Target DASD controlled data migration move

• US 5,835,954 A
• Filed: 09/12/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Micka, William Frank, Shomler, Robert Wesley, Duyanovich, Linda Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Christopher S.
• Application Number:
  US08/711,623
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 711/161, 711/162, 711/111, 711/112, 711/113
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0614 Improving the reliability of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Abstract

Non-disruptive data migration moves are performed form a source DASD to target DASD in a data subsystem. Both source and target DASDs comprise a cache and a nonvolatile store (NVS). Relative to the host, the target DASD generally operates as a source, managing requests for access to source DASD data by issuing I/O requests to the source DASD. First, the target DASD initiates a background data transfer, where data is copied from the source DASD to the target DASD preparing the target DASD to replace the source DASD. The data transfer includes copying data items directly from the source DASD'"'"'s cache to that of the target DASD'"'"'s cache, as well as copying data items from the source DASD'"'"'s NVS to the target DASD'"'"'s NVS. During background data transfer, the host can still perform data access operations, such as reads and writes, using the target DASD. Namely, for data already copied from the source DASD to the target DASD, the host reads this data from the target DASD. Host requests to read data not yet copied to the source DASD causes staging of the data from the source DASD to the target DASD. For host write requests, the data to be written to the target DASD, if no source data is needed to complete the write. To satisfy host write requests requiring data not yet copied from the source DASD, the data is copied from the source DASD to the target DASD.

Claims

1. A method for migrating data to a target DASD from a source DASD coupled to a host, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, said method comprising:

electrically coupling the target DASD to the host;

electrically coupling the source DASD to the target DASD;

directing requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

copying data stored in the source DASD to the target DASD by;

copying items of data stored in the source cache to the target cache; and

separately

copying items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

concurrently with the copying steps, operating the target DASD to receive from the host requests for access to data stored in the source DASD, and in response to said receipt to satisfy the data access requests by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host read request for data, providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD; and

in response to a host request to write data, writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, concurrently with the copying steps, maintaining a copy progress map distinguishing items of data that have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD from other items of data.

3. The method of claim 2, each item of data comprising a track of data stored on the source DASD.

4. The method of claim 2, the copy progress map comprising a bit map where each bit is associated with a different item of data in the source DASD, the maintaining step comprising the steps of setting each bit of the copy progress map to a predetermined value upon copying the associated data item to the target DASD.

5. The method of claim 4, the predetermined value being a binary zero.

6. The method of claim 4, the predetermined value being a binary one.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of electrically decoupling the source DASD from the host.

8. The method of claim 1, the step of copying items of data stored in the source NVS comprising:

copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target cache, and copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS.

9. The method of claim 1, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host read request for data comprising the steps of:

providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target cache and then providing the requested data to the host from the target cache.

10. The method of claim 1, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host request to write data comprising the steps of:

writing the requested data from the host to the target cache if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target cache and then writing the requested data from the host to the target cache.

11. The method of claim 1, the target DASD and source DASD being electrically coupled to a programmable interface that is electrically coupled to the host, the steps of electrically coupling the target DASD to the host and electrically coupling the source DASD to the target DASD comprising the steps of:

re-programming the programmable interface to electrically couple the target DASD to the host; and

re-programming the programmable interface to electrically couple the source DASD to the target DASD.

12. The method of claim 11, the programmable interface comprising an ESCON director.

13. The method of claim 1, the steps of electrically coupling the target DASD to the host and electrically coupling the source DASD to the target DASD comprising the steps of:

placing a first communications link between the target DASD and the host; and

placing a second communications link between the source DASD and the target DASD.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

removing any communications link between the source DASD and the host.

15. The method of claim 13, at least one of the first and second communications links comprising a fiber optic link.

16. The method of claim 13, at least one of the first and second communications links comprising a cable having an electrically conductive member.

17. The method of claim 1, the host comprising multiple digital processing apparatuses.

18. The method of claim 1, the host comprising a single digital processing apparatus.

19. The method of claim 1, the source DASD including multiple DASDs.

20. The method of claim 1, the target DASD including multiple DASDs.

21. A method for migrating data to a target DASD from a source DASD, the target DASD being coupled to the host and the source DASD being coupled to the target DASD, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS") the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, said method comprising:

directing requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

copying data stored in the source DASD to the target DASD by;

copying items of data stored in the source cache to the target cache; and

separately

copying items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

concurrently with the copying steps, operating the target DASD to receive from the host data access requests and in response to said receipt to satisfy the data access requests by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host read request for data, providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD; and

in response to a host request to write data, writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of, concurrently with the copying steps, maintaining a copy progress map distinguishing items of data that have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD from other items of data.

