Methods and systems for implementing shared disk array management functions
First Claim
1. A data storage system comprising:
- a redundancy group including a plurality of resources;
two or more array management functions (AMFs) sharing access to the redundancy group, wherein the AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy group for associated host systems; and
an interconnect medium for connecting the AMFs with the redundancy group;
wherein when a first one of the AMFs desires to perform an operation on a first resource in the redundancy group, the first AMF arbitrates with the other AMFs sharing access to the redundancy group for a lock on the first resource, whereupon the first AMF performs the operation on the first resource and concurrently sends replication data and state information associated with the first resource, the replication data and state information including the state of completion of the operation, to the other AMFs such that if the first AMF fails while performing the operation, one of the other AMFs is able to complete the operation and wherein if the first AMF fails while performing the operation, one of the other AMFs completes the operation by using sent replication data and state information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple Array Management Functions (AMFs) are connected to multiple redundancy groups over a storage area network (SAN), such as a fiber-channel based SAN. The multiple AMFs share management responsibility of the redundancy groups, each of which typically includes multiple resources spread over multiple disks. The AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy groups for associated host systems. When a host requests an AMF to perform an operation on a resource, the AMF synchronizes with the other AMFs sharing control of the redundancy group that includes the resource to be operated on, so as to obtain a lock on the resource. While performing the operation, the AMF send replication data and state information associated with the resource such that if the AMF fails, any of the other AMFs are able to complete the operation and maintain data reliability and coherency.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A data storage system comprising:
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a redundancy group including a plurality of resources; two or more array management functions (AMFs) sharing access to the redundancy group, wherein the AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy group for associated host systems; and an interconnect medium for connecting the AMFs with the redundancy group; wherein when a first one of the AMFs desires to perform an operation on a first resource in the redundancy group, the first AMF arbitrates with the other AMFs sharing access to the redundancy group for a lock on the first resource, whereupon the first AMF performs the operation on the first resource and concurrently sends replication data and state information associated with the first resource, the replication data and state information including the state of completion of the operation, to the other AMFs such that if the first AMF fails while performing the operation, one of the other AMFs is able to complete the operation and wherein if the first AMF fails while performing the operation, one of the other AMFs completes the operation by using sent replication data and state information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of dynamically sharing management of a redundancy group in a data storage system between two or more array management functions (AMFs), wherein the AMFs are able to concurrently access the redundancy group, the redundancy group including a plurality of resources, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request from a host by a first one of the AMFs to perform a first operation on a first one of the resources; synchronizing with the other AMFs so as to acquire access to the first resource; and performing the first operation on the first resource; sending replication data and state information associated with the first resource to the other AMFs, the replication data and state information including the state of completion of the operation, concurrently with performing the first operation, such that if the first AMF fails, one of the other AMFs is able to complete the first operation; and if the first AMF fails while performing the first operation, completing the first operation with a second one of the AMFs. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A data storage network system comprising:
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one or more redundancy groups, each redundancy group including multiple resources spread over multiple disks; two or more array management functions (AMFs) sharing redundancy group management of the one or more redundancy groups, wherein the AMFs are able to concurrently access the one or more redundancy groups; and an interconnect medium for interconnecting the AMFs with the one or more redundancy groups, wherein when a first one of the AMFs receives a write command from a host to write at least two data sets to two or more of the resources, the first AMF acquires a lock on the first resource to which the first data set is to be written, writes the first data set to the first resource and concurrently performs a replication operation wherein replication data and state information associated with the first resource is sent to the other AMFs, the replication data and state information including the state of completion of the operation, such that if the first AMF fails while performing the write operation, one of the other AMFs is able to complete the write operation; and wherein, if the first AMF fails while performing the operation, one of the other AMFs completes the operation by using sent replication data and state information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification