Storage system having plural flash memory drives and method for controlling data storage

• US 20080201392A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Shuji, Nakajima, Akio, Shimada, Kentaro, Mizushima, Nagamasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/108 Parity data distribution in semiconductor storages, e.g. in SSD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0804 with main memory updating G06F12/0806 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/214 Solid state disk
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/262 configured as RAID
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/285 Redundant cache memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7202 Allocation control and policies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7208 Multiple device management, e.g. distributing data over multiple flash devices

Abstract

Provided is a storage system having a storage device including memory drives formed of the non-volatile memory, a group is constituted by the memory drives whose number is larger than the number of memory drives necessary to provide the memory capacity, the divided storage areas are managed in each of segments that includes at least one of the divided storage areas, the data storage area or the temporary storage area is allocated to the divided storage areas, upon receiving a data write request, the data storage area in which the write data is written and the segment are specified, the updated data is written in the temporary storage area included in the specified segment, the temporary storage area in which the data is written is set as a new data storage area, and data stored in the data storage area is erased and set as a new temporary storage area.

Claims

1. A storage system, which is coupled to a host computer through a network and stores data that is read/written by the host computer, comprising:

an interface that is coupled to the network;

a processor that is coupled to the interface;

a memory that is coupled to the processor;

a cache memory in which the read/written data is temporarily stored; and

a storage device in which the read/written data is stored,

wherein the storage device comprises at least one memory drive that is formed of non-volatile memory, and forms a group of the memory drives whose number is larger than the number of memory drives necessary to provide the memory capacity which is identified by the host computer,

wherein each of the memory drives included in the group has a storage area divided in predetermined capacity,

wherein the divided storage areas are managed in each of segments that includes at least one of the divided storage areas included in the respective memory drives included in the group,

wherein the processor allocates, to the respective divided storage areas, at least one data storage area in which the read and written data is stored and at least one temporary storage area which is a free area are included in the segment,

wherein in the case where the processor receives a data write request from the host computer through the interface, the processor extracts the data storage area in which the write data is written, and specifies the segment including the extracted data storage area, and

wherein in the case where size of the write data is larger than a value that is determined on the basis of size of the data that is stored in the extracted data storage area, the processor reads the data stored in the extracted data storage area, updates the read data according to the write request, stores the updated data in the cache memory, selects first temporary storage area included in the specified segment, writes the data stored in the cache memory in the selected first temporary storage area, sets the selected first temporary storage area as a new data storage area, erases the extracted data storage area, and sets the area as a new temporary storage area.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the processor:

allocates, to the segment, at least one redundant data storage area in which redundant data of the data stored in the data storage area;

extracts the redundant data storage area in which the redundant data of the data stored in the extracted data storage area is stored, in the case where the processor receives data requested to write from the host computer through the interface;

updates the redundant data on the basis of the received data write request;

stores the updated redundant data in the cache memory;

selects a second temporary storage area, other than the first temporary storage area, included in the specified segment;

writes the redundant data stored in the cache memory in the selected second temporary storage area;

sets the second temporary storage area in which the redundant data is written as a new redundant data storage area;

erases the data stored in the extracted redundant data storage area; and

sets the redundant data storage area in which the data is erased, as a new temporary storage area.

3. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the processor:

records at least one of the number of times of writing data and the number of times of erasing data in the divided storage areas as counter information in each of the memory drives; and

selects a temporary storage area as a new data storage area on the basis of the counter information upon newly creating a data storage area.

4. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the total of number of the data storage areas included in the segment and number of the redundant data storage areas included in the segment is equal to the number of temporary storage areas.

5. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the redundant data storage area stores a copy of the data stored in the data storage area included in the segment in which the redundant data storage area is included as the redundant data.

6. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the redundant data storage area stores the parity information that is created on the basis of the data stored in a plurality of data storage areas included in the segment in which the redundant data storage area is included as the redundant data.

7. The storage system according to claim 6, wherein the processor selects the temporary storage area that is included in the memory drive in which the number of allocated redundant data storage areas is smaller when newly allocating the redundant data storage area.

8. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the processor:

records the number of defective pages included in the memory drives included in the group;

blocks the memory drive to prohibit data writing into the blocked memory drive, in the case where the number of defective pages is larger than a predetermined threshold value;

selects a migration destination temporary storage area in each of the segments in order to migrate the data stored in the block memory drive;

reads the readable data from the blocked memory drive;

writes the read data in the selected migration destination temporary storage area; and

restores the data that can not be read to write the restored data in the selected migration destination temporary storage area, in the case where data can not be read from the blocked memory drive.

9. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the processor:

records the number of defective pages included in the memory drives included in the group;

blocks the memory drive to prohibit data writing into the blocked memory drive, in the case where the number of defective pages is larger than a predetermined threshold value;

requests addition of a new memory drive,

adds the added memory drive to the group when the new memory drive is added;

divides the storage area of the added memory drive in every predetermined capacity;

adds the divided storage areas to the segments as the temporary storage areas;

reads the readable data from the blocked memory drive;

writes the read data in the added temporary storage area; and

restores the data that can not be read to write the restored data in the added temporary storage area, in the case where the data can not be read from the blocked memory drive.

10. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein in the case where the processor receives a data read request from the host computer and the requested data can not be temporarily read from the data storage area in which the requested data is stored, the processor restores the requested data based on the data stored in the redundant data storage area and the data that is stored in another data storage area included in the segment in which the data storage area in which the requested data is stored is included, and provides the host computer.

11. A data arrangement control method for a storage system that is coupled to a host computer through a network and stores data that is read/written by the host computer,

the storage system having:

an interface that is coupled to the network;

a processor that is coupled to the interface;

a memory that is coupled to the processor;

a cache memory in which the read/written data is temporarily stored; and

a storage device in which the read/written data is stored,

the storage device having at least one memory drive that is formed of non-volatile memory, and forming a group of the memory drives whose number is larger than the number of memory drives necessary to provide the memory capacity which is identified by the host computer,

each of the memory drives included in the group having a storage area divided in predetermined capacity,

the divided storage areas being managed in each of segments that includes at least one of the divided storage areas included in the respective memory drives included in the group,

the data arrangement control method comprising;

allocating, by the processor, to the respective divided storage areas, at least one data storage area in which the read and written data is stored and at least one temporary storage area which is a free area are included in the segment;

extracting, by the processor, in the case where the processor receives a data write request from the host computer through the interface, the data storage area in which the write data is written, and specifying the segment including the extracted data storage area; and

reading, by the processor, in the case where size of the write data is larger than a value that is determined on the basis of size of the data that is stored in the extracted data storage area, the data stored in the extracted data storage area, updating the read data according to the write request, storing the updated data in the cache memory, selecting first temporary storage area included in the specified segment, writing the data stored in the cache memory in the selected first temporary storage area, setting the selected first temporary storage area as a new data storage area, erasing the extracted data storage area, and setting the area as a new temporary storage area.

12. The data arrangement control method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

allocating, by the processor, to the segment, at least one redundant data storage area in which redundant data of the data stored in the data storage area;

extracting, by the processor, in the case where the processor receives data requested to write from the host computer through the interface, the redundant data storage area in which the redundant data of the data stored in the extracted data storage area is stored;

updating, by the processor, the redundant data on the basis of the received data write request;

storing, by the processor, the updated redundant data in the cache memory;

selecting, by the processor, a second temporary storage area, other than the first temporary storage area, included in the specified segment;

writing, by the processor, the redundant data stored in the cache memory in the selected another temporary storage area;

setting, by the processor, the second temporary storage area in which the redundant data is written as a new redundant data storage area; and

erasing, by the processor, the data stored in the extracted redundant data storage area; and

setting, by the processor, the redundant storage area in which the data is erased, as a new temporary storage area.

13. The data arrangement control method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

recording, by the processor, at least one of the number of times of writing data and the number of times of erasing data in the divided storage areas as counter information in each of the memory drives; and

selecting, by the processor, when the processor newly creates a data storage area, a temporary storage area as a new data storage area on the basis of the counter information.

14. The data arrangement control method according to claim 11, wherein the total of number of the data storage areas included in the segment and number of the redundant data storage areas included in the segment is equal to the number of temporary storage areas.

15. The data arrangement control method according to claim 12, wherein the redundant data storage area stores a copy of the data stored in the data storage area included in the segment in which the redundant data storage area is included as the redundant data.

16. The data arrangement control method according to claim 12, wherein the redundant data storage area stores the parity information that is created on the basis of the data stored in a plurality of data storage areas included in the segment in which the redundant data storage area belongs as the redundant data.

17. The data arrangement control method according to claim 16, wherein the processor selects the temporary storage area that is included in the memory drive in which the number of allocated redundant data storage areas is smaller when newly allocating the redundant data storage area.

18. The data arrangement control method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

recording, by the processor, the number of defective pages included in the memory drives included in the group;

blocking, by the processor, in the case where the number of defective pages is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the memory drive to prohibit data writing into the blocked memory drive;

selecting, by the processor, in order to migrate the data stored in the block memory drive, a migration destination temporary storage area in each of the segments;

reading, by the processor, the readable data from the blocked memory drive;

writing, by the processor, the read data in the selected migration destination temporary storage area; and

restoring, by the processor, in the case where data can not be read from the blocked memory drive, the data that can not be read to write the restored data in the selected migration destination temporary storage area.

19. The data arrangement control method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

recording, by the processor, the number of defective pages included in the memory drives included in the group;

blocking, by the processor, in the case where the number of defective pages is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the memory drive to prohibit data writing into the blocked memory drive;

requesting, by the processor, addition of a new memory drive;

adding, by the processor, when the new memory drive is added, the added memory drive to the group;

dividing, by the processor, the storage area of the added memory drive in every predetermined capacity;

adding the divided storage areas to the segments as the temporary storage areas;

reading, by the processor, the readable data from the blocked memory drive;

writing the read data in the added temporary storage area; and

restoring, by the processor, in the case where the data can not be read from the blocked memory drive, the data that can not be read to write the restored data in the added temporary storage area.

20. The data arrangement control method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of, restoring, by the processor, in the case where the processor receives a data read request from the host computer and the requested data can not be temporarily read from the data storage area in which the requested data is stored, the requested data based on the data stored in the redundant data storage area and the data that is stored in another data storage area included in the segment in which the data storage area in which the requested data is stored is included, and providing the host computer.