Storage system having virtualized resource

• US 7,222,172 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Oeda, Takashi, Arakawa, Hiroshi, Ito, Ryusuke, Matsunami, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Dalencourt; Yves
• Application Number:
  US10/355,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/227, 711/112, 711/114, 711/154, 711/161, 711/162, 711/4, 707/9, 707/204
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2064 while ensuring consistency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2082 Data synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/84 Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• 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: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A storage system configured to provide a storage area to a host coupled to the storage system includes a first storage device being configured to store data and provide one or more functions. A second storage device is configured to store data and provide one or more functions. A virtual volume provides a storage location and being associated with at least one of the first and second storage devices. A database includes information relating to the one or more functions that the first and second storage devices are configured to perform. A first server is coupled to the first and second storage devices and having access to the database and providing the virtual volume to the host, the first server being configured to access the database in response to a function request from the host involving at least one of the first and second storage devices. The function request is a request of a function to be performed by a storage device. The database is accessed to determine whether or not the at least one of the first and second storage devices is capable of performing the request from the host. The first server is further configured to perform the request if the determination is negative or provide an instruction to the at least one of the first and second storage devices to perform to the request if the determination is positive.

Claims

1. A storage system configured to provide a storage area to a host coupled to the storage system, comprising:

a first storage device being configured to store data and provide one or more functions to be performed by the first storage device;

a second storage device being configured to store data and provide one or more functions to be performed by the second storage device;

a virtual volume providing a storage location and being associated with at least one of the first and second storage devices;

a database including information relating to the one or more functions that each of the first and second storage devices is configured to perform; and

a first server coupled to the first and second storage devices and having the database and providing the virtual volume to the host, the first server being configured to access the database in response to a function request from the host involving at least one of the first and second storage devices, the function request being a request of a function to be performed by a storage device, the database being accessed to determine whether or not the at least one of the first and second storage devices is capable of performing the function of the function request from the host, the first server further being configured to perform the function request if the determination is negative or provide an instruction to the at least one of the first and second storage devices to perform the function request if the determination is positive.

2. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the database is a repository and is provided within the first server.

3. The storage system of claim 2, further comprising:

a second server coupled to the first and second storage devices to transmit requests for reading data or writing data or both, wherein the first server is a management server.

4. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the first storage device is a storage subsystem having a storage area and a storage controller, the first storage device being provided by a first vendor and the second storage device is a storage subsystem having a storage area and a storage controller, the second storage device being provided by a second vendor that is different from the first vendor.

5. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the first storage device and second storage device are both configured to perform the requested function, the first storage device being configured to perform the requested function in a different way than that of the second storage device.

6. The storage system of claim 5, wherein the requested function is one selected from the following:

volume pool, snapshot, remote replication, copy, and backup/archive, wherein the virtual volume is associated with the first and second storage devices and the requested function involves the first and second storage devices.

7. The storage system of claim 6, further comprising:

a third storage device configured to storage data, the third storage device being incapable of performing the following functions;

volume pool, snapshot, remote replication, copy, and backup/archive.

8. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the first storage device is configured to perform the requested function and the second storage device is not configured to perform the requested function, wherein the virtual volume is associated with the first and second storage devices and the requested function involves the first and second storage devices.

9. The storage system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second storage devices has one or more logical volumes, and wherein the function of the function request involves movement of data between the logical volumes.

10. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the function of the function request to be performed by a storage device is selected from the group consisting of definition of volume, volume management and security control, snapshot, remote replication, copy, performance monitoring, volume relocation, port control, cache control, and management interface.

11. A method for managing a storage system having first and second storage devices and a first server, the method comprising:

providing a database including information relating to one or more functions that the first and second storage devices are configured to provide;

receiving at the first server a request relating to a function to be performed by a storage device from a host computer, the request involving at least one of the first and second storage devices;

determining whether or not the at least one of the first and second storage devices is able to perform the request by accessing the database; and

instructing the at least one of the first and second storage devices to perform the request if the determination is positive.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

enabling the first server to perform the request if the determination is negative.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second storage devices are first and second storage subsystems, the method further comprising:

providing a logical volume associated with the first and second storage devices;

providing a virtual volume associated with the logical volume, so that the virtual volume is indirectly associated with the first and second storage devices,

wherein the requested function involves the first and second storage devices, wherein the first storage device is configured to perform the requested

function and the second storage device is not configured to perform the requested function.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second storage devices are first and second storage subsystems that are manufactured by different vendors.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the database is a repository and is provided within the first server.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first storage device and second storage device are both configured to perform the requested function, the first storage device being configured to perform the requested function in a different way than that of the second storage device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the requested function is one selected from the following:

volume pool, snapshot, remote replication, copy, and backup/archive.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first storage device is configured to perform the requested function and the second storage device is not configured to perform the requested function.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining whether or not the at least one of first and second storage devices has capability to perform the requested function to satisfy the request; and

determining whether or not the requested function is available to the at least one of the first and second storage devices to satisfy the request.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second storage devices has one or more logical volumes, and wherein the function of the request involves movement of data between the logical volumes.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the function of the request to be performed by a storage device is selected from the group consisting of definition of volume, volume management and security control, snapshot, remote replication, copy, performance monitoring, volume relocation, port control, cache control, and management interface.

22. A computer readable medium for use in managing a storage system having first and second storage devices and a first server, the medium comprising:

code for receiving at the first server a request relating to a function to be performed by a storage device from a host computer, the request involving at least one of the first and second storage devices;

code for determining whether or not the at least one of the first and second storage devices is able to perform the request by accessing a database, the database including information relating to one or more functions that the first and second storage devices are configured to provide;

code for instructing the at least one of the first and second storage devices to perform the request if the determination is positive; and

code for enabling the first server to perform the request if the determination is negative.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein each of the first and second storage devices has one or more logical volumes, and wherein the function of the request involves movement of data between the logical volumes.

24. A server for managing a storage system, wherein the server is coupled to first and second storage devices and a host, the server having access to a database including information relating to one or more functions that the first and second storage devices are configured to provide, the server comprising:

a processor to process information;

an interface coupled to a network that is coupled to the first and second storage devices and the host; and

a computer readable medium, including;

code for receiving at the first server a request relating to a function to be performed by a storage device from a host computer, the request involving at least one of the first and second storage devices,

code for determining whether or not the at least one of the first and second storage devices is able to perform the request by accessing the database,

code instructing the at least one of the first and second storage devices to perform the request if the determination is positive, and

code for enabling the first server to perform the request if the determination is negative.

25. The server of claim 24, further comprising:

a storage location to store information, wherein the database is stored within the storage location,

wherein the storage system includes a logical volume that is associated with the first and second storage devices and a virtual volume that is associated with the logical volume, so that the virtual volume is indirectly associated with the first and second storage devices,

wherein the requested function involves the first and second storage devices,

wherein the first storage device is configured to perform the requested function and the second storage device is not configured to perform the requested function.

26. The server of claim 24, wherein each of the first and second storage devices has one or more logical volumes, and wherein the function of the request involves movement of data between the logical volumes.