Storage system for a storage pool and virtual volumes
First Claim
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1. A storage system coupled to a host computer and a management apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices accessed by the host computer; and
a control unit that controls the plurality of storage devices,wherein the control unit;
sets a first-type virtual device corresponding to the plurality of storage devices, the first-type virtual device including a plurality of first-type logical devices,wherein the plurality of first-type logical devices includes at least one first first-type logical device and at least one second first-type logical device, the at least one first first-type logical device being allocated to a volume accessible by the host computer;
sets a second-type virtual device including a second-type logical device, which is a virtual volume accessible by the host computer; and
allocates each second first-type logical device, of the plurality of first-type logical devices, to a storage pool,wherein when the control unit receives first write data for the first first-type logical device included in the first-type virtual device, the control unit stores the first write data in the first first-type logical device, and when the control unit receives second write data for the second-type logical device included in the second-type virtual device, the control unit associates at least one second first-type logical device, of the first-type virtual device and allocated to the storage pool, with the second-type logical device, and stores the second write data in the second first-type logical device,wherein the storage system further comprises;
a memory storing management information, which includes cache data to be destaged and configuration information regarding the configuration of the respective virtual devices, logical devices and volumes; and
a non-volatile memory,wherein in response to the power of the storage system being turned off, the storage system;
locates an unused area in the storage pool;
assigns the unused portion as a system area;
evacuates the management information stored in the memory to the system area; and
stores in the non-volatile memory the address and size of the system area,wherein in response to the power of the storage system subsequently being turned back on, the storage system;
consults the non-volatile memory to obtain information about the assigned system area where the management information is stored;
reads the management information in the assigned system area;
boots the system; and
cancels the assignment of the unused area as a system area.
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Abstract
This invention provides a storage system to store data used by computers. A storage system coupled to a computer and a management apparatus, includes storage devices accessed by the computer and a control unit that controls the storage devices, in which the control unit performs the following operations: setting, in the storage devices, a first virtual device including a first logical device; setting a second virtual device which including a second logical device, which is a virtual volume accessed by the computer; allocating an address of the first logical device to the second logical device; and changing the allocation to change storage areas of the virtual volume.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A storage system coupled to a host computer and a management apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices accessed by the host computer; and a control unit that controls the plurality of storage devices, wherein the control unit; sets a first-type virtual device corresponding to the plurality of storage devices, the first-type virtual device including a plurality of first-type logical devices, wherein the plurality of first-type logical devices includes at least one first first-type logical device and at least one second first-type logical device, the at least one first first-type logical device being allocated to a volume accessible by the host computer; sets a second-type virtual device including a second-type logical device, which is a virtual volume accessible by the host computer; and allocates each second first-type logical device, of the plurality of first-type logical devices, to a storage pool, wherein when the control unit receives first write data for the first first-type logical device included in the first-type virtual device, the control unit stores the first write data in the first first-type logical device, and when the control unit receives second write data for the second-type logical device included in the second-type virtual device, the control unit associates at least one second first-type logical device, of the first-type virtual device and allocated to the storage pool, with the second-type logical device, and stores the second write data in the second first-type logical device, wherein the storage system further comprises; a memory storing management information, which includes cache data to be destaged and configuration information regarding the configuration of the respective virtual devices, logical devices and volumes; and a non-volatile memory, wherein in response to the power of the storage system being turned off, the storage system; locates an unused area in the storage pool; assigns the unused portion as a system area; evacuates the management information stored in the memory to the system area; and stores in the non-volatile memory the address and size of the system area, wherein in response to the power of the storage system subsequently being turned back on, the storage system; consults the non-volatile memory to obtain information about the assigned system area where the management information is stored; reads the management information in the assigned system area; boots the system; and cancels the assignment of the unused area as a system area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of changing configuration of a storage system connected to a host computer and a management apparatus, the storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices accessed by the host computer and a control unit that controls the storage system, the method comprising:
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a first step of setting a first-type virtual device, which includes a plurality of first-type logical devices, and corresponds to plurality of storage devices, wherein the plurality of first type logical devices includes at least one first first-type logical device and at least one second first-type logical device, the at least one first first-type logical device being allocated to a volume accessible by the host computer; setting a second-type virtual device including a second-type logical device, which is a virtual volume accessed by the host computer; and allocating each second first-type logical device, of the plurality of first-type logical devices, to a storage pool, wherein when the control unit receives first write data for the first first-type logical device included in the first-type virtual device, the control unit stores the first write data in the first first-type logical device, and wherein when the control unit receives second write data for the second-type logical device included in the second-type virtual device, the control unit associates at least one second first-type logical device, of the first-type virtual device allocated to the storage pool, with the second-type logical device; and storing the second write data in the second first-type logical device, wherein the storage system further comprises;
a memory storing management information, which includes cache data to be destaged and configuration information regarding the configuration of the respective virtual devices, logical devices and volumes; and
a non-volatile memory, andwherein in response to power to the storage system being turned off, the method further includes; locating an unused area in the storage pool; assigning the unused portion as a system area; evacuating the management information stored in the memory to the system area; and storing in the non-volatile memory the address and size of the system area, and wherein in response to the power to the storage system subsequently being turned back on, the method further includes the steps of; consulting the non-volatile memory to obtain information about the assigned system area where the management information is stored; reading the management information in the assigned system area; booting the system; and canceling the assignment of the unused area as a system area. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A storage system coupled to a host computer and a management apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of storage devices accessed by the host computer; a control unit that controls the plurality of storage devices; a memory storing management information, which includes cache data to be destaged and configuration information regarding the configuration of respective virtual devices, logical devices and volumes in the storage system; and a non-volatile memory, wherein in response to the power of the storage system being turned off, the storage system; locates an unused area in the storage pool; assigns the unused portion as a system area; evacuates the management information stored in the memory to the system area; and stores in the non-volatile memory the address and size of the system area, wherein in response to the power of the storage system subsequently being turned back on, the storage system; consults the non-volatile memory to obtain information about the assigned system area where the management information is stored; reads the management information in the assigned system area; boots the system; and cancels the assignment of the unused area as a system area.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
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Original AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
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InventorsEguchi, Yoshiaki
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Primary Examiner(s)Bragdon; Reginald G
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Assistant Examiner(s)Ruiz; Aracelis
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Application NumberUS12/915,476Publication NumberTime in Patent Office193 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current711/203CPC Class CodesG06F 12/08 in hierarchically structure...G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interac...G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to ...G06F 3/0665 at area level, e.g. provisi...G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked st...
