Management system selectively monitoring and storing additional performance data only when detecting addition or removal of resources

• US 7,653,725 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yahiro, Satomi, Minato, Hideki, Ohata, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US12/025,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/222, 709/203, 702/182
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3485 for I/O devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems

Abstract

To solve a problem in that reliable detection of a performance problem caused by a configuration change needs detailed performance information, which is costly to keep and analyze, a management computer which manages a computer system having a host computer and a storage system is provided. The management computer is configured to: store performance information obtained from resources that belong to paths at first time intervals until a predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of an addition or removal of the resources to the paths; store performance information obtained from the resources that belong to the paths at second time intervals, which are longer than the first time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the resources that belong to the paths at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the addition or removal of the resources to the paths.

Claims

1. A management computer coupled via a network to a computer system which comprises at least one host computer, a storage system coupled to the at least one host computer via the network, and a display device,

the at least one host computer comprising a first interface coupled to the network, a first processor coupled to the first interface, and a first memory coupled to the first processor,

the storage system comprising at least one physical disk device which stores data written by the at least one host computer,

the management computer comprising:

a second interface coupled to the at least one host computer and the storage system;

a second processor coupled to the second interface; and

a second memory coupled to the second processor,

wherein each of a plurality of paths over which data is written and read in the at least one physical disk device by the at least one host computer includes a plurality of resources,

wherein the second memory holds identification information of each of the plurality of resources,

wherein the plurality of paths include a first path and a second path,

wherein the second processor is configured to detect at least one of an addition and removal of the resource to the first path,

wherein adding the resource to the first path includes newly setting the first path which includes the plurality of resources, and

wherein the second processor is further configured to;

store, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the first path at first time intervals until a predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

store, when at least one of the plurality of resources belonging to the first path also belongs to the second path, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the second path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

store, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path at second time intervals, which are longer than the first time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

send an instruction that causes the display device to display the performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the plurality of paths at the first time intervals.

2. The management computer according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of paths further include a third path, and

wherein the second processor is further configured to:

store, when at least one resource belonging to the second path also belongs to the third path, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

store, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the second time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path.

3. The management computer according to claim 2,

wherein the plurality of paths further include a fourth path,

wherein the second processor is further configured to:

store, when at least one resource belonging to the third path also belongs to the fourth path, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

store, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the second time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path.

4. The management computer according to claim 1, wherein, when a difference is smaller than a second threshold between a time at which a value of the performance information collected from at least one resource that belongs to the first path at the first time intervals exceeds a first threshold and a time at which a value of the performance information collected from at least one resource that belongs to the second path at the first time intervals exceeds the first threshold, the second processor is further configured to send an instruction that causes the display device to display information indicating that at least one resource that belongs to the first path and the second path both is suffering congestion.

5. The management computer according to claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to:

store, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the first path at the second time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

store, when at least one of the plurality of resources belonging to the first path also belongs to the second path, in the second memory, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the second path at the second time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

delete, when a data amount of the stored performance information exceeds a predetermined threshold, from the second memory, the performance information obtained at the second time intervals except performance information obtained before the predetermined length of time elapses from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path.

6. The management computer according to claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to:

judge, when a data amount of the stored performance information exceeds a predetermined threshold, whether or not a predetermined retention period has elapsed since a time when a piece of the stored first time interval performance information had been obtained;

judge, when it is judged that the predetermined retention period of the piece of the first time interval performance information has elapsed, whether or not this piece of the first time interval performance information represents heaviest load of all pieces of the stored first time interval performance information; and

delete, from the second memory, pieces of the first time interval performance information that have been judged not to represent the heaviest load.

7. The management computer according to claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to send an instruction that causes the display device to display information for identifying the detected at least one of addition and removal of the resource in association with the performance information obtained at a time when the at least one of addition and removal of the resource has been detected.

8. A computer system comprising:

at least one host computer;

a storage system coupled to the at least one host computer via a network;

a management computer coupled to the at least one host computer and the storage system; and

a display device,

wherein the at least one host computer comprises a first interface coupled to the network, a first processor coupled to the first interface, and a first memory coupled to the first processor,

wherein the storage system comprises at least one physical disk device which store data written by the at least one host computer,

wherein the management computer comprises a second interface coupled to the at least one host computer and the storage system, a second processor coupled to the second interface, and a second memory coupled to the second processor,

wherein each of a plurality of paths over which data is written and read in the at least one physical disk device by the at least one host computer includes a plurality of resources,

wherein the management computer holds identification information of each of the plurality of resources,

wherein the plurality of paths include a first path and a second path,

wherein the management computer is configured to detect at least one of an addition and removal of the resource to the first path,

wherein adding the resource to the first path includes newly setting the first path which comprises the plurality of resources, and

wherein the management computer is further configured to;

store performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the first path at first time intervals until a predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

store, when at least one of the plurality of resources belonging to the first path also belongs to the second path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the second path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

store performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path at second time intervals, which are longer than the first time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

cause the display device to display the performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the plurality of paths at the first time intervals.

9. The computer system according to claim 8,

wherein the plurality of paths further include a third path, and

wherein the management computer is further configured to:

store, when at least one resource belonging to the second path also belongs to the third path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

store performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the second time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path.

