Clustering storage system

• US 6,922,762 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hirakawa, Yusuke, Ozawa, Koji, Arakawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Mano
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ross, John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/223,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 711161-162, 711/112, 711/114
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• 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]

Abstract

A clustering storage system, which enables to operate a plurality of storage system units as a single storage system, presents connection information between clustering storage systems to a user and receives data to be backed up and an instruction about a path between the clustering storage systems from the user. The clustering storage system uses load information or a transfer speed of a data connection line between the storage system units to determine a path between the clustering storage systems used for backup and a storage system unit for holding a backup copy so that the data transfer between the storage system units becomes minimum. Besides, the clustering storage system mainly uses the determined path for backing up the data.

Claims

1. A method of data copying from a primary clustering storage system to a secondary clustering storage system, wherein each of said primary clustering storage system and said secondary clustering storage system comprises plural storage units and connection lines coupling two storage units, each storage unit comprising a plurality of logical volumes and a port coupled to another clustering storage system, and each logical volume in a storage unit of a clustering storage system being accessible from a port of a different storage unit in the same clustering storage system via said connection lines, said method comprising:

(a) specifying a candidate secondary logical volume from among said logical volumes in said secondary clustering storage system, so that copy data of a primary logical volume in said primary clustering storage system can be transmitted and stored to said candidate secondary logical volume;

(b) specifying at least one candidate route through which copy data of said primary logical volume can be transmitted to said candidate secondary logical volume;

(c) for each candidate route, obtaining an evaluation of a first path between a storage unit comprising said primary logical volume and a port in said primary clustering storage system on said candidate route;

(d) for each candidate route, obtaining an evaluation of a second path between a storage unit comprising said candidate secondary logical volume and a port in said secondary clustering storage system on said candidate route; and

(e) determining a route used for transmitting copy data from said primary logical volume to said candidate secondary logical volume according to said evaluation of a first path and said evaluation of a second path,

wherein said evaluation of a first path is obtained based on information concerning said connection lines in said primary clustering storage system, which is stored in a storage unit in said primary clustering storage system, and said evaluation of a second path is obtained based on information concerning connection lines in said secondary clustering storage system, which is stored in a storage unit in said secondary clustering storage system.

2. A method of data copying according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation of a first path is a distance evaluation of said first path, and said evaluation of a second path is a distance evaluation of said second path.

3. A method of data copying according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation of a first path is an evaluation of a data transfer speed of said first path, and said evaluation of a second path is an evaluation of a data transfer speed of said second path.

4. A method of data copying according to claim 1, wherein said step of specifying a candidate of a secondary logical volume comprises selecting plural candidate secondary logical volumes, for each candidate secondary logical volume, said specifying at least one candidate route, said obtaining evaluation of a first path, and said obtaining evaluation of a second path are performed, wherein said determining a route comprises:

selecting a first candidate secondary logical volume; and

determining a route between said primary logical volume and said first candidate secondary logical volume according to said evaluation of a first path and said evaluation of a second path.

5. A method of data copying according to claim 4, wherein said plural candidate secondary logical volumes are selected based on at least one of a size of said primary logical volume, a format type of said primary logical volume, or a status of said primary logical volume.

6. A storage system configured for data copying comprising:

a primary clustering storage system comprising plurality of primary storage units;

a plurality of primary logical volumes defined in each primary storage unit; and

a secondary clustering storage system comprising a plurality of secondary storage units;

a plurality of secondary logical volumes defined in each secondary storage unit,

a plurality of first data lines to provide data communication among said primary storage units;

a plurality of second data lines to provide data communication among said secondary storage units; and

a plurality of third data lines between said primary storage units and secondary storage units;

said primary clustering storage system is operable to perform a data copying operation wherein data stored on a source primary logical volume can be copied to a secondary logical volume, including performing steps of;

specifying a candidate secondary logical volume from among said secondary logical volumes;

specifying at least one candidate data route between said source primary logical volume and said candidate secondary logical volume;

for said at least one candidate data route, evaluating a first path between a storage unit comprising said source primary logical volume and a port in said primary clustering storage system to produce a first evaluation result;

for said at least one candidate data route, evaluating a second path between a storage unit comprising said candidate secondary logical volume and a port in said secondary clustering storage system to produce a second evaluation result; and

determining a route used for transmitting copy data from said source primary logical volume to said candidate secondary logical volume according to said first evaluation result and said second evaluation result,

wherein said first evaluation result is obtained based on information stored in one of said primary storage units concerning said first data lines, and said second evaluation result is obtained based on information stored in one of said secondary storage units concerning said second data lines.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said first evaluation result is a distance evaluation of said first path, and said second evaluation result is a distance evaluation of said second path.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said first evaluation result is a data transfer speed of said first path, and said second evaluation result is a data transfer speed of said second path.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said step of specifying a candidate secondary logical volume comprises:

selecting plural candidate secondary logical volumes; and

performing said specifying at least one candidate route, said evaluating a first path, and said evaluating a second path for each candidate secondary logical volume,

wherein said determining a route comprises;

selecting a first candidate secondary logical volume; and

determining a route between said source primary logical volume and said first candidate secondary logical volume according to said evaluating of a first path and said evaluating of a second path.