Autonomic power loss recovery for a multi-cluster storage sub-system
First Claim
1. A method for storing data in a data processing system having a storage controller coupled to at least one host computer, the method comprising:
- directing first modified data in a first cluster of the storage controller be stored in a preserved area of memory of a second cluster of the storage controller in a normal operating mode;
directing second modified data in the second cluster be stored in a preserved portion of memory of the first cluster in the normal operating mode;
upon detection of a power failure in the storage controller;
continuing to operate the storage controller under temporary battery power;
directing the first modified data be stored in a first disk storage device in the first cluster;
directing the second modified data be stored in a second disk storage device in the second cluster;
directing the first modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the second cluster to the second disk storage device; and
directing the second modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the first cluster to the first disk storage device;
attempting to restore the storage controller to the normal operating mode;
upon a failure of the first cluster to recover after the power failure, enabling the second cluster to process the first modified data of the first cluster through the second storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved storage controller and method for storing and recovering data are disclosed. The storage controller includes a first cluster for directing data from a host computer to a storage device and a second cluster for directing data from a host computer to a storage device. A first cache memory is connected to the first cluster and a second cache memory is connected to the second cluster. A first preserved area of memory is connected to the first cluster and a second preserved area of memory is connected to the second cluster. Data is directed to the first cache and backed up to the second preserved area in a normal operating mode. Similarly, data is directed to the second cache and backed up to the first preserved area in the normal operating mode. In the event of a power failure or comparable event, data from the first and second preserved areas are transferred to, and stored on, a first storage device. Additionally, data from the first and second preserved areas are transferred to, and stored on, a second storage device. Thus, upon resumption of normal operation, if one of the clusters subsequently fails to resume normal operations, data from the failed cluster is available through the operating cluster.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for storing data in a data processing system having a storage controller coupled to at least one host computer, the method comprising:
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directing first modified data in a first cluster of the storage controller be stored in a preserved area of memory of a second cluster of the storage controller in a normal operating mode; directing second modified data in the second cluster be stored in a preserved portion of memory of the first cluster in the normal operating mode; upon detection of a power failure in the storage controller; continuing to operate the storage controller under temporary battery power; directing the first modified data be stored in a first disk storage device in the first cluster; directing the second modified data be stored in a second disk storage device in the second cluster; directing the first modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the second cluster to the second disk storage device; and directing the second modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the first cluster to the first disk storage device;
attempting to restore the storage controller to the normal operating mode;upon a failure of the first cluster to recover after the power failure, enabling the second cluster to process the first modified data of the first cluster through the second storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A storage controller, comprising:
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a first cluster for directing the storage of data from a host computer, the first cluster comprising; a first cache memory; a first preserved area of memory; a first disk storage device; a second cluster for directing the storage of data from a host computer, the second cluster comprising; a second cache memory; a second preserved area of memory; a second disk storage device; means for directing first modified data be stored in the preserved area of the second cluster in a normal operating mode; means for directing second modified data be stored in the preserved area of the first cluster in the normal operating mode; means for detecting a power failure in the storage controller; a battery operable to temporarily operate the storage controller in a power failure mode; means for, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, directing the first modified data be stored in the first disk storage device; means for, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, directing the second modified data be stored in the second disk storage device; means for, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, directing the first modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the second cluster to the second disk storage device; and means for, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, directing the second modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the first cluster to the first disk storage device; means for enabling the second cluster to process the first modified data of the first cluster through the second storage device if the first cluster fails to recover after the power failure. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A data processing system, comprising:
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at least one host computer; at least one storage device; a storage controller, comprising; a first cluster for directing the storage of data from a host computer, the first cluster comprising; a first cache memory; a first preserved area of memory; a first disk storage device; a second cluster for directing the storage of data from a host computer, the second cluster comprising; a second cache memory; a second preserved area of memory; a second disk storage device; means for directing first modified data be stored in the second preserved area in a normal operating mode; means for directing second modified data be stored in the first preserved area in the normal operating mode; means for detecting a power failure in the storage controller; a battery operable to temporarily operate the storage controller in a power failure mode; means for, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, directing the first modified data be stored in the first disk storage device; means, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, for directing the second modified data be stored in the second disk storage device; means, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, for directing the first modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the second cluster to the second disk storage device; and means, while the storage controller is in the power failure mode, for directing the second modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the first cluster to the first disk storage device; means for enabling the second cluster to process the first modified data of the first cluster through the second storage device if the first cluster fails to recover after the power failure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An article of manufacture for use in programming a storage controller to direct the transfer of data between host systems and storage devices, the article of manufacture comprising a storage medium having logic embedded therein to cause components of the storage controller to perform the steps of:
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directing first modified data in a first cluster of the storage controller be stored in a preserved area of memory of a second cluster in a normal operating mode; directing second modified data in the second cluster of the storage controller be stored in a preserved portion of memory of the first cluster in the normal operating mode; upon detection of a power failure in the storage controller; continuing to operate the storage controller under temporary battery power; directing the first modified data be stored in a first disk storage device in the first cluster; directing the second modified data be stored in a second disk storage device in the second cluster; directing the first modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the second cluster to the second disk storage device; and directing the second modified data be transferred from the preserved area of the first cluster to the first disk storage device;
attempting to restore the storage controller to the normal operating mode;upon failure of the first cluster to recover after a power failure, enabling the second cluster to process the first modified data of the first cluster through the second storage device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification