Data processing system having a plurality of storage systems

• US 7,457,929 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kasako, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bataille; Pierre-Michel
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HETUL B
• Application Number:
  US11/300,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 711/114, 711/162
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2058 using more than 2 mirrored copies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2071 using a plurality of controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/855 Details of asynchronous mirroring using a journal to transfer not-yet-mirrored changes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to conduct data transfer or data copying between a plurality of storage systems, without affecting the host computer of the storage systems. Two or more auxiliary storage systems 100B, 100C are connected to a primary storage system 100A connected to a host device 180. The auxiliary storage systems 100B, 100C read journals of data update from the primary storage system 100A at respective independent timings, save the journals in prescribed logical volumes JNL 2, JNL 3, produce copying of the data present in the primary storage system 100A based on the journals present in the logical volumes JNL 2, JNL 3 at the independent timings, and save the copies in auxiliary logical volumes COPY 1, COPY 3. The primary storage system 100A holds the journals till both auxiliary storage systems 100B, 100C read the journals and restore. The timing of journal read can be controlled according to the journal quantity, processing load, and the like.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a first disk array system coupled to a host computer and having a first cache memory, a first controller and a plurality of first disk drives, said first disk drives being configured as a first volume and a second volume;

a second disk array system coupled to said first disk array system and having a second controller and a plurality of second disk drives, said second disk drives being configured as a third volume; and

a third disk array system coupled to said first disk array system and having a third controller and a plurality of third disk drives, said third disk drives being configured as a fourth volume;

wherein said first controller receives an update data sent from said host computer via the first cache memory to said first volume and stores a first data corresponding to said update data in said first volume, and backs up the update data from the first cache memory as a second data corresponding to said first data in said second volume, and then releases the update data from the first cache memory to release space therein;

wherein said first controller transfers said second data from said second volume to both said second disk array system and said third disk array system via the first cache memory, and then releases the second data from the first cache memory to release space therein;

wherein said second controller receives said second data from said first disk array system and backing up said second data in said third volume; and

wherein said third controller receives said second data from said first disk array system and backing up said second data in said fourth volume.

2. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein:

said first controller transfers together a plurality of said second data backed up in said second volume to be also backed up in both said second disk array system and said third disk array system.

3. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein:

said first controller transfers together a plurality of said second data backed up in said second volume to be also backed up in said second disk array system.

4. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein:

said first controller does not purge said second data backed up in said second volume until transferring said second data to be also backed up in both said second disk array system and said third disk array system.

5. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein:

said first controller begins to conduct for deleting said second data backed up in said second volume after transferring said second data to be also backed up in both said second disk array system and said third disk array system.

6. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein

said first disk array system is located at a primary site,

said second disk array system is located at a first remote site, and

said third disk array system is located at a second remote site.

7. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein:

said second disk array system has a fifth volume configured by said second disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said fifth volume before backing up in said third volume.

8. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein:

said second disk array system has a fifth volume configured by said second disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said fifth volume before backing up in said third volume, and

said third disk array system has a sixth volume configured by said third disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said sixth volume before backing up in said fourth volume.

9. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein said second data is appended with update information.

10. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein said second data is appended with update information, which is used to maintain a consistency between data backed up in said third volume and data backed up in said fourth volume, if said first disk array system has a failure.

11. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein

said first controller transfers a plurality of said second data backed up in said second volume to be also backed up in both said second disk array system and said third disk array system, and

said plurality of second data are appended with update information, which is used to maintain a consistency between data backed up in said third volume and data backed up in said fourth volume, if said first disk array system has a failure.

12. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein

said second disk array system has a fifth volume configured by said second disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said fifth volume before backing up in said third volume,

said third disk array system has a sixth volume configured by said third disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said sixth volume before backing up in said fourth volume, and

said second data is appended with update information, said update information being used to keep a sequence of updating from said host computer, if said second data is backed up in said third volume and said fourth volume.

13. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein

said second disk array system has a fifth volume configured by said second disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said fifth volume before backing up in said third volume,

said third disk array system has a sixth volume configured by said third disk drives and temporarily storing said second data in said sixth volume before backing up in said fourth volume;

said first controller transfers a plurality of said second data backed up in said second volume to be also backed up in both said second disk array system and said third disk array system, and

said plurality of second data are appended with update information,

said update information is used to keep a sequence of updating from said host computer, if said second data is backed up in both said third volume and said fourth volume.

14. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein

said second disk array system sends to said first disk array system a command requiring said second data, and

said first disk array system transfers said second data to said second disk array system in response to said command.

15. A remote copy method of a storage system which comprising a first disk array system coupled to a host computer and having a first cache memory, a first controller and a plurality of first disk drives, a second disk array system coupled to said first disk array system and having a second controller and a plurality of second disk drives, and a third disk array system coupled to said first disk array system and having a third controller and a plurality of third disk drives, said remote copy method comprising:

storing an update data sent from said host computer via the first cache memory into said first controller in a first volume, which is configured by a first portion of said first disk drives and being set as a primary volume;

backing up said update data via the first cache memory into a second volume which is configured by a second portion of said first disk drives and then releasing the update data from the first cache memory to release space therein;

transferring said update data backed up in said second volume via the first cache memory to both said second disk array system and said third disk array system, and then releasing the update data from the first cache memory to release space therein;

receiving, at said second disk array system, said update data, which is backed up in said second volume, from said first disk array system with an asynchronous remote copy procedure;

backing up said update data received from said first disk array system in a third volume thereof, which is configured by a first portion of said second disk drives and being set as a first secondary volume;

receiving, at said third disk array system, said update data, which is backed up in said second volume, from said first disk array system with an asynchronous remote copy procedure; and

backing up said update data received from said first disk array system in said fourth volume thereof, which is configured by a first portion of said third disk drives and being set as a second secondary volume.

16. A remote copy method according to claim 15, further comprising:

temporarily storing said update data received from said first disk array system in a fifth volume, which is configured by a second portion of said second disk drives, before backing up in said third volume.

17. A remote copy method according to claim 15, further comprising:

beginning deleting by said first controller said second data backed up in said second volume after transferring said second data to be backed up in both said second disk array system and said third disk array system.

18. A first disk array system coupled to a host computer, a second disk array system and a third disk array system, comprising:

a first cache memory;

a plurality of first disk drives;

a first volume configured by a first portion of said first disk drives and being set as a primary volume;

a second volume configured by a second portion of said first disk drives; and

a first controller storing an update data sent from said host computer via the first cache memory into said first volume and backing up said update data the update data from the first cache memory as a second data in said second volume, and then releasing the update data from the first cache memory to release space therein,

wherein said first controller transfers said second data from said second volume to both said second disk array system and said third disk array system via the first cache memory, and then releases the second data from the first cache memory to release space therein.

19. A data storing method of a first disk array system coupled to a host computer, a second disk array system and a third disk array system, said first disk array system having a first cache memory, a first controller and a plurality of first disk drives, said data storing method comprising:

receiving update data sent from said host computer via the first cache memory into a first volume as a primary volume of a remote copy pair, said first volume being configured by a first portion of said first disk array system;

storing a first data corresponding to said update data in said first volume;

backing up the update data via the first cache memory as a second data corresponding to said first data in a second volume and then releasing the update data from the first cache memory to release space therein, said second volume being configured by a second portion of said first disk array system; and

transferring said second data via the first cache memory to both said second disk array system and said third disk array system with a remote copy procedure, and then releasing the second data from the first cache memory to release space therein, said second disk array system having a first secondary volume, said third disk array system having a second secondary volume.

20. A data processing system comprising:

a first storage system connected to a host unit; and

a second storage system and a third storage system each connected to said first storage system, wherein;

(1) said first storage system comprises;

a first data storage area for storing an update data transmitted from the host unit as a primary volume;

another data storage area for backing up a copy of the update data stored in said first storage area as a second volume;

a first cache memory; and

a first control unit which writes the update data transmitted from said host unit via the first cache memory into said first data storage area as first data, writes the update data to said another data storage area as second data, and then releases the update data from the first cache memory to release space therein,

wherein said first control unit transmits said second data in said another data storage area via the first cache memory to each of said second and third storage systems to back up the second data therein respectively, and then releases the second data from the first cache memory to release space therein;

