Storage network system, managing apparatus, managing method and program

• US 7,093,011 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hirata, Toshiaki, Hirabayashi, Motoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Abio
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US10/424,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709/227, 370/389, 370/396, 370/397, 370/498
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3433 for load management allocation of a server based on load conditions G06F9/505; load rebalancing G06F9/5083; redistributing the load in a network by a load balancer H04L67/1029
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3485 for I/O devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/349 for interfaces, buses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• 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 storage network system includes computers, storage systems, connection devices that control connection relations between the computers and the storage system, and a managing device that manages the computers, the storage system and the connection devices. The managing device includes a control section that specifies connection ports of the computers, the storage system and the connection devices that compose the storage network system. Further, the control device of the managing device displays on a display section a data traffic amount at each of the connection ports for each connection path from the computer to the storage system.

Claims

1. A storage network system comprising:

a computer;

a storage system;

a switch device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, the switch device controlling a data transfer between the computer and the storage system; and

a management device coupled to the computer, the storage system and the switch device and managing thereof,

wherein the management device comprises;

a memory that stores access path information that indicates an access path including a set of connecting ports used by the computer for accessing from the computer to the storage system via the switch device;

a control section that specifies a first connecting port of the computer, a second connecting port of the switch device and a third connecting port of the storage system, the first, second and third connecting ports being included in the set of connecting ports of the access path, based on the access path information

a display section coupled to the control section,

wherein the control section outputs to the display section so that the display section displays data of a traffic amount of the first, second and third connecting ports.

2. A storage network system according to claim 1,

wherein the access path information includes destination information that indicates a destination storage area in the storage system of the access path,

wherein the control section specifies the destination storage area based on the destination information, and

wherein the control section outputs data of a traffic amount of the destination storage area to the display section.

3. A storage network system according to claim 2,

wherein the control section measures access time for the access path between the computer and the destination storage area of the storage system, and when the access time via the access path exceeds a predetermined permissible time range, the control section outputs to the display section so that display section displays the data of the traffic amount of the first, second and third connecting ports and the destination storage area.

4. A storage network system according to claim 3, wherein, when the traffic amount of at least one connecting port of the access path or the destination storage area exceeds a predetermined reference value, the control section judges whether the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area is overloaded, and outputs a signal so that the display section displays the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area that is overloaded.

5. A storage network system according to claim 4, wherein the control section specifies a second access path that shares the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area, that is determined to be overloaded, with the access path, and the display section displays data of a traffic amount of connecting ports which are included in the second access path.

6. A storage network system according to claim 2, wherein the control section measures access time from the first connecting port of the computer to the second connecting port of the switch device, the third connecting port of the storage system and the destination storage area, specifies at least one connecting port of the access path or the destination storage area at which the access time is in synchronism with the data of the traffic amount of the first, second or third connecting port or the destination storage area, and

wherein the display section displays data of an access amount at the specified connecting port or the destination storage area in a manner to be discriminated from other of the set of connecting ports and the destination storage area.

7. A storage network system according to claim 6, wherein the control section judges that the switch device is overloaded if the data traffic amount of the second connecting port of the switch device displayed on the display section exceeds a specified reference value, generates a control signal for switching the access path to eliminate the overload according to traffic amount of the set of the connecting ports of the access path and the destination storage device, and transmits the control signal to the switch device.

8. A storage network system according to claim 6, wherein the control section judges that the switch device is overloaded if the traffic amount of the second connecting port of the switch device displayed on the display section exceeds a specified reference value, generates a copy control signal for copying data stored in the destination storage area of the storage system onto an another storage system to eliminate the overload according to traffic amount of the set of the connecting ports of the access path and the destination storage area, and transmits the copy control signal to the storage system.

9. A storage network system according to claim 8, wherein the control section generates an access control signal for switching an access from the destination storage area of the storage system to the other storage system that stores the copied data, and transmits the access control signal to the switch device.

10. A storage network system according to claim 1,

wherein the access path information includes destination information that indicates a destination volume in the storage system of the access path,

wherein the control section specifies a disk drive of the destination volume, and

wherein the control section outputs data of a traffic amount of the disk drive of the destination volume to the display section.

11. A managing device that manages a computer, a storage system and a data transfer device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, that controls a data transfer between the computer and the storage system, the managing device comprising:

a memory that stores access path information which indicates an access path, from the computer to the storage system via the data transfer device, which includes connecting ports;

a control section that specifies a first connecting port of the connecting ports of the access path in the computer, a second connecting port of the connecting ports of the access path in the data transfer device and a third connecting port of the connecting ports of the access path in the data transfer device based on the access path information; and

a display section that is controlled by the control section to display data of traffic amount at each of the connecting ports of the access path from the first connecting port in the computer to the third connecting port in the storage system via the second connecting port of the data transfer device.

12. A storage network management method for managing a computer, a storage system and a switch device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, that controls a data transfer between the computer and the storage system, the storage network management method comprising:

storing access path information which indicates an access path used by the computer for accessing from the computer to the storage system via the switch device and including connecting ports;

specifying the access path, a first connecting port of the connecting ports of the access path in the computer, a second connecting port of the connecting ports of the access path in the switch device and a third connecting port of the connecting ports of the access path in the storage system; and

displaying on a display section data of a traffic amount at each of the connecting ports of the access path from the first connecting port in the computer to the third connecting port in the storage system via the second connecting port of the switch device.

