Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for managing replication of back-up object

• US 7,152,080 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Mikami, Shougo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu, Kuen S.
• Application Number:
  US10/743,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1844 Management specifically adapted to replicated file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

Replication data acquired by a copy and a volume storing therein this replication data are flexibly managed in response to the needs of a user depending on the attributes of a file which becomes the target of the copy executed by a storage apparatus. More concretely, when receiving an instruction of the backup for a file to be the backup target, if there has been received a specification about the attributes of the backup target, or a method of managing replication data acquired by the backup of this backup target, the specified attributes and the like are managed in a manner of being made to correspond to the replication data and a volume name into which this replication data should be stored.

Claims

1. A storage medium for storing a program for allowing a computer to execute sequential procedures, said computer being connected to a storage apparatus for executing a backup by copying data from each original volume into each duplicate volume corresponding thereto upon receiving pair information, said pair information including each original-volume name and each duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said sequential procedures comprising sequential procedures of:

holding a first table that, for files as backup objects classified into plural groups each corresponding to a respective user business, stores each group name, file names, and each policy in a manner of being made to correspond to each other, said file names being included in said each group, said each policy being a method for managing replication data;

holding a second table for storing said file names, said group names, and flags in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names, said flags indicating whether or not said duplicate volumes are available;

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified first group name, said pair information including a first original-volume name and a first duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein a first file, storing said first file name and said specified first group name into said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said first duplicate-volume;

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified second group name, said second group including said first file, said pair information including said first original-volume name and a second duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein the data of said first file, extracting said first duplicate-volume name out of said second table, and copying the first file into the first duplicate-volume;

extracting said first group name stored in said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first duplicate-volume name;

judging whether or not said policy has a flag, said policy being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name, said flag indicating that only data in the newest state is necessary for a file backed up in response to a receipt of the specified first group name; and

,

determining, depending on the judgment result, whether or not said flag should be stored into said second table, said flag indicating that said first duplicate volume is available.

2. A replication-data management method whereby, using a computer connected to a storage apparatus for executing a backup by copying data from each original volume into each duplicate volume corresponding thereto upon receiving pair information, said pair information including each original-volume name and each duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, wherein replication data stored in said each duplicate volume is managed by said execution of said backup,

said computer holding a first table and a second table, wherein files as backup objects are classified into plural groups, each corresponding to a respective user business, said first table is designed for storing file names in a manner of being made to correspond to each group name, said file names being included in said each group, and said second table is designed for storing said file names and said group names in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names,

said replication-data management method comprising a step of:

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to the receipt of a specified first group name, said pair information including a first original-volume name and a first duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein a first file, storing said first file name and said specified first group name into said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said first duplicate-volume name;

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified second group name, said second group including said first file, said pair information including said first original-volume name and a second duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storina therein the data of said first file, extracting said first duplicate-volume name by making reference to said second table, and copying the first file into the first duplicate-volume;

extracting said firstgroup name stored in said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first duplicate-volume name; and

wherein

said first table stores therein each policy, said each policy being a method for managing said replication data in a manner of being made to corresoond to said each group name,

said computer holding a third table for storing flags in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names for storing said replication data, said flags indicating whether or not said duplicate volumes are available, and

said replication-data management method further comprising the steps of;

judging whether or not said policy satisfies a predetermined condition, said policy being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name; and

,

determining, depending on the judgment result, whether or not said flag should be stored into said third table, said flag indicating that said first duplicate volume is available.

3. The replication-data management method according to claim 2, wherein said step of judging whether or not said policy satisfies said predetermined condition is a step of judging whether or not said policy has a flag, said flag indicating that only data in the newest state is necessary for a file backed up with said group specified, said group being made to correspond to said policy.

4. The replication-data management method according to claim 2, wherein said each group includes files which are updated as a result of executing each business-operation for the user business corresponding thereto, said each business-operation being one collection of a series of processes.