(2) said second storage system comprises;

a second data storage area for backing up a copy of the update data present in said another data storage area of said first storage system as a first secondary volume;

a second copy data storage area for temporarily storing said copy data transmitted from said first control unit; and

a second control unit which receives said copy data from said first control unit, writes the copy data into said second copy data storage area, writes a copy of the data present in said another data storage area into said second data storage area based on said copy data present in said second copy data storage area; and

(3) said third storage system comprises;

a third data storage area for backing up a copy of the update data present in said another data storage area of said first storage system as a second secondary volume;

a third copy data storage area for temporarily storing said copy data transmitted from said first control unit; and

a third control unit which receives said copy data from said first control unit, writes the copy data into said third copy data storage area, writes a copy of the data present in said another data storage area into said third storage area based on said copy data present in said third copy data storage area, and

said first control unit of said first storage system detects as to whether or not said copy data present in said another data storage area has been transmitted to said second and third storage systems, holds said copy data present in said first copy data storage area until the copy data is transmitted to both said second and third storage systems, and deletes said copy data present in said first copy data storage area after the copy data has been transmitted to both said second and third storage systems.

21. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein

(1) said first storage system comprises:

a plurality of physical storage units;

said first control unit of said first storage system comprises a host adapter for exchanging data with said host device, a disk adapter for exchanging data with said plurality of physical storage units, and the first cache memory for storing the data received by said host adapter and the data received by said disk adapter; and

said first control unit allocates the storage areas held by said plurality of physical storage units in said first storage system to said first data storage area and said first copy data storage area;

(2) said second storage system comprises;

a plurality of physical storage units;

said second control unit of said second storage system comprises a host adapter for exchanging data with said first storage system, a disk adapter for exchanging data with said plurality of physical storage units, and a cache memory for storing the data received by said host adapter and the data received by said disk adapter; and

said second control unit allocates the storage areas held by said plurality of physical storage units in said second storage system to said second data storage area and said second copy data storage area; and

(3) said third storage system comprises;

a plurality of physical storage units;

said third control unit of said third storage system comprises a host adapter for exchanging data with said first storage system, a disk adapter for exchanging data with said plurality of physical storage units, and a cache memory for storing the data received by said host adapter and the data received by said disk adapter; and

said third control unit allocates the storage areas held by said plurality of physical storage units in said third storage system to said third data storage area and said third copy data storage area.

22. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein said third control unit of said third storage system controls the time interval of said copy data transmitted according to the number of copy data that has been transmitted from said another data storage area of said first storage system.

23. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein said third control unit of said third storage system controls the time interval of said copy data transmitted according to the communication quantity of data exchanged between said first storage system and said third storage system.

24. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein said third control unit of said third storage system controls the time interval of said copy data transmitted according to the storage capacity of said copy data held in said third data storage area.

25. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein said third control unit of said third storage system controls the time interval of said copy data transmitted according to the processing load of said third storage system.

26. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein said third control unit of said third storage system receives from said first storage system information relating to the storage capacity of said copy data held in said another data storage area in said first storage system and controls the time interval of said copy data transmitted according to the information relating to the storage capacity of said copy data that was transmitted.

27. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein

said first storage system owns management information relating to said another data storage area;

and

said third control unit of said third storage system receives from said first storage system the management information relating to said another data storage area, which is owned by the first storage system, and controls the time interval of said copy data transmitted according to the management information relating to said another data storage area that was transmitted.

28. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein

said first data storage area in said first storage system has a plurality of logical volumes;

said first control unit writes into said another data storage area a plurality of copy data each corresponding to a plurality of data stored in said plurality of logical volumes;

information relating to an update sequence of said plurality of data, each corresponding to said plurality of copy data, is contained in said plurality of copy data stored in said another data storage area; and

each of the second and third control units of said second and third storage systems produces copies of said plurality of data based on said plurality of copy data according to said update sequence contained in said plurality of copy data transmitted from said first storage system and writes those copies in respective said second and third data storage areas.

29. The data processing system according to claim 20, wherein said third storage system controls said restore timing according to the processing load of said third storage system.