Method and system of database management for replica database

• US 6,983,277 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kota, Yamakawa, Hiroshi, Hayashi, Shigetoshi, Katsumata, Junko, Ishikawa, Taichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US10/184,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 707/8, 707/10, 707/201, 711/141
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

When a database area multi-written or replicated in an external storage unit is separated, a database management system writes consistent data into the external storage unit. A method and system capable of controlling a timing of separating the replicated database area is provided. Furthermore, new data directory information necessary to access the replicated database is dynamically added based on the data directory information of the replication source database. A method and system capable of selecting whether to access the database which is the source of the replication or access the replicated database are provided. Thus, when the database area multi-written or replicated in an external storage unit is separated and physical replicated databases are created, it is possible to maintain consistency of the replicated databases while continuing transaction processing.

Claims

1. A data processing unit including a database management system operating on an external storage unit provided with multiple storage areas for storing data, a multiple write mechanism allowing multiple writes of same data, a multiple write cancellation mechanism separating multi-written areas at a desired time to allow independent reading and writing as different control areas, and a physical copy mechanism that allows copying of data stored in the multiple storage areas, the data processing unit comprising:

a first data synchronizing system for writing in a data cache, and then to the multiple storage areas in the external storage unit, unwritten data, and for delaying writing updated data to the multiple storage areas;

a first data synchronization canceling system for restarting an update of the data under control of the first data synchronizing system;

a second data synchronizing system for erasing all data in the data cache when all transactions in progress are completed, and for temporarily prohibiting access by a newly generated transaction while the erasing is occurring; and

a second data synchronization canceling system for restarting data access under control of the second synchronizing system.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the first data synchronizing controller provides a plurality of functions including:

a first function which allows updating of the transactions through the data cache in response to a data access request from a transaction;

a second function which allows updating of the transactions then in progress, but prohibits updating the newly generated transaction;

a third function which allows referencing of all transactions and updating of the transaction in progress, but prohibits updating the newly generated transaction;

a fourth function which allows referencing all transactions, and allows updating all transactions, but only in the data cache;

a fifth function which allows updating the transaction in progress, and prohibits updating a newly generated transaction; and

a sixth function which allows updating the transaction in progress, and delays updating the newly generated transaction.

3. A data processing unit including a database management system operating on an external storage unit provided with multiple storage areas for storing data, a multiple write mechanism allowing multiple writes of same data, a multiple write cancellation mechanism separating multi-written areas at a desired time to allow independent reading and writing as different control areas, and a physical copy mechanism that allows copying of data stored in the multiple storage areas, and including a first data synchronizing system for writing in a data cache, and then to the multiple storage areas in the external storage unit, unwritten data, and for delaying writing updated data to the multiple storage areas, and a first data synchronization canceling system for restarting an update of the data under control of the first data synchronizing system, the first data synchronizing system including:

a first function which allows updating of the transactions through the data cache in response to a data access request from a transaction;

a second function which allows updating of the transactions then in progress, but prohibits updating the newly generated transaction;

a third function which allows referencing of all transactions and updating of the transaction in progress, but prohibits updating the newly generated transaction;

a fourth function which allows referencing all transactions, and allows updating all transactions, but only in the data cache;

a fifth function which allows updating the transaction in progress, and prohibits updating a newly generated transaction; and

a sixth function which allows updating the transaction in progress, and delays updating the newly generated transaction.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein the first data synchronizing controller further comprises:

a first transition for changing from the first function to one of the second and the third function;

a second transition whereby upon completion of all transactions in progress in one of the second and third functions, all data in the data cache not already written to the multiple storage areas for storing data are written, and the function is changed to one of the fourth and first functions;

a third transition for changing from the fourth function to the first function; and

a fourth transition for changing from the first function to one of the fifth and the sixth functions.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein the second data synchronizing controller further comprises a fifth transition whereby upon completion of all transactions in progress in one of the fifth and the sixth functions, all data in the data cache are erased from the data cache, and the function is changed to the first function.

6. A data processing unit wherein in a database management system operating on data in an external storage unit having multiple storage areas for storing data, having a multiple write mechanism allowing multiple write of same data, and having a multiple write cancellation mechanism that separates multi-written areas at a specified time to allow independent reading and writing as different control areas, and having a physical copy mechanism that allows copying of data stored in respective areas, the data processing unit comprising:

a data directory information dynamic copying subsystem for copying, based on data directory information registered in the database management system, common information independent of an access path of the storage area, and rewriting the common information only of the access path to the storage area to another storage area, and for dynamically adding second data directory information which includes a new name of first data directory information of a source of the common information;

a data directory information dynamic registering subsystem capable of registering the second data directory information in the database management system; and

an access target allocating subsystem for changing a database access request from an application program to be executed according to the first data directory information to cause the database access request to be executed according to the second data directory information.

7. The data processing unit of claim 6 wherein:

the data directory information dynamic copying subsystem adds an arbitrary generation identifier to the second data directory information;

the access target allocating subsystem selects at least one data directory information group by at least one of a generation identifier and a name of the second data directory information to allocate an access target databases;

the access target setting subsystem specifies at least one of the generation identifier and a name of a newly added data directory information in relation to clients accessing the database; and

the data processing unit further including a current access generation setting subsystem for determining access requests from a client for which neither a generation identifier nor a name of the data directory information is provided.