Storage system

• US 6,931,567 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koichi, Takamoto, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Manoskey, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US09/754,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20010016919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 714/6, 714/9, 714/20, 714/42, 711/114, 711/149, 365/230.05
• US Class Current: 714/6.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2092 Techniques of failing over between control units

Abstract

The storage controlling apparatus has a function for setting each of a plurality of ports in a controller for the current controller or for the standby controller, so that one port is switched to the other in a controller in case an error occurs in a controller or in a port. When in a normal operation, both of the controllers can be operated so as to improve the performance of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A storage system with redundant components comprising:

a plurality of disk devices;

a first controller having a first current port connected to a first host and a first standby port connected to a second host, said first controller connected to said disk devices for data exchange between said first host and said disk devices via said first current port;

a second controller having a second current port connected to said second host and a second standby port connected to said first host, said second controller connected to said disk devices for data exchange between said second host and said disk devices via said second current port, said second controller having stored therein port configuration information representative of said first current port; and

a plurality of communication lines between said first controller and said second controller,

said first controller configured to detect an error condition therein and in response to detecting said error condition, to communicate an error indication to said second controller,

said second controller configured to detect receipt of said error indication and in response to receiving said error indication to configure said second standby port for data exchange between said first host and said disk devices based on said port configuration information.

2. The storage system of claim 1 further wherein said first controller and said second controller each have a plurality of current ports and a plurality of standby ports so as to connect a plurality of hosts.

3. The storage system of claim 1 wherein said error indication is communicated via said communication lines.

4. The storage system of claim 1 wherein said first current port and said second standby port connect to said first host and said second host via a fibre channel.

5. The storage system of claim 1, wherein said first controller is further configured to communicate a recovery indication to said second controller upon recovery from said error condition, wherein said second controller is further configured to perform a disconnect operation of said second standby port and to communicate an indication of completion of said disconnect operation to said first controller.

6. The storage system of claim 5, wherein a connection between said first host and said first controller is one of a point-to-point connection and a fabric unit, wherein a connection between said second host and said second controller is one of a point-to-point connection and a fabric unit.

7. A storage system with redundant components comprising:

a plurality of disk devices;

a first controller having a first current port for communication with a first host and a first standby port for communication with a second host, said first controller connected to said disk devices for reading and writing data with said first host via said first current port;

a second controller having a second current port for communication with said second host and a second standby port connected to said first host, said second controller connected to said disk devices for reading and writing data with said second host via said second current port; and

said first controller operable to store first port configuration information in said second controller, said first port configuration information representative of said first current port,

said first controller operable to detect an error condition therein and in response to detecting said error condition, to communicate an error indication to said second controller,

said second controller operable to detect receipt of said error indication and in response to receiving said error indication to configure said second standby port for reading and writing data between said first host and said disk devices based on said first port configuration information.

8. The storage system of claim 7 wherein said second controller is operable to store second port configuration information in said first controller, said second port configuration information representative of said second current port, said second controller operable to detect an error condition therein and, in response to detecting said error condition, to communicate an error indication to said first controller, said first controller being operable to detect receipt of said error indication from said second controller and in response thereto to configure said first standby port for reading and writing data between said second host and said disk devices based on said second port configuration information.

9. The storage system of claim 7 wherein said first controller and said second controller each have a plurality of current ports and a plurality of standby ports so as to connect a plurality of hosts.

10. The storage system of claim 7 further comprising a communication path between said first controller and said second controller, wherein said error indication is communicated via said communication path.

11. The storage system of claim 7 wherein said first current port and said second standby port connect to said first host and said second host via a fibre channel.

12. The storage system of claim 7, wherein said first controller is further configured to communicate a recovery indication to said second controller upon recovery from said error condition, wherein said second controller is further configured to perform a disconnect operation of said second standby port and to communicate an indication of completion of said disconnect operation to said first controller.

13. The storage system of claim 12, wherein a connection between said first host and said first controller is one of a point-to-point connection and a fabric unit, wherein a connection between said second host and said second controller is one of a point-to-point connection and a fabric unit.