REDUNDANT CONFIGURATION METHOD OF A STORAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE/MANAGEMENT APPARATUS

• US 20110047410A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fujita, Takahiro, Ikeda, Hirokazu, Osaki, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2041 with more than one idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2069 Management of state, configuration or failover
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2092 Techniques of failing over between control units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0617 in relation to availability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0668 by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0695 the faulty arrangement being the maintenance, administration or management system
• 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

Provided is a method of managing a computer system including a plurality of storage systems and a plurality of management appliances for managing the plurality of storage systems. A first management appliance and a second management appliance hold an identifier of a first storage system and management data obtained from the first storage system. The method includes the steps of selecting a third management appliance from the plurality of management appliances when a failure occurs in the first management appliance; transmitting the identifier held in the second management appliance from the second management appliance to the selected third management appliance; and holding the identifier transmitted from the second management appliance in the selected third management appliance. Thus, it is possible to prevent, after failing-over due to an abnormality of a maintenance/management appliance, a single point of failure from occurring to reduce reliability of the maintenance/management appliance.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of storage systems and a plurality of management apparatuses for managing the plurality of storage systems, wherein the plurality of management apparatuses includes a first management apparatus, a second management apparatus, and a third management apparatus, and wherein

each of the storage systems including a storage device for storing data and a controller for controlling storage of data in the storage device,

each of the management apparatuses including a first interface for receiving data obtained from the storage system, a processor coupled to the first interface, and a memory coupled to the processor,

the first interface being coupled to a first network for interconnecting the plurality of management apparatuses to communicate with one another;

wherein;

the storage systems include a first storage system;

the first management apparatus and the second management apparatus are configured to hold an identifier of the first storage system and management data obtained from the first storage system;

the first management apparatus is configured to operate as an active management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to operate as an as a stand-by management apparatus to manage the first storage system;

the second management apparatus is configured to select the third management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses when a failure occurs in the first management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the identifier of the first storage system held in the second management apparatus to the selected third management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the identifier of the first storage system received from the second management apparatus; and

the second management apparatus is configured to operate as an active management apparatus and the third management apparatus is configured to operate as a stand-management apparatus by to manage the first storage system after occurrence of the failure.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of management apparatuses including the first management apparatus, the second management apparatus, and the third management apparatus are configured to operate as one of;

an active management apparatus for transmitting the management data obtained from the storage system to another management apparatus;

or

a stand-by management apparatus for receiving the management data transmitted from the active management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system and held in the second management apparatus to the selected third management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the management data transmitted from the second management apparatus; and

the second management apparatus is configured to select the third management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses by selecting a stand-by management apparatus whose number of managing storage systems is the smallest in a plurality of management apparatuses.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of storage systems further includes a second storage system;

the plurality of management apparatuses further include a fourth management apparatus and a fifth management apparatus;

the first management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system to the second management apparatus;

the fourth management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the second storage system to the second management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to;

receive the management data from the first management apparatus and the fourth management apparatus;

hold received management data; and

hold the identifier of the first storage system and an identifier of the second storage system;

each of the plurality of management apparatuses including the fifth management apparatus is configured to operate as one of;

an active management apparatus for transmitting the management data obtained from the storage system to another management apparatus;

or

a stand-by management apparatus for receiving the management data transmitted from the active management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system and held in the second management apparatus to the selected third management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the management data received from the second management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to select the fifth management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses when a failure occurs in the first management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the identifier of the second storage system and the management data received from the fourth management apparatus and held in the second management apparatus to the fifth management apparatus;

the fifth management apparatus is configured to hold the identifier of the second storage system and the management data transmitted from the second management apparatus; and

the second management apparatus is configured to select the fifth management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses by selecting a stand-by management apparatus having a smallest number of storage devices being acquisition sources of the held management data.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of management apparatuses including the first management apparatus, the second management apparatus, and the third management apparatus are configured to operate as one of;

an active management apparatus for transmitting the management data obtained from the storage system to another management apparatus;

or

a stand-by management apparatus for receiving the management data transmitted from the active management apparatus,

the selected third management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system and held in the second management apparatus to the second management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the management data transmitted from the second management apparatus; and