23. The method of claim 22, each item of data comprising a track of data stored on the source DASD.

24. The method of claim 22, the copy progress map comprising a bit map where each bit is associated with a different item of data in the source DASD, the maintaining step comprising the steps of setting each bit of the copy progress map to a predetermined value upon copying the associated data item to the target DASD.

25. The method of claim 24, the predetermined value being a binary zero.

26. The method of claim 24, the predetermined value being a binary one.

27. The method of claim 21, further including the steps of electrically decoupling the source DASD from the host.

28. The method of claim 21, the step of copying items of data stored in the source NVS comprising:

copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target cache, and copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS.

29. The method of claim 21, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host read request for data comprising the steps of:

providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target cache and then providing the requested data to the host from the target cache.

30. The method of claim 21, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host request to write data comprising the steps of:

writing the requested data from the host to the target cache if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target cache and then writing the requested data from the host to the target cache.

31. The method of claim 21, the host comprising multiple digital processing apparatuses.

32. The method of claim 21, the host comprising a single digital processing apparatus.

33. The method of claim 21, the source DASD including multiple DASDs.

34. The method of claim 21, the target DASD including multiple DASDs.

35. A method for migrating data to a target DASD from a source DASD coupled to a host, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, said method comprising:

electrically coupling the target DASD to the host;

electrically coupling the source DASD to the target DASD;

electrically decoupling the source DASD from the host;

copying data stored by the source DASD to the target DASD by performing steps comprising;

receiving an identification of data items contained on the source DASD to be copied to the target DASD;

creating a copy progress map including a listing of each identified data item, the copy progress map including for each data item an indicator denoting whether that data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

redirecting requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

operating the target DASD to repeatedly perform the following steps until all data items have been copied to the target DASD;

selecting a data item whose indicator denotes that said data item has not been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

reading the selected data item from the source DASD;

copying the selected data item to the target DASD by copying data stored in the source cache to the target cache and separately copying data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

changing the indicator of the data item to denote that said data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

satisfying any host data access requests received during the operating step by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host request to read a data item, providing the data item to the host from the target DASD if the data item has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise, copying the data item from the source DASD to the target DASD, providing the data item to the host from the target cache, and changing indicators corresponding to the copied data item to denote that said data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD; and

in response to a host request to write a data item from the host to the target DASD, writing the data item to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require any data items present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data items from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing data from the host to the target DASD and changing indicators corresponding to the copied data items to denote that said data items have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD.

36. An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for migrating data from a source DASD to a target DASD, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, said method steps comprising:

directing requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

copying data stored in the source DASD to the target DASD by;

copying items of data stored in the source cache to the target cache; and

separately

copying items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

concurrently with the copying steps, operating the target DASD to receive from the host data access requests and in response to said receipt to satisfy the data access requests by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host read request for data, providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD; and

in response to a host request to write data, writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not yet present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD.

37. The article of claim 36, further comprising the step of, concurrently with the copying steps, maintaining a copy progress map distinguishing items of data that have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD from other items of data.

38. The article of claim 37, each item of data comprising a track of data stored on the source DASD.

39. The article of claim 37, the copy progress map comprising a bit map where each bit is associated with a different item of data in the source DASD, the maintaining step comprising the steps of setting each bit of the copy progress map to a predetermined value upon copying the associated data item to the target DASD.

40. The article of claim 39, the predetermined value being a binary zero.

41. The article of claim 39, the predetermined value being a binary one.

42. The article of claim 36, further including the steps of electrically decoupling the source DASD from the host.

43. The article of claim 36, the step of copying items of data stored in the source NVS comprising

copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target cache, and copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS.

44. The article of claim 36, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host read request for data comprising the steps of:

providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target cache and then providing the requested data to the host from the target cache.

45. The article of claim 36 the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host request to write data comprising the steps of:

writing the requested data from the host to the target cache if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target cache and then writing the requested data from the host to the target cache.

46. The article of claim 36, the host comprising multiple digital processing apparatuses.

47. The article of claim 36, the host comprising a single digital processing apparatus.

48. The article of claim 36, the source DASD including multiple DASDs.

49. The article of claim 36, the target DASD including multiple DASDs.

50. An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform method steps for migrating data from a source DASD to a target DASD, the target DASD being coupled to the host and the source DASD being coupled to the target DASD, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, said method steps comprising:

receiving an identification of data items contained on the source DASD to be copied to the target DASD;

creating a copy progress map including a listing of each identified data item, the copy progress map including for each data item an indicator denoting whether that data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

redirecting requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

operating the target DASD to repeatedly perform the following steps until all data items have been copied to the target DASD;

selecting a data item whose indicator denotes that said data item has not been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

reading the selected data item from the source DASD;

copying the selected data item to the target DASD by copying data stored in the source cache to the target cache and separately copying data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

changing the indicator of the data item to denote that said data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

satisfying any host data access requests received during the operating step by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host request to read a data item, providing the data item to the host from the target DASD if the data item has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise, copying the data item from the source DASD to the target DASD, providing the data item to the host from the target cache, and changing indicators corresponding to the copied data item to denote that said data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD; and

in response to a host request to write a data item from the host to the target DASD, writing the data item to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require any data items present in the source DASD but not yet present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data items from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing data from the host to the target DASD and changing indicators corresponding to the copied data items to denote that said data items have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD.

