Storage system and storage control device

• US 7,249,234 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Okami, Yoshinori, Nakano, Toshio, Shimada, Akinobu, Higaki, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pough; Brian R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farrokh; Hashem
• Application Number:
  US11/410,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 711/162
• US Class Current: 711/162
• 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 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• 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 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• 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 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A first storage control device is provided with a virtual LU for showing a logical volume possessed by a second storage control device as if it were its own volume. When data processing requested from a host device is, for example, a specific processing of large load (such as direct backup, logical volume copy, and so on), whether or not the requested processing can be executed by the second storage control device is judged. When it is executable, a command is transmitted to the second storage control device to make it take over the processing.

Claims

1. A virtualization system, comprising:

a first virtualization device having a first virtual volume related to a first logical volume of a first storage system, said first storage system having a first storage controller, a plurality of first disk drives and said first logical volume related to at least one of said first disk drives; and

a second virtualization device having a second virtual volume related to a second logical volume of a second storage system, said second storage system having a second storage controller, a plurality of second disk drives and said second logical volume related to at least one of said second disk drives, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to copy data between the first and second virtual volumes, the first and second virtualization devices being configured to selectively control a plurality of data copy processes between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume, the data copy processes including a first copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems without being via the first and second virtualization devices, and a second copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems via the first and second virtualization devices.

2. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to copy data between the first and second virtual volumes by using data being copied between the first and second storage systems.

3. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first virtualization device is configured to receive data of the first logical volume related to the first virtual volume and to send the received data to the second virtualization device, and

the second virtualization device is configured to receive the data sent from said first virtualization device and to send the received data to the second logical volume related to the second virtual volume so that the first and second virtualization devices effect copying of data between the first and second virtual volumes.

4. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to send one or more commands to the first and/or second storage systems, and

the first and second storage systems are configured to copy data between the first and second logical volumes based on the one or more commands.

5. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to send a command to the first storage system, and

the first storage system is configured to copy data from the first logical volume to the second logical volume based on the command.

6. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to store information whether the first and/or second storage system has a data copy function or not, such that if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, the first and second virtualization devices are configured to effect copying of data between the first and second storage systems.

7. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first virtualization device is configured to store information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not, such that if the first storage system has the data copy function, the first virtualization device is configured to effect copying of data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

8. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to check information whether the first and/or second storage systems have a data copy function or not, such that if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, the first and second virtualization devices are configured to effect copying of data between the first and second storage systems.

9. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein

the first virtualization device is configured to check information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not, such that if the first storage system has the data copy function, the first virtualization device is configured to effect copying of data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

10. A virtualization system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second virtualization devices being configured to selectively control the plurality of data copy processes is determined based on whether the first storage system has a function of data copy or not.

11. A virtualization method, comprising the steps of:

providing a first virtualization device having a first virtual volume related to a first logical volume of a first storage system, said first storage system having a first storage controller, a plurality of first disk drives and said first logical volume related to at least one of said first disk drives;

providing a second virtualization device having a second virtual volume related to a second logical volume of a second storage system, said second storage system having a second storage controller, a plurality of second disk drives and said second logical volume related to at least one of said second disk drives; and

copying data between the first and second virtualization devices so as to effect copying of data between the first and second virtual volumes, wherein said copying of data includes selectively controlling via the first and second virtualization devices a plurality of data copy processes between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume, the data copy processes including a first copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems without being via the first and second virtualization devices, and a second copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems via the first and second virtualization devices.

12. A virtualization method according to claim 11, wherein said step of operating the first and second virtualization devices so as to copy data between the first and second virtual volumes includes using data being copied between the first and second storage systems.

13. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at the first virtualization device data of the first logical volume related to the first virtual volume;

sending the received data to the second virtualization device,

receiving at the second virtualization device the data sent from said first virtualization device; and

sending the received data to the second logical volume related to the second virtual volume so that the first and second virtualization devices effect copying of data between the first and second virtual volumes.

14. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

sending from the first and/or second virtualization devices one or more commands to the first and/or second storage systems; and

copying data between the first and second logical volumes based on the one or more commands.

15. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

sending from the first and/or second virtualization devices a command to the first storage system, and

copying data from the first logical volume to the second logical volume based on the command.

16. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

storing in the first and second virtualization devices information whether the first and/or second storage systems has a data copy function or not; and

if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, copying data between the first and second storage systems.

17. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

storing in the first virtualization device information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not; and

if the first storage system has the data copy function, copying data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

18. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

checking via the first and second virtualization devices information whether the first and/or second storage systems have a data copy function or not; and

if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, copying of data between the first and second storage systems.

19. A virtualization method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

checking via the first virtualization device information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not; and

if the first storage system has the data copy function, copying data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

20. A virtualization method according to claim 11, wherein said selective controlling of the plurality of data copy processes is determined based on whether the first storage system has a function of data copy or not.

21. A virtualization method for a system comprising a first virtualization device having a first virtual volume related to a first logical volume of a first storage system, said first storage system having a first storage controller and a plurality of first disk drives, and a second virtualization device having a second virtual volume related to a second logical volume of a second storage system, said second storage system having a second storage controller and a plurality of second disk drives, the method comprising the steps of:

relating said first logical volume related to at least one of said first disk drives;

relating said second logical volume related to at least one of said second disk drives; and

copying data between the first and second virtual volumes via copying if data between the first and second virtualization devices, wherein said copying of data includes selectively controlling via the first and second virtualization devices a plurality of data copy processes between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume, the data copy processes including a first copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems without being via the first and second virtualization devices, and a second copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems via the first and second virtualization devices.

