Storage system having decentralized cache controlling device and disk controlling device, storage control program, and method of storage control

• US 7,343,448 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Takashi, Ooe, Kazuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): PEIKARI, BEHZAD
• Application Number:
  US10/871,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0813 with a network or matrix configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device

Abstract

A storage system includes a cache device that has a cache memory as a high-speed-access storage medium, a disk device that has a disk as a high-capacity storage medium, and a control device that accepts an access request from a client device and makes the cache device and the disk device execute a process corresponding to the access request. The cache device, the disk device, and the control device are decentralized on a network.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a cache controlling device that includes a cache memory as a high-speed-access storage medium, a cache controlling unit that controls access to the cache memory, a first network interface device that is connected to a network and controls communication through the network, and a first network driver that controls the first network interface device;

a disk controlling device that including a disk as a high-capacity storage medium, a disk controlling unit that executes read/write control of data from and to the disk, a second network interface device that is connected to the network and controls communication through the network, and a second network driver that controls the second network interface device; and

a control device that includes a third network interface device that is connected to the network and controls communication through the network, and a third network driver that controls the third network interface device, the control device being configured to accept an access request from a client device and makes the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device execute a process corresponding to the access request, wherein

the cache controlling device, the disk controlling device, and the control device are decentralized on the network, and

wherein the control device is configured to transmit a control data through the network to any one of the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device upon receiving the access request, the cache controlling device is configured to access the cache memory and to transmit an access result, via the first network interface device, directly to the client device through the network, and the disk controlling device is configured to access the disk and to transmit an access result, via the second network interface device, directly to the client device through the network.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the control device transmits a control data to the disk controlling device upon receiving the access request, and the disk controlling device transmits an access result to a plurality of destinations based on the control data.

3. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the destinations are the client device and the cache controlling device, and the cache controlling device stores the access result in the cache memory.

4. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the control device transmits a control data to the cache controlling device upon receiving the access request, and the cache controlling device transmits an access result to a plurality of destinations based on the control data.

5. A computer-readable storage medium having recorded therein a storage control program that is executed on a storage system, the storage system comprising a cache controlling device that includes a cache memory as a high-speed-access storage medium, a cache controlling unit that controls access to the cache memory, a first network interface device that is connected to a network and controls communication through the network, and a first network driver that controls the first network interface device, a disk controlling device that includes a disk as a high-capacity storage medium, a disk controlling unit that executes read/write control of data from and to the disk, a second network interface device that is connected to the network and controls communication through the network, and a second network driver that controls the second network interface device, and a control device that includes a third network interface device that is connected to the network and controls communication through the network, and a third network driver that controls the third network interface device, the control device being configured to accept an access reguest from a client device and make the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device execute a process corresoonding to the access request, the cache controlling device, the disk controlling device and the control device decentralized on the network, the storage control program making a computer realize:

accepting an access request from a client device;

creating a control data that makes the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device execute a process corresponding to the access request; and

transmitting the control data to any one of the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device,

wherein the control data is a data that directs the cache controlling device to access the cache memory and to transmit an access result, via the first network interface device, directly to the client device through the network, and the disk controlling device to access the disk, and to transmit an access result, via the second network interface device, directly to the client device through the network.

6. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the control data is a data that directs the disk controlling device to transmit the access result to a plurality of destinations.

7. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the control data is a data that directs the cache controlling device to transmit the access result to a plurality of destinations.

8. A storage control method that is performed on a storage system, the storage system comprising a cache controlling device that includes a cache memory as a high-speed-access storage medium, a cache controlling unit that controls access to the cache memory, a first network interface device that is connected to a network and controls communication through the network, and a first network driver that controls the first network interface device, a disk controlling device that includes a disk as a high-capacity storage medium, a disk controlling unit that executes read/write control of data from and to the disk, a second network interface device that is connected to the network and controls communication through the network, and a second network driver that controls the second network interface device, and a control device that includes a third network interface device that is connected to the network and controls communication through the network, and a third network driver that controls the third network interface device, the control device being configured to accept an access request from a client device and make the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device execute a process corresponding to the access request, the cache controlling device, the disk controlling device and the control device being decentralized on the network, comprising:

accepting an access request from a client device;

creating a control data that makes the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device execute a process corresponding to the access request; and

transmitting the control data to any one of the cache controlling device and the disk controlling device,

wherein the control data is data that directs the cache controlling device to access the cache memory and to transmit an access result, via the first network interface device, directly to the client device through the network, and the disk controlling device to access the disk, and to transmit an access result, via the second network interface device, directly to the client device through the network.