Method and apparatus for storage resource management in plural data centers

• US 20080140944A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Kaneda, Yasunori, Arakawa, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US11/638,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140944A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/148
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A controller in local site can process a request for storage resources from requestors like host computers, backup servers and tier manager. The controller checks own resource information including information about storage resources in the local site, according to requirements based on the request. The controller also asks other controllers in remote sites to check storage resources in each remote site. The controller in the local site collects the answers about available storage resources (including resources in the local site) under the requirements and selects storage resources to be used. Then the controller in the local site notifies the selected storage resources to the requester. Release of storage resource can also be performed with communication between controllers. Computers and backup servers can utilize these functions provided by the controllers to obtain and release the storage resources.

Claims

1. A computerized storage system comprising:

a. At least one local storage resource;

b. A network interface operable to connect the computerized storage system with at least one requestor; and

c. A storage controller operable to;

i. receive a request for storage resources from the at least one requester, the request comprising at least one storage resource requirement;

ii. check resource information including information about the at least one local storage resource according to the at least one storage resource requirement;

iii. issue secondary request for storage resources to at least one remote controller at a remote site to check storage resources at the remote site;

iv. collect a reply from the at least one remote controller about available storage resources at the remote site according to the at least one storage resource requirement;

v. select storage resources to be used from the at least one local storage resource and available storage resources at the remote site; and

vi. notify the at least one requestor of the select storage resources.

2. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the at least one requestor is a host computer, a backup server or a tier manager.

3. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to cause the selected storage resources to be released.

4. The computerized storage system of claim 1 further comprising network optimization controller operable to optimize transfer of data between the computerized storage system and remote storage systems.

5. The computerized storage system of claim 1 further comprising a storage area network interconnecting the at least one local storage resource and the storage controller.

6. The computerized storage system of claim 1 further comprising an extender.

7. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the storage controller further comprises director, cache memory, switch and storage interface controller.

8. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the storage controller operable to:

a. Determine data to be moved to optimize data location;

b. Determine requirements of necessary storage resource for new location of the data;

c. Obtain the necessary storage resource using the determined requirements;

d. Move the data to the obtained storage resource;

e. Change mapping information for the data; and

f. Release an old storage resource corresponding to old location of the data.

9. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the requestor is an application software executing on a computer, the application software operable to:

i. Determine requirements of necessary storage resource;

ii. Generate the request for storage resources to the storage controller;

iii. Receive from the storage controller the notification of the selected storage resources; and

iv. Commence utilization of the selected storage resources.

10. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the requestor is an application software executing on a computer, the application software operable to:

i. Discontinue utilization of the storage resource;

ii. Notify the storage controller of a release of the storage resource; and

iii. Receive notification from the storage controller of completion of release of the storage resource.

11. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the requestor is a backup application executing on a backup server, the backup application operable to:

i. Determine requirements of necessary storage resource;

ii. Generate the request for storage resources to the storage controller;

iii. Receive from the storage controller the notification of the selected storage resources; and

iv. Transfer backup data to the selected storage resources.

12. The computerized storage system of claim 1, wherein the requestor is a backup application executing on a backup server, the backup application operable to:

i. Determine release of at least a portion of backup data and the storage resource;

ii. Notify the storage controller of a release of the storage resource; and

iii. Receive notification from the storage controller of completion of release of the storage resource.

13. The computerized storage system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface illustrating the at least one local storage resource and available storage resources in remote storage systems.

14. A storage controller operable to:

a. receive a request for storage resources from at least one requester, the request comprising at least one storage resource requirement;

b. check resource information including information about at least one local storage resource according to the at least one storage resource requirement;

c. issue secondary request for storage resources to at least one remote controller at a remote site to check storage resources in the remote site;

d. collect at least one reply from the at least one remote controller about available storage resources at a remote site according to the at least one storage resource requirement;

e. select storage resources to be used from the at least one local storage resource and available storage resources at a remote site; and

f. notify the at least one requestor of the select storage resources.

15. The storage controller of claim 14, further operable to:

a. Determine data to be moved to optimize data location;

b. Determine requirements of necessary storage resource for new location of the data;

c. Obtain the necessary storage resource using the determined requirements;

d. Move the data to the obtained storage resource;

e. Change mapping information for the data; and

f. Release an old storage resource corresponding to old location of the data.

16. A method for managing storage resources in multiple sites, the method comprising:

a. Receiving a request for a storage resource from at least one requestor, the request comprising at least one storage resource requirement;

b. Checking resource information including information about at least one local storage resource according to the at least one storage resource requirement;

c. Issuing secondary request for storage resources to at least one remote controller at a remote site to check storage resources at the remote site;

d. Collecting a reply from the at least one remote controller about available storage resources at the remote site according to the at least one storage resource requirement;

e. Selecting storage resources to be used from the at least one local storage resource and available storage resources at the remote site; and

f. Notifying the at least one requestor of the select storage resources.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one requestor is a host computer, a backup server or a tier manager.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting storage resources to be released.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising creating a graphical representation illustrating the at least one local storage resource and available storage resources in remote storage systems.

20. A method for managing location of data in multiple sites, the method comprising:

a. Determining data to be moved to optimize data location;

b. Determining requirements of necessary storage resource for new location of the data;

c. Obtaining necessary storage resources using the determined requirements by selecting the necessary storage resources from the at least one local storage resource and available storage resources at a remote site;

d. Moving the data to the obtained storage resource;

e. Changing mapping information for the data; and

f. Releasing an old storage resource corresponding to old location of the data.

21. A storage controller operable to:

a. Receive a failure message from at least one device in a local site;

b. Choose a destination controller from at least one controller in the local site and at least one controller in a remote site; and

c. Transfer the failure message to the destination controller using a data transfer path dedicated storage system if the destination controller is located in the remote site.

22. A method for processing a failure message from device, the method comprising:

a. Receiving a failure message from at least one device in a local site;

b. Choosing a destination controller from at least one controller in the local site and at least one controller in a remote sites; and

c. Transferring the failure message to the destination controller using a data transfer path dedicated storage system if the destination controller is located in the remote site.

23. A graphical user interface operable to:

a. Display a first category showing types of storage resources;

b. Display the second category showing each site of a plurality of sites; and

c. Show information about storage resources from the first category perspective to the second category.