Method for controlling storage system, and storage control apparatus

• US 7,209,986 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Satoyama, Ai, Tabuchi, Hideo, Yamamoto, Yasutomo, Ohno, Hiroshi, Eguchi, Yoshiaki, Nakano, Toshio, Arai, Kouji, Shimada, Akinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORRELL, ERON J
• Application Number:
  US11/152,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20050235107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 710/36, 710/74, 711/2, 711/4, 711/6
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/312 In storage controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0665 at area level, e.g. provisioning of virtual or logical volumes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD

Abstract

A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer, and a first and a second storage control apparatuses each receiving a data input/output request from the host computer and executing a data input/output process for a storage device in response to the request, comprises connecting a first communication path between the host computer and the first apparatus; connecting a second communication path between the first apparatus and the second apparatus; receiving by the first apparatus a first data input/output request from the host computer through the first path; when the first apparatus has judged that the first request is not for the first apparatus, transmitting by the first apparatus a second data input/output request corresponding to the first request, to the second apparatus through the second path; and by the second apparatus, receiving the second request and executing a data input/output process corresponding to the second request received.

Claims

1. A control method in a virtualization system having a virtual storage volume and coupled to a host computer and a first disk array system, said first disk array system having a plurality of disk drives and a first logical volume related to said disk drives, said control method comprising:

sending a first information request to said first disk array system for identifying a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said first logical volume, so that a relation of a first information regarding said first logical volume and a second information regarding said virtual storage volume is created, said first information including both a first World Wide Name (WWN) and said first LUN regarding said first logical volume, said second information including both a second WWN and a second LUN regarding said virtual storage volume;

identifying said first LUN based on a response, received from said first disk array system, and corresponding to said first information request;

storing said relation;

receiving a data input/output request including said second LUN, sent from said host computer, and targeted to said virtual storage volume;

changing at least said second LUN included in said data input/output request to at least said first LUN based on said relation;

transferring said changed data input/output request to said first disk array system so that said first disk array system performs inputting/outputting of data corresponding to said changed data input/output request to/from said disk drives corresponding to said first logical volume.

2. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, further comprising:

before the step of receiving said data input/output request, receiving a second information request sent from said host computer for identifying said second LUN regarding said virtual storage volume; and

replying a response regarding said second information request to said host computer based on said relation.

3. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, further comprising:

being set a condition, which is used to decide whether said first information are stored in said virtualization system or not.

4. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, said virtualization system further coupled to a second disk array system, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said virtualization system transfers data from said first disk array system to said second disk array system; and

requesting to said first disk array system for transferring data.

5. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, said virtualization system further coupled to a second disk array system, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said virtualization system transfers data from said first disk array system to said second disk array system; and

controlling to transfer data from said first logical volume to a second logical volume in said second disk array system based on said relation and said second LUN stored in said data transfer request.

6. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, said virtualization system further coupled to a second disk array system, further comprising:

requesting to said first disk array system to transfer data from said first disk array system to said virtualization system;

receiving data from said first disk array system; and

transferring data received from said virtualization system to said second disk array system.

7. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first information request is a Inquiry command based on SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) standards.

8. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, further comprising:

requesting a third information regarding said first logical volume to said first disk array system,

wherein said third information has a capacity information of said first logical volume.

9. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1 further comprising:

deciding whether said virtualization system transfers said data input/output request to said first disk array system or not based on a capacity information regarding said first logical volume.

10. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 1, further comprising:

deciding whether said first disk array system is desirable to create said relation or not based on contents of the response received from said first disk array system and corresponding to said first information request.

11. A control method in a virtualization system having a virtual storage volume and coupled to a host computer and a disk array system, said disk array system having a plurality of disk drives and a logical volume corresponded to said disk drives, said control method comprising:

sending a first information request to said disk array system for relating a first information regarding said logical volume to a second information regarding said virtual storage volume, said first information including both a first World Wide Name (WWN) and a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said logical volume, said second information including both a second WWN and a second LUN regarding said virtual storage volume;

identifying said first LUN regarding said logical volume based upon a response received from said disk array system;

storing said first information and second information;

receiving a second information request sent from said host computer for identifying said second LUN;

replying a response regarding said second information request based on said stored second information;

receiving a data input/output request, sent from said host computer, and targeted to said virtual storage volume;

converting said second LUN included in said data input/output request to said first LUN, which relates to said second LUN included in said stored second information; and

sending said converted data input/output request to said disk array system so that said disk array system performs inputting/outputting of data corresponding to said data input/output request to/from said disk drives corresponding to said logical volume.

12. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 11, further comprising:

creating a relation between said first information and said second information based on input from a management device coupled to said virtualization system.

13. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 11, wherein a relation between said first information and said second information is created by using a management device coupled to said virtualization system.

