Computer system and method for transferring data between multiple peer-level storage units

• US 6,842,833 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dimitroff, John E., Grant, David L., Phillips, Gary L., Gready, Robert S., Ritter, Raymond A., Freeman, Eugene E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital, Pierre M
• Application Number:
  US09/107,539
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204, 711/4, 711/112, 711/161, 711/114, 711/162, 714 5- 7, 709212-219
• US Class Current: 711/162
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A computer system and storage management method for routing data between peer-level storage units. The computer system includes a first storage unit (e.g., disk drive) and an intelligent controller connected to a storage area network. The intelligent controller is also connected to a second storage unit (e.g., tape drive). The computer system further includes a host (server and/or workstation) having an application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent controller by way of the storage area network or a system network. In response to the transmitted command, the intelligent controller routes data between the first storage unit and the second storage unit using the storage area network while bypassing the host.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a first storage unit;

a storage area network coupled to the first storage unit;

a second storage unit;

an intelligent controller coupled to the storage area network and to the second storage unit, the intelligent controller controlling both the first storage unit and the second storage unit; and

a host coupled to the storage area network comprising an application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent controller,

where the intelligent controller, in response to the command, transfers data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent controller, between the first storage unit and the second storage unit through the storage area network while bypassing the host.

2. The computer system of claim 1, comprising a protocol having at least one channel for interfacing the host to the intelligent controller and for transmitting the command from the host to the intelligent controller.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the protocol comprises a plurality of messages.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of messages comprises a selected one of configuration and control messages, write messages, read messages, intelligent controller initiated messages and second storage unit positioning messages.

5. The computer system of claim 1, comprising a system network for connecting the host to the intelligent controller.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the system network comprises a selected one of a system area network, a local area network and a wide area network.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the command comprises information regarding where the data is located within a selected one of the first storage unit and the second storage unit.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the command comprises information regarding how the data is to be formatted by the intelligent controller.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the host comprises a workstation.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the host comprises a workstation and a server.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first storage unit and the second storage unit comprise a selected one of a disk drive, a tape drive, and an optical drive.

12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a selected one of a file and an image.

13. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent controller comprises means for retrieving the data from the first storage unit and for writing the retrieved data to the second storage unit.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the intelligent controller comprises means for formatting the retrieved data.

15. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent controller comprises means for restoring the data from the second storage unit and for writing the data to the first storage unit.

16. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent controller comprises means for communicating a reply message to the host.

17. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the storage area network comprises a Fibre Channel network.

18. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises means for handling high level errors and robotic control.

19. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises means for locking and unlocking the data located in the first storage unit.

20. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent controller comprises means for transferring data directly between the host and the second storage unit.

21. A computer system comprising:

at least one disk drive;

a storage area network coupled to the at least one disk drive;

at least one tape drive;

an intelligent tape controller coupled to the storage area network and to the at least one tape drive, the intelligent tape controller controlling both the at least one disk drive and the at least one tape drive; and

a host comprising a backup-application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent tape controller, where the intelligent tape controller, in response to the command, transfers data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent tape controller, between the at least one disk drive and the at least one tape drive through the storage area network while bypassing the host.

22. The computer system of claim 21, comprising an asynchronous protocol, the protocol comprising a plurality of messages.

23. The computer system of claim 21, comprising a local area network for connecting the host to the intelligent tape controller.

24. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the command comprises information regarding where the data is located within the at least one disk drive.

25. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the host comprises a selected one of a workstation and a combination of a workstation and a server.

26. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the data comprises a selected one of a file and an image.

27. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the intelligent tape controller comprises means for retrieving the data from the at least one disk drive and for writing the retrieved data to the at least one tape drive.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the intelligent tape controller comprises means for formatting the retrieved data prior to writing the retrieved data to the at least one tape drive.

29. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the intelligent tape controller comprises means for restoring the data from the at least on tape drive and for writing the restored data to the at least one disk drive.

30. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the at least one tape drive comprises a library of tape drives.

31. A method for moving data between a first storage unit and a second storage unit, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a host to an intelligent controller;

transmitting a command from the host to the intelligent controller, where the command contains location information on the data; and

transferring the data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent controller, in response to the transmitted command, between the first storage unit and the second storage unit through a storage area network and the intelligent controller while bypassing the host.

32. The method claim 31, comprising the step of communicating at least one reply message from the intelligent controller to the host.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of transferring comprises the steps of retrieving the data from the first storage unit, and writing the retrieved data to the second storage unit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of transferring comprises the step of formatting the retrieved data.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of transferring comprises the steps of restoring the data from the second storage unit, and writing the restored data to the first storage unit.

36. The method of claim 31, comprising the step of transferring additional data directly from the host to the second storage unit.