Storage system, computer system, and method of configuring storage system

• US 7,380,004 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimozono, Norio, Fujimoto, Kazuhisa, Honda, Kiyoshi, Iwami, Naoko
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US10/884,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices

Abstract

A storage system is provided with a plurality of interface units each for connection with a server; an interface unit for connection with hard disk drives; a plurality of microprocessor units each for processing commands; and a switch unit for interconnecting the interface units and microprocessor units. A management console is also connected to the storage system. The storage system forces the management console to select an unused interface unit from among the plurality of interface units for use in a data input/output process between the server and the storage system, select a microprocessor unit which meets required performance of the server from among the plurality of microprocessor units for use in the data input/output process, and notify the administrator of the selected interface unit and microprocessor unit.

Claims

1. A storage system connected to a computer through a network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer to perform a data input/output process with said computer, said storage system comprising:

a plurality of first interfaces for receiving a variety of commands from said computer;

a storage device for storing data;

a second interface for communicating data with said storage device;

a plurality of processors, each for performing a data input/output process via one of said plurality of first interfaces previously assigned thereto, in response to a received command;

a management unit responsive to a request from an administrator for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of processors and the first interface assigned thereto; and

an interconnection for connecting said first interfaces, said second interface, said processors, and said management unit to one another,

wherein, in response to said request from said administrator, said management unit configures said storage system for data input/output via one of said plurality of first interfaces and one of said plurality of processors, by selecting an unassigned first interface from among said plurality of first interfaces for use in the data input/output process between said computer and said storage device, and selecting and assigning to the selected first interface a processor from among said plurality of processors which meets required performance of said computer entered by said administrator, for use in said data input/output process.

2. A computer system having a storage system connected to a computer through a first network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer to perform a data input/output process with said computer, and a management console connected to said storage system through a second network for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, wherein:

said storage system comprises;

a plurality of first interfaces for receiving a variety of commands from said computer;

a storage device for storing data;

a second interface for communicating data with said storage device;

a plurality of processors each for processing a received command via one of said plurality of first interfaces previously assigned thereto;

a management unit responsive to a request from an administrator for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of processors and the first interface assigned thereto, said management unit storing configuration information of said storage system, including said assignments; and

an interconnection for connecting said first interfaces, said second interface, said processors, and said management unit to one another, and said management console comprises;

a unit for acquiring said configuration information of said storage system from said management unit;

a input unit for receiving required performance, entered by said administrator, for a computer connected to said storage system;

a selector unit for selecting an unassigned first interface from among said plurality of first interfaces for use in the data input/output process between said computer and said storage device, and for selecting and assigning to the selected first interface a processor which meets the required performance for said computer from among said plurality of processors for use in said data input/output process, using said acquired configuration information and received required performance; and

a display unit for notifying an administrator of a combination of said selected first interface and processor assigned thereto.

3. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein:

said management console controls said management unit of said storage system to configure said storage system with said notified combination.

4. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein:

said selector unit assigns said selected processor to said selected first interface in said combination, estimates calculated performance for said processor when said processor is assigned to said selected first interface in said combination, and selects a processor which meets said required performance using said calculated performance.

5. A storage system comprises:

a plurality of clusters each having a plurality of first interfaces each connected to a computer for receiving a variety of commands from said computer, a storage device for storing data, a second interface for communicating data with said storage device, a plurality of processors each for processing a received command via one of said plurality of first interfaces previously assigned thereto, and an interconnection for connecting said first interfaces, said second interface, and said processors to one another; and

a management unit connected to said interconnection for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system responsive to a request from an administrator, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of processors and the first interface assigned thereto,

wherein said management unit selects an unassigned first interface from among said plurality of first interfaces of one of said clusters, for use in a data input/output process between said computer and said storage device of said one of said clusters;

selects and assigns to the selected first interface a processor which meets required performance of said computer from among said plurality of processors of said one of said clusters, for use in said data input/output process; and

configures said storage system with said selected first interface and processor assigned thereto.