13. A program stored on a computer readable medium for executing a storage network management for a computer, a storage network managemnt for a computer, a storage system and a data transfer device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, that controls a data transfer between the computer and the storage system, program comprising:

storing access path information which indicates an access path used by the computer for accessing from the computer to the storage system;

specifying the access path, a first connecting port, which is included in the access path, in the computer, a second connecting port, which is included in the access path, in the data transfer device, a third connecting port, which is included in the access path, in the storage system, and a volume which is a destination of the access path based on the access path information; and

displaying on a display section data of a traffic amount at the first, second and third connecting ports of the access path from the first connecting port in the computer to the third connecting pod in the storage system and data of a traffic amount at the volume.

14. A computer readable medium that stores a program for executing a storage network management for a computer, a storage system and a switch device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, that controls a data transfer between the computer and the storage system, wherein the program stored in the computer readable medium comprises:

specifying a first connecting pod in the computer, a second connecting port in the switch device and a third connecting port in the storage system, the first, second and third connecting ports comprising an access path from the computer to the storage system via the switch device by using the computer; and

displaying on a display section data of a traffic amount at the first, second and third connecting pods of the access path from the first connecting port in the computer to the third connecting port in the storage system.

15. A system comprising:

a computer;

a storage system;

a data transfer device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, the data transfer device controlling a data transfer between the computer and the storage system; and

a management device coupled to and managing the computer, the storage system and the data transfer device,

wherein the management device comprises;

a memory that stores access path information that indicates an access path including a set of connecting ports used by the computer for accessing from the computer to the storage system via the data transfer device and a volume, related to a plurality of physical disk drives in the storage system, that is object to access for the computer by using the access path;

a control section that specifies a first connecting port of the computer, a second connecting port of the data transfer device, a third connecting port of the storage system, and a physical disk drive of the plurality of physical disk drives related to the volume based on the access path information, the first, second and third connecting ports being included in the set of connecting ports of the access path; and

a display section coupled to the control section,

wherein the control section outputs data of a traffic amount of the first, second and third connecting ports and the physical disk drive to the display section.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein, when the traffic amount of at least one connecting port or the physical disk drive exceeds a predetermined reference value, the control section judges whether the at least one connecting port or the physical disk drive is overloaded, and outputs a signal so that the display section displays the at least one connecting port or the physical disk drive that is overloaded.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the control section specifies a second access path that shares the physical disk drive, that is determined to be overloaded, with the access path, and the display section displays data of a traffic amount of connecting ports which are included in the second access path.

18. A system comprising:

a computer;

a storage system;

a switch device, coupled to the computer and the storage system, the switch device controlling a data transfer between the computer and the storage system; and

a management computer coupled to the computer, the storage system and the switch device and managing thereof,

wherein the management computer comprises;

a memory that stores access path information that indicates an access path including a set of connecting ports used by the computer for accessing from the computer to the storage system via the switch device;

a control section that gathers data of a traffic amount of a first connecting port of the computer, a second connecting port of the switch device and a third connecting port of the storage system, the first, second and third connecting ports being included in the set of connecting ports of the access path,

a display section coupled to the control section,

wherein the control section outputs to the display section so that the display section displays the data of the traffic amount of the first, second and third connecting ports.

19. A system according to claim 18,

wherein the access path information includes destination information that indicates a destination storage area in the storage system of the access path,

wherein the control section gathers data of a traffic amount of the destination storage area, and

wherein the control section outputs the data of the traffic amount of the destination storage area to the display section.

20. A system according to claim 19,

wherein the control section measures access time for the access path between the computer and the destination storage area of the storage system, and when the access time via the access path exceeds a predetermined permissible time range, the control section outputs to the display section so that display section displays the data of the traffic amount at the first, second and third connecting ports and the destination storage area.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein, when the traffic amount of at least one connecting port of the access path or the destination storage area exceeds a predetermined reference value, the control section judges whether the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area is overloaded, and outputs a signal so that the display section displays the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area that is overloaded.

22. A system according to claim 18, wherein the control section specifies a second access path that shares the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area, that is determined to be overloaded, with the access path, and the display section displays data of a traffic amount of connecting ports which are included in the second access path.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the control section specifies a second access path that shares the at least one connecting port or the destination storage area, that is determined to be overloaded, with the access path, and the display section displays data of a traffic amount of connecting ports which are included in the second access path.

24. A system according to claim 19, wherein the control section measures access time from the first connecting port of the computer to the second connecting port of the switch device, the third connecting port of the storage system and the destination storage area, specifies at least one connecting port of the access path or the storage area in the set of connecting ports and the destination storage area at which the access time is in synchronism with the data of the traffic amount of the first, second or third connecting port or the destination storage area, and

wherein the display section displays data of an access amount at the specified connecting port or the destination storage area in a manner to be discriminated from other of the set of connecting ports and the destination storage area.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the control section judges that the switch device is overloaded if the traffic amount of the second connecting port of the switch device displayed on the display section exceeds a specified reference value, generates a copy control signal for copying data stored in the destination storage area of the storage system onto an another storage system to eliminate the overload according to a traffic amount at the set of the connecting ports of the access path and the destination storage device, and transmits the control signal to the switch device.

26. A system according to claim 24, wherein the control section judges that the switch device is overloaded if the traffic amount of the second connecting port of the switch device displayed on the display section exceeds a specified reference value, generates a copy control signal for copying data stored in the destination storage area of the storage system onto an another storage system to eliminate the overload according to a traffic amount at the set of the connecting ports of the access path and the destination storage area, and transmits the copy control signal to the storage system.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the control section generates an access control signal for switching an access from the destination storage area of the storage system to the other storage system that stores the copied data, and transmits the access control signal to the switch device.