HIGH PERFORMANCE STORAGE ACCESS ENVIRONMENT

• US 20080209148A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Iwami, Naoko
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2074 Asynchronous techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The present invention provides improved techniques for managing storage resources, such as disk drives, I/O ports, and the like in a network based storage system according to a user position within the network. Embodiments according to the present invention can provide a relatively high performance storage access environment for the mobile users moving around a wide area. For example, in one applicable environment, there are several data centers in the wide area, and each data center has a local storage system that is connected to the other storage systems through a network. Copies of a user'"'"'s volume can be made in some of the storage systems. A remote copy function is utilized for making real time copies of the user'"'"'s volume.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method comprising:

Receiving a write request from a host computer associated with at least one of a plurality of storage systems, said storage system includes a first storage system and a second storage system;

Storing write data associated with the write request to a data volume;

Executing a remote data copy operation by executing a data send process or a data receive process;

Managing group information including correspondence between a first data volume in a first storage system and a second data volume in a second storage system to specify a copy volume group;

Managing address information on data volumes on host computers;

Selecting the first data volume as a primary volume to be accessed;

Providing address information of the first storage volume to a terminal via a network based on the group information and the address information when an access request is received from the terminal closer to the host computer associated with the first storage system than the second storage system, the access request being target to the copy volume group including the first data volume and the second data volume;

When selecting the first data volume of the first storage system as the primary volume, changing a status of the first data volume to the primary volume;

Selecting the second data volume as primary volume to be accessed;

Providing address information of the second storage volume to a terminal via a network based on the group information and the address information when an access request is received from the terminal closer to the host computer associated with the second storage system than the first storage system, the access request being target to the copy volume group including the first data volume and the second data volume;

And when selecting the second data volume of the second storage system as the primary volume, changing a status of the second data volume to the primary volume.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

using the second data volume as a secondary volume to be copied stored data in the first data volume by using remote copy function between the controllers of the first storage system and the second storage system when the first data volume is selected as a primary volume to be accessed; and

using the first data volume as a secondary volume to be copied stored data in the second data volume by using remote copy function when the second data volumes us selected as a primary volume to be accessed.

24. The method of claim 23, using a third storage system as another secondary volume to be copied stored data in the first or second data volume by using remote copy function.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said remote copy operation is operated by a storage controller.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said selecting the first data volume as a primary volume or said selecting the second data volume as the primary volume is executed by a directory server coupled to the plurality of storage systems in the network.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the first storage system and the host computer associated with the first storage system configure a first data server.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

when selecting the first data volume of the first storage system as the primary volume, sending remaining update data to the first storage system.

29. A method comprising:

Receiving a write request from a host computer associated with at least one of a plurality of storage systems, said storage system includes a first storage system and a second storage system;

Storing write data associated with the write request to a data volume;

Executing a remote data copy operation by executing a data send process or a data receive process;

Managing information including correspondence between a first data volume in a first storage system and a second data volume in a second storage system to specify a copy volume group;

Selecting the first data volume and the second data volume as a primary volume to be accessed and other thereof as a secondary volume based on the managed information when an access request is received from a terminal;

when selecting the first data volume of the first storage system as the primary volume, changing a status of the first data volume to the primary volume;

when selecting the second data volume of the second storage system as the primary volume, changing a status of the second data volume to the primary volume;

Receiving a write request from a host computer associated with the first storage system;

Storing write data associated with the write request to the first data volume;

Receiving data to copy the stored data in the first data volume to the second data volume if the first data volume is selected as a primary volume;

Receiving a write request from a host computer associated with the second storage system;

Storing write data associated with the write request to the second data volume; and

Receiving data to copy the stored data in the second data volume to the first data volume if the second data volume is selected as a primary volume.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the managed information includes address information on host computers, and further comprising:

selecting one of the first data volume and the second data volume as a primary volume to be accessed based on the address information and an address of the terminal from which the access request is received.

31. The method of claim 29, using a third storage system as another secondary volume to be copied stored data in the first or second data volume by using remote copy function.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

when selecting the first data volume of the first storage system as the primary volume, sending remaining update data to the first storage system.