Remote copy for a storage controller with reduced data size

• US 7,167,962 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Oeda, Takashi, Nakano, Toshio, Yamagami, Kenji, Arai, Kouji, Okami, Yoshinori, Kishiro, Shigeru, Higaki, Seiichi, Watanabe, Haruaki, Abei, Hiroshi, Nakamura, Katsunori, Ogata, Mikito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Kevin L.
• Application Number:
  US11/323,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 711/114, 711/161, 711/162, 707/204
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2058 using more than 2 mirrored copies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2064 while ensuring consistency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2069 Management of state, configuration or failover
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2074 Asynchronous techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2076 Synchronous techniques

Abstract

Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.

Claims

1. A remote copy method performed among a plurality of storage sub-systems comprising:

receiving a position information specifying a location of a logical volume of a first storage sub-system thereby to transmit data in a location specified by said position information from said first storage sub-system to a logical volume of a second storage sub-system;

storing in said second storage sub-system said data in said location transmitted from said first storage sub-system in said logical volume of said second storage sub-system;

storing transfer states on transmitting of said data in said location in said logical volume of said second storage sub-system;

issuing an inquiry of transfer states to other storage sub-systems under transmitting of said data in said location in a logical volume of said other storage sub-systems; and

updating, in response to a result of said inquiry of transfer states to said other storage sub-system, transfer states for transmitting of said position information to said other storage sub-systems.

2. A remote copy control method according to claim 1, wherein said updating step further comprises a step of updating a count value of counting a number of updating said transfer states.

3. A remote copy method performed among a plurality of storage sub-systems comprising:

receiving a position information specifying a location of a logical volume of a first storage sub-system;

transmitting synchronously data in a location specified by said position information from said first storage sub-system to a logical volume of a second storage sub-system;

transmitting synchronously data in a location specified by said position information from said first storage sub-system to a logical volume of a third storage sub-system;

storing transfer states on transmitting of said data in both said logical volumes of said second and said third storage sub-systems;

issuing an inquiry of transfer states to storage sub-systems other than said first storage sub-system on transmitting of said data to said logical volumes of said second and said third storage sub-systems; and

updating, in response to a result of said inquiry of transfer states to said second and said third storage sub-systems, transfer states for transmitting of said data to said second and said third storage sub-systems.

4. A remote copy control method according to claim 3, wherein said updating step further comprises a step of updating a count value of counting a number of updating said transfer states.

5. A remote copy method performed among a plurality of storage sub-systems comprising:

receiving a position information specifying a location of a logical volume of a first storage sub-system;

transmitting synchronously data in a location specified by said position information from said first storage sub-system to a logical volume of N second storage sub-systems;

transmitting synchronously data in a location specified by said position information from said first storage sub-system to a logical volume of M third storage sub-systems;

storing transfer states on transmitting of said data in both said logical volumes of said N second and said M third storage sub-systems;

issuing an inquiry of transfer states to storage sub-systems other than said first storage sub-system on transmitting of said data to said logical volumes of said N second and said M third storage sub-systems; and

updating, in response to a result of said inquiry of transfer states to said N second and said M third storage sub-systems, transfer states for transmitting of said data to said N second and said M third storage sub-systems.