Controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures

• US 7,940,706 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jordan, Michael J., Surman, David H., Pushong, Kelly B., Kurdt, Georgette L., Nick, Jeffrey M., Goss, Steven N., Elko, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar; Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones; Prenell P
• Application Number:
  US11/833,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/254, 370/216, 370/217, 370/276, 370/242, 370251-253, 370/395, 709/223, 709/202, 709/203, 709/224, 709/241, 709/228, 709/225, 709/229, 709/226, 709/227, 709/200, 709/213, 709/214, 714/15, 714/11, 714/5, 714/4, 714/14, 711/168, 375/211, 707/999, 710/50
• US Class Current: 370/276
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2097 maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database

Abstract

A coupling facility is coupled to one or more other coupling facilities via one or more peer links. The coupling of the facilities enables various functions to be supported, including the duplexing of structures of the coupling facilities. Duplexing is performed on a structure basis, and thus, a coupling facility may include duplexed structures, as well as non-duplexed or simplexed structures.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, said method comprising:

detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;

determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and

managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining, wherein the managing comprises breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists.

3. A computer system for controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, the computer system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communications with the memory, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method, said method comprising;

detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;

determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and

managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining, wherein the managing comprises breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists.

5. A system of controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, said system comprising:

a failed connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure;

a coupling facility to facilitate determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and

at least one of a coupling facility and a system having an operating system to facilitate managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining, wherein the managing comprises breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.

6. A computer program product for controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processor and storing instructions for execution by the processor for performing a method comprising;

detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;

determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility; and

managing a state of duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to the determining, wherein the managing comprises breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the managing comprises preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists.

8. A computer program product for controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures in view of connection failures, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processor and storing instructions for execution by the processor for performing a method comprising;

detecting that a connection between a first coupling facility having a first instance of a coupling facility structure and a second coupling facility having a second instance of the coupling facility structure has failed;

determining whether another connection exists between the first coupling facility and the second coupling facility;

preserving duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection exists; and

breaking duplexing of the coupling facility structure, in response to determining that another connection does not exist.