Session management method for computer system

• US 7,895,322 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Murakami, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yohannes; Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US12/124,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

There is provided a session management method for a computer system including an initiator, and a storage system coupled to the initiator via a network. The initiator includes an interface coupled to the network, a processor and a memory. The storage system includes an interface coupled to the network, a memory and a processor. The session management method comprising the steps of: executing, by the initiator, health check for diagnosing a status of a session established between the initiator and the storage system in the case of which no data is input/output to/from the storage device for a first predetermined period; and cutting off and re-establishing, by the initiator, the session with the storage system at a timing of executing the health check in the case of which no data is input/output to/from the storage system for a second predetermined period.

Claims

1. An iSCSI session management method for a computer system including an initiator, and a storage system coupled to the initiator via a network,

the initiator including 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 including a second interface coupled to the network, a second memory coupled to the second interface, and a second processor coupled to the second memory,

the iSCSI session management method comprising the steps of:

executing, by the initiator, health check for diagnosing a status of an iSCSI session, whose session ID is a first session ID, established between the initiator and the storage system, by sending an iSCSI command for health check, when an iSCSI command queue of the iSCSI session is empty for a first predetermined period; and

executing, by the initiator, logout from the iSCSI session and then login to the iSCSI session so that the session ID of the iSCSI session is changed from the first session ID to a second session ID which is different from the first session ID, at a timing of executing the health check, when the iSCSI command queue of the iSCSI session is empty for a second predetermined period which is longer than the first predetermined period.

2. The iSCSI session management method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating, by the initiator, with the storage system in accordance with an iSCSI protocol.

3. The iSCSI session management method according to claim 2, wherein:

the iSCSI session includes a plurality of TCP connections; and

the iSCSI session management method further comprises the step of periodically cutting off and re-establishing, by the initiator, while maintaining at least one of the plurality of TCP connections included in the iSCSI session, one of the plurality of TCP connections included in the iSCSI session.

4. The iSCSI session management method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of cutting off and re-establishing, by the initiator, one of the plurality of TCP connections in order of decreasing length of a connection period of each of the plurality of TCP connections to the storage system.

5. The iSCSI session management method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

communicating, by the initiator, with the storage system by a plurality of the iSCSI sessions; and

periodically executing, by the initiator, logoff from one of the plurality of the iSCSI sessions and login to the one of the plurality of the iSCSI sessions, while maintaining at least one of the iSCSI sessions connected to the storage system.

6. The iSCSI session management method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of executing, by the initiator, logoff from one of the plurality of the sessions and login to the one of the plurality of the sessions in order of decreasing length of a connection period to the storage system.

7. The iSCSI session management method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, by the initiator, at least one of the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period.

8. A storage system coupled to another storage system via a network, comprising:

an interface coupled to the network;

a memory coupled to the interface; and

a processor coupled to the memory,

wherein the processor is configured to;

execute health check for diagnosing a status of an iSCSI session, whose session ID is a first session ID, established between the storage system and the another storage system, when an iSCSI command queue of the iSCSI session is empty for a first predetermined period; and

execute logout from the iSCSI session and then login to the iSCSI session so that the session ID of the iSCSI session is changed from the first session ID to a second session ID which is different from the first session ID, at a timing of executing the health check, when the iSCSI command queue of the iSCSI session is empty for a second predetermined period which is longer than the first predetermined period.

9. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein the storage system is configured to communicate with the another storage system in accordance with an iSCSI protocol.

10. The storage system according to claim 9, wherein:

the iSCSI session includes a plurality of TCP connections; and

the processor is further configured to periodically cut off and re-establish, while maintaining at least one of the plurality of TCP connections included in the iSCSI session, one of the plurality of TCP connections included in the iSCSI session.

11. The storage system according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cut off and re-establish one of the plurality of TCP connections in order of decreasing length of a connection period of each of the plurality of TCP connections to the another storage system.

12. The storage system according to claim 9,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

communicate with the another storage system by a plurality of the iSCSI sessions; and

periodically execute logoff from one of the plurality of the iSCSI sessions and login to the one of the plurality of the iSCSI sessions, while maintaining at least one of the iSCSI sessions is connected to the storage system.

13. The storage system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute logoff from one of the plurality of the iSCSI sessions and login to the one of the plurality of the iSCSI sessions in order of decreasing length of a connection period to the another storage system.

14. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to receive at least one of the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period.

15. A computer system comprising:

an initiator; and

a storage system coupled to the initiator via a network, wherein;

the initiator includes 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 includes a second interface coupled to the network, a second memory coupled to the second interface, and a second processor coupled to the second memory; and

the initiator is configured to;

execute health check for diagnosing a status of an iSCSI session, whose session ID is a first session ID, established between the initiator and the storage system, when an iSCSI command queue of the iSCSI session is empty for a first predetermined period; and

executing, by the initiator, logout from the iSCSI session and then login to the iSCSI session so that the session ID of the iSCSI session is changed from the first session ID to a second session ID which is different from the first session ID, at a timing of executing the health check, when the iSCSI command queue of the iSCSI session is empty for a second predetermined period which is longer than the first predetermined period.