unit, another NAS unit is configured as a backup NAS unit, and the rest are configured as sub NAS units, the method comprising: -
a step in which the master NAS unit monitors the statuses of the other NAS units by transmitting/receiving information to/from them via the respective backend ports based on system information; a step in which, when an OS failure occurs in one of the other NAS units, the master NAS unit transfers information that NAS unit was processing at the time the failure occurred to the backup NAS unit; and a step in which, when the problem in the faulty OS is solved, the master NAS unit restores the information saved in the backup NAS unit to the NAS unit that has recovered from the OS failure.
-
-
17. A method for processing information performed in a NAS system that communicates with a host system via a communication network, has a plurality of NAS units for processing information involved in the communication, and controls access to storage devices by transmitting/receiving information to/from the respective NAS units,
wherein, each NAS unit includes a network port connected to the communication network and a backend port connected to the adjacent NAS units, the respective backend ports are connected to one another, one of the plurality of the NAS units is configured as a master NAS unit, another NAS unit is configured as a backup NAS unit, and the rest are configured as sub NAS units, the method comprising: -
a step in which the master NAS unit monitors the statuses of the other NAS units by transmitting/receiving information to/from them via the respective backend ports based on system information; a step in which, when one of the other NAS units has a concentrated load, the master NAS unit identifies that NAS unit bearing the concentrated load and allots a part of the load to the backup NAS unit; and a step in which, when the load concentration on that NAS unit is relieved, the master NAS unit returns the load from the backup NAS unit back to the particular NAS unit.
-
Specification