6. A computer system comprising:

a storage system including a plurality of clusters interconnected through an inter-cluster path, each said cluster having a plurality of first interfaces each connected to a computer through a first network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer, a storage device for storing data, a second interface for communicating data with said storage device, a plurality of processors each for processing a received command via one of said plurality of first interfaces previously assigned thereto, an interconnection for connecting said first interfaces, said second interface, said processors, and said inter-cluster path to one another, and a management unit connected to said interconnection for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system responsive to a request from an administrator, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of processors and the first interface assigned thereto; and

a management console for making a variety of configurations for said storage system, said management console being connected to said management unit through a second network, said management console including;

a selector unit responsive to a request from an administrator for selecting a combination of a first interface from among said plurality of first interfaces of one of said clusters, a processor from among said plurality of processors of said one of said clusters and assigned to process commands received by said selected first interface, and a storage device from said one of said clusters and which accepts an access from said computer, said combination being selected from the same cluster; and

a display unit for notifying the administrator of said selected combination.

7. A computer system according to claim 6, wherein:

said management console controls said management unit of said storage system to configure said storage system with said notified combination.

8. A storage system connected to a computer through a network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer to perform a data input/output process with said computer, said storage system comprising:

a port adapter having a plurality of interfaces each for receiving a variety of commands from a computer;

a storage device for storing data;

a plurality of storage adapters each connected to said storage device and having a processor for processing a variety of commands received by said port adapter associated therewith;

a management unit for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of storage adapters and said storage device; and

an interconnection for connecting said port adapter, said storage adapters, and said management unit to one another,

wherein said management unit configures said storage system to process commands destined to a volume provided by said port adapter connected to said computer via one of said storage adapters by selecting a storage adapter having a processor which meets required performance of said computer from among said plurality of storage adapters for assignment to said storage device, and selecting a storage device for connection with said selected storage adapter.

9. A computer system having a storage system connected to a computer through a first network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer to perform a data input/output process with said computer, and a management console connected to said storage system through a second network for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, wherein:

said storage system comprising;

a port adapter having a plurality of interfaces each for receiving a variety of commands from a computer;

a storage device for storing data;

a plurality of storage adapters each connected to said storage device and having a processor for processing a variety of commands received by said port adapter associated therewith;

a management unit for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, said management unit storing configuration information of said storage system, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of storage adapters and said storage device; and

an interconnection for connecting said port adapter, said storage adapters, and said management unit to one another, and

said management console comprises;

a unit for acquiring said configuration information of said storage system from said management unit;

a input unit for receiving required performance entered for a computer connected to said storage system;

a selector unit for selecting a storage adapter having a processor which meets required performance of said computer from among said plurality of storage adapters for assignment to said storage device to process commands destined to a volume provided by said port adapter connected to said computer, and selecting a storage device for connection with said selected storage adapter; and

a display unit for notifying an administrator of a combination of said selected storage adapter and storage device.

10. A method of configuring a storage system connected to a computer through a network for receiving a variety of commands from said computer to perform a data input/output process with said computer, said method performed by a management console,

said storage system comprising a plurality of first interfaces each for receiving a variety of commands from a computer, a storage device for storing data, a second interface for communicating data with said storage device, a plurality of processors each for performing a data input/output process via one of said plurality of first interfaces previously assigned thereto, in response to a received command, a management unit responsive to a request from an administrator for establishing a variety of configurations for said storage system, each said configuration including an assignment of one of said plurality of processors and the first interface assigned thereto, said management unit storing configuration information of said storage system including said assignment, and an interconnection for connecting said first interfaces, said second interface, said processors, and said management unit to one another,

said management console being connected to said management unit through a second network,

said method comprising the steps of:

acquiring the configuration information of said storage system from said management unit;

receiving required performance entered for a computer connected to said storage system; and

selecting an unassigned first interface from among said plurality of first interfaces for use in the data input/output process between said computer and said storage device, and selecting and assigning to the selected first interface a processor from among said plurality of processors which meets required performance of said computer entered by said administrator, for use in said data input/output process using said acquired configuration information and said received required performance.

11. A method of configuring a storage system according to claim 10, wherein:

said step of selecting includes estimating calculated performance of said processor when said processor is assigned to said selected first interface, and selecting a processor which meets said required performance using said calculated performance.