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

• US 6,871,255 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/663,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 710/3, 710/8, 710/9, 710/15, 710/20, 710/21, 710/36, 710/38, 710/268, 709200-203, 709216-219, 709238-240, 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, 711206-209, 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 an open system and an I/O subsystem B for a mainframe are connected by a communication unit. In order to back up 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 A 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 comprising a first disk controller and at least one first disk coupled to said first disk controller;

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

a controller coupled to said first storage system, said second storage system, a host computer, and a service processor;

wherein said controller comprises a memory in which correlation information among first disk identification information, identification information designating a storage system, and second disk identification information is stored, and said correlation information is set in said controller by said service processor coupled to said controller, and

wherein said controller is configured to receive a write request from said host computer, select a storage system including a target disk designated by first disk identification information included in the write request by using said correlation information, obtain identification information designating a selected storage system and second disk identification information designating the target disk based on said first disk identification information included in the write request and said correlation information, and send a write request to the selected storage system according to said identification information designating the selected storage system and said second disk identification information.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second disk identification information is disk identification information assigned to the selected storage system including the target disk.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first disk controller and said second disk controller both have an interface for coupling to said host computer.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second disk controller is coupled to said controller, via an interface of the same type as the interface for coupling to said host computer.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said interface for coupling to said host computer is in accordance with SCSI.

6. A controller coupled to a first storage system, a second storage system, a host computer and a service processor, in which said first storage system comprises a first disk controller and at least one first disk, and said second storage system comprises a second disk controller and at least one second disk, comprising:

transfer device configured to transfer write data received from said host computer to one of said first storage system and said second storage system;

a memory to store correlation information among first disk identification information, identification information designating a storage system, and second disk identification information, said correlation information is being set in said controller from said service processor,

wherein said controller is configured to receive a write request issued from said host computer, select a storage system including a target disk designated by first disk identification information included in the write request by using said correlation information, obtain identification information designating a selected storage system and second disk identification information designating the target disk based on said first disk identification information included in the write request and said correlation information, and send a write request to the selected storage system according to said identification information designating the selected storage system and said second disk identification information.

7. A controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second disk identification information is disk identification information assigned to the selected storage system.

8. A controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller is coupled to said second disk controller via an interface, which is the same type of interface as an interface via which said second disk controller coupled to said host computer.

9. A controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interface coupling said controller and said second disk controller is in accordance with SCSI.