STORAGE SUBSYSTEM THAT CONNECTS FIBRE CHANNEL AND SUPPORTS ONLINE BACKUP

• US 20120271999A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Docter Optics Se
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Yoshiko, Takamoto, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

The storage system includes first and second disk arrays. The first disk array has a first port coupled to a second port of the second disk array, a port controller controlling the first port, a plurality of disk devices to store data, and a controller managing a plurality of logical units on the plurality of disk drives. The first port controller controls the first port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to a initiator task and data transfer corresponding to a target task. The initiator task is generated to execute the data transfer from a first logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the first disk array to a second logical unit on a plurality of disk drives of the second disk array. The target task is generated to execute the data transfer to receive data from the second disk array.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

1-11-1. -11. (canceled)

23. A storage apparatus coupled to a plurality of apparatuses, the storage apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage devices;

a controller for controlling the plurality of storage devices;

a port coupled to the plurality of apparatuses; and

a port controller, the port controller configured to;

generate an initiator task when the controller sends an access request to one of the plurality of apparatuses;

generate a target task when the controller receives an access request from one of the plurality of apparatuses; and

control the port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer between the storage apparatus and the plurality of apparatuses corresponding to a plurality of tasks including the initiator task and the target task generated by the port controller.

24. The storage apparatus according to claim 23, wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

25. The storage apparatus according to claim 23, wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

26. The storage apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein the plurality of apparatuses include a host computer and a backup storage apparatus,

wherein the controller is configured to:

receive the access request from the host apparatus; and

send the access request to the backup storage apparatus.

27. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of apparatuses; and

a storage apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising a plurality of storage devices and a controller for controlling the plurality of storage devices;

a port coupled to the plurality of apparatuses; and

a port controller, the port controller configured to;

generate an initiator task when the controller sends an access request to one of the plurality of apparatuses;

generate a target task when the controller receives an access request from one of the plurality of apparatuses; and

control the port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer between the storage apparatus and the plurality of apparatuses corresponding to a plurality of tasks including the initiator task and the target task generated by the port controller.

28. The storage system according to claim 27,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

29. The storage system according to claim 27,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

30. In a storage apparatus coupled to a plurality of apparatuses, the storage apparatus including:

a plurality of storage devices;

a controller for controlling the plurality of storage devices;

a port coupled to the plurality of apparatuses; and

a port controller, a method comprising the steps;

generating, by the port controller, an initiator task when the controller sends an access request to one of the plurality of apparatuses;

generating, by the port controller, a target task when the controller receives an access request from one of the plurality of apparatuses; and

controlling, by the port controller, the port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer between the storage apparatus and the plurality of apparatuses corresponding to a plurality of tasks including the initiator task and the target task generated by the port controller.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the plurality of apparatuses includes a host computer and a backup storage apparatus, and further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the controller, the access request from the host apparatus; and

sending, by the controller, the access request to the backup storage apparatus.