22. A virtualization method according to claim 21, wherein said step of copying data between the first and second virtual volumes includes using data being copied between the first and second storage systems.

23. A virtualization method according to claim 21, wherein said selective controlling of the plurality of data copy processes is determined based on whether the first storage system has a function of data copy or not.

24. A virtualization system, comprising:

a first virtualization device having a first virtual volume related to a first logical volume of a first storage system, said first storage system having a first storage controller, a plurality of first disk drives and said first logical volume related to at least one of said first disk drives; and

a second virtualization device having a second virtual volume related to a second logical volume of a second storage system, said second storage system having a second storage controller, a plurality of second disk drives and said second logical volume related to at least one of said second disk drives, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to copy data between the first and second virtual volumes, the first and second virtualization devices being configured to selectively control a plurality of data copy processes between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume, the data copy processes including a first copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems bypassing the first and second virtualization devices, and a second copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems via the first and second virtualization devices.

25. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein the first and second virtualization devices being configured to selectively control the plurality of data copy processes being determined based on whether the first storage system has a function of data copy or not.

26. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first virtualization device is configured to receive data of the first logical volume related to the first virtual volume and to send the received data to the second virtualization device, and

the second virtualization device is configured to receive the data sent from said first virtualization device and to send the received data to the second logical volume related to the second virtual volume so that the first and second virtualization devices effect copying of data between the first and second virtual volumes.

27. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to send one or more commands to the first and/or second storage systems, and

the first and second storage systems are configured to copy data between the first and second logical volumes based on the one or more commands.

28. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to send a command to the first storage system, and

the first storage system is configured to copy data from the first logical volume to the second logical volume based on the command.

29. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to store information whether the first and/or second storage system has a data copy function or not, such that if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, the first and second virtualization devices are configured to effect copying of data between the first and second storage systems.

30. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first virtualization device is configured to store information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not, such that if the first storage system has the data copy function, the first virtualization device is configured to effect copying of data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

31. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first and second virtualization devices are configured to check information whether the first and/or second storage systems have a data copy function or not, such that if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, the first and second virtualization devices are configured to effect copying of data between the first and second storage systems.

32. A virtualization system according to claim 24, wherein

the first virtualization device is configured to check information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not, such that if the first storage system has the data copy function, the first virtualization device is configured to effect copying of data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

33. A virtualization method, comprising the steps of:

providing a first virtualization device having a first virtual volume related to a first logical volume of a first storage system, said first storage system having a first storage controller, a plurality of first disk drives and said first logical volume related to at least one of said first disk drives;

providing a second virtualization device having a second virtual volume related to a second logical volume of a second storage system, said second storage system having a second storage controller, a plurality of second disk drives and said second logical volume related to at least one of said second disk drives; and

copying data between the first and second virtualization devices so as to effect copying of data between the first and second virtual volumes, wherein said copying of data includes selectively controlling via the first and second virtualization devices a plurality of data copy processes between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume, the data copy processes including a first copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems bypassing the first and second virtualization devices, and a second copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems via the first and second virtualization devices.

34. A virtualization method according to claim 33, wherein said selective controlling of the plurality of data copy processes is determined based on whether the first storage system has a function of data copy or not.

35. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at the first virtualization device data of the first logical volume related to the first virtual volume;

sending the received data to the second virtualization device,

receiving at the second virtualization device the data sent from said first virtualization device; and

sending the received data to the second logical volume related to the second virtual volume so that the first and second virtualization devices effect copying of data between the first and second virtual volumes.

36. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

sending from the first and/or second virtualization devices one or more commands to the first and/or second storage systems; and

copying data between the first and second logical volumes based on the one or more commands.

37. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

sending from the first and/or second virtualization devices a command to the first storage system, and

copying data from the first logical volume to the second logical volume based on the command.

38. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

storing in the first and second virtualization devices information whether the first and/or second storage systems has a data copy function or not; and

if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, copying data between the first and second storage systems.

39. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

storing in the first virtualization device information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not; and

if the first storage system has the data copy function, copying data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

40. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

checking via the first and second virtualization devices information whether the first and/or second storage systems have a data copy function or not; and

if the first and/or second storage system has the data copy function, copying of data between the first and second storage systems.

41. A virtualization method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

checking via the first virtualization device information whether the first storage system has a data copy function or not; and

if the first storage system has the data copy function, copying data from the first storage system to the second storage system.

42. A virtualization method for a system comprising a first virtualization device having a first virtual volume related to a first logical volume of a first storage system, said first storage system having a first storage controller and a plurality of first disk drives, and a second virtualization device having a second virtual volume related to a second logical volume of a second storage system, said second storage system having a second storage controller and a plurality of second disk drives, the method comprising the steps of:

relating said first logical volume related to at least one of said first disk drives;

relating said second logical volume related to at least one of said second disk drives; and

copying data between the first and second virtual volumes via copying if data between the first and second virtualization devices, wherein said copying of data includes selectively controlling via the first and second virtualization devices a plurality of data copy processes between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume, the data copy processes including a first copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems bypassing the first and second virtualization devices, and a second copy process copying data between the first and second storage systems via the first and second virtualization devices.

43. A virtualization method according to claim 42, wherein said selective controlling of the plurality of data copy processes is determined based on whether the first storage system has a function of data copy or not.