Heterogeneous computer system, heterogeneous input/output system and data back-up method for the systems

• US 6,721,841 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Fukuzawa, Yasuko, Nakano, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tanh Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/326,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 710/3, 710/8, 710/9, 710/15, 710/20, 710/21, 710/36, 710/38, 710/268, 709/200-203, 709/216-219, 709/238, 709/239, 709/240, 709/242, 709/245, 709/249, 709/250, 711/100, 711/111, 711/112, 711/150, 711/151, 711/161, 711/162, 711/165, 711/200, 711/202, 711/203, 711/205, 711/206-209, 711/220, 711/221
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0623 in relation to content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays

Abstract

A heterogeneous computer system, a heterogeneous input/output system and a data back-up method for the systems. An I/O subsystem A for open system and an I/O subsystem B for a mainframe are connected by a communication unit. In order to back up the data from at least a disk connected to the I/O subsystem B in a MT library system and in order to permit the mainframe to access the data in the I/O subsystem B, the I/O subsystem A includes a table for assigning a vacant memory address in a local subsystem to the memory of the I/O subsystem for an open system. A request of variable-length record format received from the mainframe is converted into a fixed-length record format for the subsystem B. The disk designated according to the table is accessed, and the data thus obtained is sent to the mainframe and backed up in the back-up system.

Claims

1. A system for storing data comprising:

a first storage system coupled to a host computer, said first storage system comprising a first disk controller, and at least one first disk coupled to said first disk controller; and

a second storage system coupled to said first storage system, said second storage system comprising a second disk controller, and at least one second disk coupled to said second disk controller;

wherein said first disk controller receives a write request issued from said host computer, determines if a disk designated by first disk identification information included in said write request is in said first storage system and, if the disk designated by said first disk identification information is not in said first storage system, obtains controller identification information designating said second disk controller and second disk identification information designating one of said at least one second disk based on said first disk identification information, and sends a write request to said second disk controller according to said controller identification information and said second disk identification information.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first disk controller stores correlation information among said first disk identification information, said controller identification information, and said second disk identification information, and converts said first disk identification information into said controller identification information and said second disk identification information based on said correlation information.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said correlation information is set in said first disk controller by a service processor coupled to said first disk controller.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second disk identification information is identification information assigned to said second storage system.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first disk controller writes data to one of said at least one first disk according to said first disk identification information, if the disk designated by said first disk identification information is in said first storage system.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second disk controller has an interface for coupling to a computer.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second disk controller is coupled to said first disk controller via the same type of interface as said interface for coupling to a computer.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said interface for coupling to a computer is according to Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

9. A system for storing data comprising:

a first storage system coupled to a host computer, said first storage system comprising a first disk controller, and at least one first disk coupled to said first disk controller; and

a second storage system coupled to said first storage system, said second storage system comprising a second disk controller, and at least one second disk coupled to said second disk controller;

wherein said first disk controller receives a write request issued from said host computer, and selects a disk controller coupled to a disk corresponding to first disk identification information included in said write request, and

wherein said first disk controller obtains, if a selected disk controller is said second disk controller, controller identification information designating said second disk controller and second disk identification information designating one of said at least one second disk based on said first disk identification information, and sends a write request to said second disk controller according to said controller identification information and said second disk identification information.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first disk controller stores correlation information among said first disk identification information, said controller identification information, and said second disk identification information, and converts said first disk identification information into said controller identification information and said second disk identification information based on said correlation information.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said correlation information is set in said first disk controller by a service processor coupled to said first disk controller.

12. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second disk identification information is identification information assigned to said second storage system.

13. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first disk controller writes data to one of said at least one first disk according to said first disk identification information, if the disk designated by said first disk identification information is in said first storage system.

14. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second disk controller has an interface for coupling to a computer.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second disk controller is coupled to said first disk controller via the same type of interface as said interface for coupling to a computer.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said interface for coupling to a computer is according to Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

17. A system for storing data comprising:

a first storage system coupled to a host computer, said first storage system comprising a first disk controller, and at least one first disk coupled to said first disk controller; and

a second storage system coupled to said first storage system, said second storage system comprising a second disk controller, and at least one second disk coupled to said second disk controller;

wherein said first disk controller receives a write request issued from said host computer, and chooses a disk controller from one of said first disk controller and said second disk controller that is coupled to a disk corresponding to first disk identification information included in said write request, and

wherein said first disk controller obtains, if a chosen disk controller is said second disk controller, controller identification information designating said second disk controller and second disk identification information designating one of said at least one second disk based on said first disk identification information, and sends a write request to said second disk controller according to said controller identification information and said second disk identification information.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first disk controller stores correlation information among said first disk identification information, said controller identification information, and said second disk identification information, and converts said first disk identification information into said controller identification information and said second disk identification information based on said correlation information.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said correlation information is set in said first disk controller by a service processor coupled to said first disk controller.

20. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said second disk identification information is identification information assigned to said second storage system.

21. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first disk controller writes data to one of said at least one first disk according to said first disk identification information, if the disk designated by said first disk identification information is in said first storage system.

22. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said second disk controller has an interface for coupling to a computer.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said second disk controller is coupled to said first disk controller via the same type of interface as said interface for coupling to a computer.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said interface for coupling to a computer is according to Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).