51. A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a host;

a source DASD, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS");

a target DASD electrically coupled to the host and the source DASD, the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the target DASD being programmed for;

directing requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

copying data stored in the source DASD to the target DASD by;

copying items of data stored in the source cache to the target cache; and

separately

copying items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

concurrently with the copying steps, operating the target DASD to receive from the host data access requests for access to data stored in the source DASD and in response to said receipt to satisfy the data access requests by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host read request for data, providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD; and

in response to a host request to write data, writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing the requested data from the host to the target DASD.

52. The subsystem of claim 51, further comprising the step of, concurrently with the copying steps, maintaining a copy progress map distinguishing items of data that have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD from other items of data.

53. The subsystem of claim 52, each item of data comprising a track of data stored on the source DASD.

54. The subsystem of claim 52, the copy progress map comprising a bit map where each bit is associated with a different item of data in the source DASD, the maintaining step comprising the steps of setting each bit of the copy progress map to a predetermined value upon copying the associated data item to the target DASD.

55. The subsystem of claim 54, the predetermined value being a binary zero.

56. The subsystem of claim 54, the predetermined value being a binary one.

57. The subsystem of claim 51, further including the steps of electrically decoupling the source DASD from the host.

58. The subsystem of claim 51, the step of copying items of data stored in the source NVS comprising

copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target cache, and

copying a number of items of data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS.

59. The subsystem of claim 51, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host read request for data comprising the steps of:

providing the requested data to the host from the target DASD if the requested data has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise copying the requested data from the source DASD to the target cache and then providing the requested data to the host from the target cache.

60. The subsystem of claim 51, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS"), the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the steps performed in response to a host request to write data comprising the steps of:

writing the requested data from the host to the target cache if completion of the write request does not require data present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target cache and then writing the requested data from the host to the target cache.

61. The subsystem of claim 51, the host comprising multiple digital processing apparatuses.

62. The subsystem of claim 51, the host comprising a single digital processing apparatus.

63. The subsystem of claim 51, the source DASD including multiple DASDs.

64. The subsystem of claim 51, the target DASD including multiple DASDs.

65. The subsystem of claim 51, the target DASD and host being electrically coupled via a programmable interface, the target DASD and the source DASD also being electrically coupled via the programmable interface.

66. The subsystem of claim 65, the programmable interface comprising an ESCON director.

67. The subsystem of claim 51, the target DASD and host being electrically coupled via a first communications link, and the target DASD and the source DASD being electrically coupled via a second communications link.

68. The subsystem of claim 67 at least one of the first and second communications links comprising a fiber optic link.

69. The subsystem of claim 67, at least one of the first and second communications links comprising a cable having an electrically conductive member.

70. A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a host;

a source DASD, the source DASD including a source cache and a source non-volatile storage ("NVS");

a target DASD coupled to the host and the source DASD, the target DASD including a target cache and target NVS, the target DASD being programmed for;

receiving an identification of data items contained on the source DASD to be copied to the target DASD;

creating a copy progress map including a listing of each identified data item, the copy progress map including for each data item an indicator denoting whether that data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

redirecting requests for access of data contained on the source DASD to the target DASD;

operating the target DASD to repeatedly perform the following steps until all data items have been copied to the target DASD;

selecting a data item whose indicator denotes that said data item has not been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

reading the selected data item from the source DASD;

copying the selected data item to the target DASD by copying data stored in the source cache to the target cache and separately copying data stored in the source NVS to the target NVS;

changing the indicator of the data item to denote that said data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD;

satisfying any host data access requests received during the operating step by performing steps comprising;

in response to a host request to read a data item, providing the data item to the host from the target DASD if the data item has already been copied from the source DASD, otherwise, copying the data item from the source DASD to the target DASD, providing the data item to the host from the target cache, and changing an indicators corresponding to the copied data item to denote that said data item has been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD, and

in response to a host request to write a data item from the host to the target DASD, writing the data item to the target DASD if completion of the write request does not require any data items present in the source DASD but not present in the target DASD, otherwise copying the required data from the source DASD to the target DASD and then writing data from the host to the target DASD and changing indicators corresponding to the copied data items to denote that said data items have been copied from the source DASD to the target DASD.