14. A control method in a virtualization system coupled to a host computer and a disk array system and having a virtual storage volume corresponding to a logical volume, which is related to a plurality of disk drives in said disk array system, said control method comprising:

sending an information request to said disk array system so that said virtualization system relates a first information regarding said logical volume to a second information regarding said virtual storage volume, said first information including information of a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said logical volume, said second information including information of a second LUN regarding said virtual storage volume,

receiving a response regarding said information request from said disk array system;

identifying said information of said first LUN based on said response;

mapping said first information and said second information

receiving a data input/output request, sent from said host computer, and targeted to said virtual storage volume;

changing information of a LUN, which is included in said data input/output request and corresponds to said information of said second LUN, to said information of said first LUN, which corresponds to said information of said second LUN based on said mapping; and

transferring said changed data input/output request to said logical volume so that said disk array system performs inputting/outputting of data corresponding to said data input/output request to/from said disk drives corresponding to said logical volume.

15. A control method in a virtualization system having a virtual volume and coupled to a host computer and a disk array system, which has a plurality of disk drives and a logical volume related to said disk drives, said control method comprising:

sending an information request to said disk array system for relating a first information regarding said logical volume to a second information regarding said virtual volume, said first information including information of a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said logical volume, said second information including information of a second LUN regarding said virtual volume;

receiving a response regarding said information request from said disk array system;

identifying said information of said first LUN based on said response;

storing said first information related to said second information;

receiving a data input request, including information of a LUN corresponding to said virtual volume and data and sent from said host computer and targeted to said virtual volume;

changing said information of said LUN corresponding to said virtual volume included in said data input request to said information of said first LUN, which relates to said information of said second LUN included in said second information; and

transferring said changed data input request to said logical volume so that said disk array system performs inputting of said data corresponding to said data input request to said disk drives related to said logical volume.

16. A control method in a virtualization system having a virtual volume and coupled to a host computer and a disk array system, said disk array system having a plurality of disk drives and a logical volume related to said disk drives, said control method comprising:

sending an information request to said disk array system so that said virtualization system relates a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said logical volume to a second LUN regarding said virtual volume;

identifying said first LUN based on a response, received from said disk array system, and regarding said information request;

storing a relation between said first LUN and said second LUN;

receiving a data input request including said second LUN and data and sent from said host computer and targeted to said virtual volume;

changing said second LUN included in said data input request to said first LUN, which corresponds to said second LUN, based on said relation;

transferring said changed data input request to said disk array system so that said disk array system performs inputting of said data corresponding to said data input request to said disk drives related to said logical volume.

17. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 16, further comprising:

before the step of receiving said data input request, receiving another information request sent from said host computer for identifying said second LUN regarding said virtual volume; and

replying a response regarding said another information request to said host computer based on said relation.

18. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 16, said virtualization system further coupled to another disk array system, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said virtualization system transfers data from said disk array system to said another disk array system; and

requesting to said disk array system for transferring data.

19. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 16, said virtualization system further coupled to another disk array system, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said virtualization system transfers data from said disk array system to said another disk array system; and

controlling to transfer data from said logical volume to an another logical volume in said another disk array system based on said relation and said second LUN stored in said data transfer request.

20. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 16, said virtualization system further coupled to another disk array system, further comprising:

requesting to said disk array system to transfer data from said disk array system to said virtualization system;

receiving data from said disk array system; and

transferring data received from said virtualization system to said another disk array system.

21. A control method in a virtualization system having a virtual volume and coupled to a host computer and a disk array system, which has a plurality of disk drives and a logical volume related to said disk drives, said control method comprising:

sending an information request to said disk array system so that a first information regarding said logical volume and a second information regarding said virtual volume are mapped, said first information including information of both a first World Wide Name (WWN) and a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said logical volume, said second information including information of both a second WWN and a second LUN regarding said virtual volume;

receiving a response regarding said information request from said first disk array system;

identifying said information of said first LUN based on said received response;

mapping said first information and said second information receiving a data output request sent from said host computer to said virtual volume;

converting information of a LUN, which is included in said data output request and corresponds to said information of said second LUN, to said information of said first LUN, which corresponds to said information of said second LUN, based on said mapping;

sending said converted data output request to said disk array system so that said disk array system performs outputting of data of said data output request from said disk drives corresponding to said logical volume;

receiving a data output response, which includes said data of said data output request, from said disk array system; and

sending said data of said data output request to said host computer.

22. A control method in a virtualization system having a virtual volume and coupled to a host computer and a disk array system, which has a plurality of disk drives and a logical volume related to said disk drives, said control method comprising:

sending an information request to said disk array system for relating a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said logical volume to a second LUN regarding said virtual volume;

receiving a response regarding said information request from said disk array system;

identifying said first LUN based on said received response;

storing said first LUN related to said second LUN;

receiving a data output request, sent from said host computer, and targeted to said virtual volume;

changing a LUN of said virtual volume included in said data output request to said first LUN of said logical volume, which corresponds to said second LUN of said virtual volume;

transferring said data output request to said disk array system so that said disk array system performs outputting of data of said data output request from said disk drives related to said logical volume;

receiving a data output response, which includes both a LUN corresponding to said first LUN and said data of said data output request, from said disk array system;

changing said LUN included in said data output response to said second LUN corresponding to said first LUN; and

sending said changed data output response to said host computer.

23. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 22, further comprising:

before the step of receiving said data output request, receiving another information request sent from said host computer for identifying said second LUN regarding said virtual volume; and

replying a response regarding said another information request to said host computer based on information stored in said storing step.

24. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 22, said virtualization system further coupled to another disk array system, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said virtualization system transfers data from said disk array system to said another disk array system; and

requesting to said disk array system for transferring data.

25. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 22, said virtualization system further coupled to another disk array system, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said virtualization system transfers data from said disk array system to said another disk array system; and

controlling to transfer data from said logical volume to an another logical volume in said another disk array system.

26. A control method in said virtualization system according to claim 22, said virtualization system further coupled to another disk array system, further comprising:

requesting to said disk array system to transfer data from said disk array system to said virtualization system;

receiving data from said disk array system; and

transferring data received from said virtualization system to said another disk array system.

27. A control method in a first disk array system coupled to a host computer and a second disk array system and having a controller, a plurality of first disk drives, a first logical volume related to said first disk drives and a virtual storage volume, said second disk array system having a plurality of second disk drives and a second logical volume related to said second disk drives, said second logical volume being related said virtual storage volume, said control method comprising:

storing a first relationship information between a first information of said first logical volume and a second information of said first disk drives, said first information including information of both a first World Wide Name (WWN) and a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said first logical volume;

sending an information request to said second disk array system for relating a third information regarding said second logical volume to a fourth information regarding said virtual storage volume, said third information including both a second World Wide Name (WWN) and a second Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said second logical volume, said fourth information including both a third WWN and a third LUN regarding said virtual storage volume;

receiving a response regarding said information request from said second disk array system;

storing a second relationship information between said third information and said fourth information;

receiving a data input/output request sent from said host computer;

deciding whether said first disk array system inputs/outputs data of said data input/output request to/from said first disk drives or transfers said data input/output request to said second disk array system based on whether a LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said first LUN or said third LUN;

inputting/outputting, by said controller, said data of said data input/output request to/from said first disk drives by using said first relationship information, if said LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said first LUN;

changing said LUN included in said data input/output request to said second LUN by using said second relationship information, if said LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said third LUN; and

transferring said changed data input/output request to said second disk array system so that said second disk array system performs inputting/outputting of said data corresponding to said changed data input/output request to/from said second disk drives, if said LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said third LUN.

28. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 27, further comprising:

before the step of receiving said data input/output request, receiving another information request sent from said host computer for identifying said third LUN regarding said virtual storage volume; and

replying a response regarding said another information request to said host computer based on said second relationship information.

29. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request; and

transferring data of said first logical volume to said second disk array system based on said receiving said data transfer request.

30. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said first disk array system transfers data of said first logical volume to said second logical volume; and

controlling to transfer data from said first logical volume to said second logical volume in said second disk array system based on said second relationship information and said third LUN stored in said data transfer request.

31. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 27, further comprising:

transferring data of said first logical volume to said second logical volume in said second disk array system.

32. A control method in said disk array system according to claim 27, wherein said second relationship information is created by using a management device coupled to said first disk array system.

33. A control method in a first disk array system coupled to a host computer and a second disk array system and having a controller, a plurality of first disk drives, a first logical volume related to said first disk drives and a virtual storage volume, said second disk array system having a plurality of second disk drives and a second logical volume related to said second disk drives, said second logical volume being related said virtual storage volume, said control method comprising:

storing a first Logical Unit Number (LUN) regarding said first logical volume;

sending an information request to said second disk array system so that a second LUN regarding said second logical volume and a third LUN regarding said virtual storage volume are related;

receiving a response regarding said information request from said second disk array system;

identifying said second LUN based on said received response;

storing said second LUN related to said third LUN;

receiving a data input/output request sent from said host computer;

inputting/outputting, by said controller, said data of said data input/output request to/from said first disk drives, if a LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said first LUN;

changing said LUN included in said data input/output request to said second LUN, if said LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said third LUN; and

transferring said changed data input/output request to said second disk array system so that said second disk array system performs inputting/outputting of said data corresponding to said changed data input/output request to/from said second disk drives, if said LUN included in said data input/output request relates to said third LUN.

34. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 33, further comprising:

before the step of receiving said data input/output request, receiving another information request sent from said host computer for identifying said third LUN regarding said virtual storage volume; and

replying a response regarding said another information request to said host computer.

35. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 33, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request; and

transferring data of said first logical volume to said second disk array system based on said receiving said data transfer request.

36. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 33, further comprising:

receiving a data transfer request so that said first disk array system transfers data of said first logical volume to said second logical volume; and

controlling to transfer data from said first logical volume to said second logical volume in said second disk array system.

37. A control method in said first disk array system according to claim 33, further comprising:

transferring data of said first logical volume to said second logical volume in said second disk array system.

38. A control method in said disk array system according to claim 33, wherein said second LUN is related to said third LUN by using a management device coupled to said first disk array system.