the second management apparatus is configured to select the third management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses by selecting a stand-by management apparatus installed in a position nearest to the second management apparatus.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of management apparatuses including the first management apparatus, the second management apparatus, and the third management apparatus are configured to operate as one of;

an active management apparatus for transmitting the management data obtained from the storage system to another management apparatus;

or

a stand-by management apparatus for receiving the management data transmitted from the active management apparatus;

each of the management apparatuses are configured to hold information indicating whether to respond to a predetermined request;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system and held in the second management apparatus to the selected third management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the management data transmitted from the second management apparatus; and

the second management apparatus is configured to select the third management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses by;

transmitting the predetermined request from the second management apparatus to the plurality of management apparatuses;

receiving a response from the management apparatus which hold information indicating that a response is made to the predetermined request; and

selecting the third management apparatus from the plurality of management apparatuses which have transmitted the response to the predetermined request, wherein;

the response contains an address of the first interface of the management apparatus which have transmitted the response, and the number of storage systems being acquisition sources of the management data held in the management apparatus which have transmitted the response; and

the information held in the active management apparatus indicates that no response is made to the predetermined request.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of management apparatuses further including a sixth management apparatus;

each of the plurality of management apparatuses including the first management apparatus, the second management apparatus, the third management apparatus, and the sixth management apparatus are configured to operate as one of;

an active management apparatus for transmitting the management data obtained from the storage system to another management apparatus;

or

a stand-by management apparatus for receiving the management data transmitted from the active management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system and held in the second management apparatus to the selected third management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the management data transmitted from the second management apparatus;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to select a stand-by management apparatus whose number of managing storage systems is the largest in a plurality of management apparatuses;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to select at least one of the plurality of active management apparatuses which have transmitted the management data to the selected stand-by management apparatus;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to receive an identifier of the storage system from which the selected at least one active management apparatus has obtained the management data;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to receive management data from the selected at least one active management apparatus among the management data held by the selected stand-by management apparatus from the selected stand-by management apparatus; and

the sixth management apparatus is configured to hold the identifier of the storage system and the management data transmitted from the selected stand-by management apparatus.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein:

the computer system does not include the stand-by management apparatus which obtains the management data from the plurality of active management apparatuses; and

the sixth management apparatus is configured to;

select a stand-by management apparatus whose number of managing storage systems is the largest in a plurality of management apparatuses;

select at least one of the plurality of active management apparatuses;

receive, from the selected stand-by management apparatus, the management data transmitted from the selected at least one active management apparatus; and

hold the received management data.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of management apparatuses further includes a sixth management apparatus;

each of the plurality of management apparatuses including the first management apparatus, the second management apparatus, the third management apparatus, and the sixth management apparatus are configured to operate as one of;

an active management apparatus for transmitting the management data obtained from the storage system to another management apparatus;

or

a stand-by management apparatus for receiving the management data transmitted from the active management apparatus;

the second management apparatus is configured to transmit the management data obtained from the first storage system and held in the second management apparatus to the selected third management apparatus;

the selected third management apparatus is configured to hold the management data transmitted from the second management apparatus;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to select a stand-by management apparatus installed in a position nearest to the sixth management apparatus among the stand-by management apparatuses which obtain the management data from the plurality of active management apparatuses;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to select at least one of the plurality of active management apparatuses which have transmitted the management data to the selected stand-by management apparatus;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to receive, from the selected stand-by management apparatus, an identifier of the storage system from which the selected at least one active management apparatus has obtained the management data;

the sixth management apparatus is configured to receive, from the selected stand-by management apparatus, management data from the selected at least one active management apparatus among the management data held by the selected stand-by management apparatus; and

the sixth management apparatus is configured to hold the identifier of the storage system and the management data transmitted from the selected stand-by management apparatus.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the controller of the storage system includes a third interface coupled to a computer, a second processor coupled to the third interface, and a cache memory coupled to the second processor for temporarily storing data; and

the management data contains at least one of;

data indicating whether a failure has occurred in the second processor;

data indicating a use rate of the cache memory;

data indicating the number of times of inputting and outputting data to and from the third interface;

or

data indicating the number of times of inputting and outputting data to and from the storage device.