10. The computer system according to claim 9,

wherein the plurality of paths further include a fourth path, and

wherein the management computer is further configured to:

store, when at least one resource belonging to the third path also belongs to the fourth path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

store performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the second time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path.

11. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein, when a difference is smaller than a second threshold between a time at which a value of the performance information collected from at least one resource that belongs to the first path at the first time intervals exceeds a first threshold and a time at which a value of the performance information collected from at least one resource that belongs to the second path at the first time intervals exceeds the first threshold, the management computer is further configured to cause the display device to display information indicating that at least one resource that belongs to the first path and the second path both is suffering congestion.

12. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein the management computer is further configured to:

store performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the first path at the second time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

store, when at least one of the plurality of resources belonging to the first path also belongs to the second path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the second path at the second time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

delete, when a data amount of the stored performance information exceeds a predetermined threshold, the performance information obtained at the second time intervals except performance information obtained before the predetermined length of time elapses from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path.

13. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein the management computer is further configured to:

judge, when a data amount of the stored performance information exceeds a predetermined threshold, whether or not a predetermined retention period has elapsed since a time when a piece of the stored first time interval performance information had been obtained;

judge, when it is judged that the predetermined retention period of the piece of the first time interval performance information has elapsed, whether or not this piece of the first time interval performance information represents heaviest load of all pieces of the stored first time interval performance information; and

delete pieces of the first time interval performance information that have been judged not to represent the heaviest load.

14. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein the management computer is further configured to cause the display device to display information for identifying the detected at least one of addition and removal of the resource in association with the performance information obtained at a time when the at least one of addition and removal of the resource has been detected.

15. A control method of controlling a management computer which is coupled via a network to a computer system comprising:

at least one host computer;

a storage system coupled to the at least one host computer via the network; and

a display device,

the at least one host computer comprising a first interface coupled to the network, a first processor coupled to the first interface, and a first memory coupled to the first processor,

the storage system comprising at least one disk device which stores data written by the at least one host computer,

the management computer comprising a second interface coupled to the at least one host computer and the storage system, a second processor coupled to the second interface, and a second memory coupled to the second processor,

each of a plurality of paths over which data is written and read in the at least one physical disk device by the at least one host computer including a plurality of resources,

the second memory holding identification information of each of the plurality of resources,

the plurality of paths including a first path and a second path,

the control method comprising;

a first step of detecting at least one of an addition and removal of the resource to the first path, adding the resource to the first path including newly setting the first path which comprises the plurality of resources;

a second step of storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the first path at first time intervals until a predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

a third step of storing, when at least one of the plurality of resources belonging to the first path also belongs to the second path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the second path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path;

a fourth step of storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path at second time intervals, which are longer than the first time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

a fifth step of causing the display device to display the performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the plurality of paths at the first time intervals.

16. The control method according to claim 15,

wherein the plurality of paths further include a third path, and

wherein the control method further comprises:

a sixth step of storing, when at least one resource belonging to the second path also belongs to the third path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

a seventh step of storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the second time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the third path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path.

17. The control method according to claim 16,

wherein the plurality of paths further include a fourth path, and

wherein the control method further comprises:

an eighth step of storing, when at least one resource belonging to the third path also belongs to the fourth path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belongs to the fourth path at the first time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path; and

a ninth step of storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the second time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the fourth path at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path.

18. The control method according to claim 15, wherein, when a difference is smaller than a second threshold between a time at which a value of the performance information collected from at least one resource that belongs to the first path at the first time intervals exceeds a first threshold and a time at which a value of the performance information collected from at least one resource that belongs to the second path at the first time intervals exceeds the first threshold, the control method further comprising a tenth step of causing the display device to display information indicating that at least one resource that belongs to the first path and the second path both is suffering congestion.

19. The control method according to claim 15,

wherein the second step comprises the step of storing performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the first path at the second time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path,

wherein the third step comprises the step of storing, when at least one of the plurality of resources belonging to the first path also belongs to the second path, performance information obtained from the plurality of resources that belong to the second path at the second time intervals until the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the at least one of addition and removal of the resource to the first path, and

wherein the control method further comprises:

an eleventh step of deleting, when a data amount of the stored performance information exceeds a predetermined threshold, the performance information obtained at the second time intervals except performance information obtained before the predetermined length of time elapses from the plurality of resources that belong to at least one of the first path and the second path;

a twelfth step of judging, when a data amount of the stored performance information exceeds the predetermined threshold, whether or not a predetermined retention period has elapsed since a time when a piece of the stored first time interval performance information had been obtained;

a thirteen step of judging, when it is judged that the predetermined retention period of the piece of the first time interval performance information has elapsed, whether or not this piece of the first time interval performance information represents heaviest load of all pieces of the stored first time interval performance information; and

a fourteenth step of deleting pieces of the first time interval performance information that have been judged not to represent the heaviest load.

20. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the fifth step comprises the step of causing the display device to display information for identifying the detected at least one of addition and removal of the resource in association with the performance information obtained at a time when the at least one of addition and removal of the resource has been detected.