5. The replication-data management method according to claim 4, wherein

said first table stores therein each policy, said each policy being a method for managing said replication data in a manner of being made to correspond to said each group name,

said computer holding a third table for storing flags in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names for storing said replication data, said flags indicating whether or not said duplicate volumes are available,

said replication-data management method further comprising the steps of:

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified second group name, said second group including files which are updated as a result of executing a second business-operation for the user business corresponding to the second group, said pair information including said first original-volume name and a second duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein said first file which belongs to said second group, extracting said first duplicate-volume and said first group name, copying the first file into first duplicate-volume, said first group name being stored in said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said first duplicate-volume name;

judging whether or not a file name is only said first file name, said file name being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name;

judging whether or not said policy satisfies a predetermined condition, said policy being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name; and

,

determining, depending on the judgment result, whether or not a flag should be stored into said third table, said flag indicating that said second duplicate volume is available.

6. A computer connected to a storage apparatus for executing a backup by copying data from each original volume into each duplicate volume corresponding thereto upon receiving pair information, said pair information including each original-volume name and each duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto,

said computer comprising:

a memory unit for holding a first table and a second table, wherein files becoming backup targets are classified into plural groups each corresponding to a respective user business, said first table being designed for storing file names in a manner of being made to correspond to each group name, said file names being included in said each group, said second table being designed for storing said file names and said group names in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names; and

a volume setting unit for executing a steps of;

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified first group name, said pair information including a first original-volume name and a first duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein a first file, storing said first file name and said first group name whose specification has been received into said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said first duplicate-volume name;

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified second group name, said second group including said first file, said pair information including said first original-volume name and a second duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein the data of said first file, extracting said first duplicate-volume name by making reference to said second table, and copying the first file into the first duplicate-volume;

extracting said first group name stored in said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first duplicate-volume name; and

wherein

said first table stores therein each policy, said each policy being a method for managing said replication data in a manner of being made to correspond to said each group name,

said memory unit holding a third table for storing flags in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names for storing said replication data, said flags indicating whether or not said duplicate volumes are available, and

said computer comprising said volume setting unit for further executing the steps of;

judging whether or not said policy satisfies a predetermined condition, said policy being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name; and

,

determining, depending on the judgment result, whether or not said flag should be stored into said third table, said flag indicating that said first duplicate volume is available.

7. The computer according to claim 6, wherein said step of judging whether or not said policy satisfies said predetermined condition is a step of judging whether or not said policy has a flag, said flag indicating that only data in the newest state is necessary for a file backed up with said group specified, said group being made to correspond to said policy.

8. The computer according to claim 6, wherein said each group includes files which are updated as a result of executing each business-operation for the user business corresponding thereto, said each business-operation being one collection of a series of processes.

9. The computer according to claim 8, wherein said first table stores therein each policy, said each policy being a method for managing said replication data in a manner of being made to correspond to said each group name,

said memory unit holding a third table for storing flags in a manner of being made to correspond to said duplicate-volume names for storing said replication data, said flags indicating whether or not said duplicate volumes are available,

said volume setting unit being a volume setting unit for further executing the steps of:

when transmitting said pair information to said storage apparatus in response to a receipt of a specified second group name, said second group including files which are updated as a result of executing a second business-operation for the user business corresponding thereto, said pair information including said first original-volume name and a second duplicate-volume name corresponding thereto, said first original-volume for storing therein said first file which belongs to said second group, extracting said first duplicate-volume name and said first group name, and copying the first file into the first duplicate-volume, said first group name being stored in said second table in a manner of being made to correspond to said first duplicate-volume name;

judging whether or not a file name is only said first file name, said file name being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name;

judging whether or not said policy satisfies a predetermined condition, said policy being stored in said first table in a manner of being made to correspond to said extracted first group name; and

,

determining, depending on the judgment result, whether or not a flag should be stored into said third table, said flag indicating that said second duplicate volume is available.