System software update method

• US 8,255,898 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakano, Takahiro, Agetsuma, Masakuni
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, HANH THI MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/195,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20110289494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/203 using migration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2035 without idle spare hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2046 where the redundant components share persistent storage G06F11/2043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Provided is a computer system including a first server and a storage system. In the first server, a first virtual server and a second virtual server are operated. Upon reception of a request to boot the first virtual server, the second virtual server judges whether system software of the first virtual server, which is requested to be booted, matches system software of the first server in which the first virtual server is operated. In the case where the system software of the first virtual server and the system software of the first server do not match, the second virtual server updates the system software of the first virtual server before booting the first virtual server.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a first cluster node providing a first virtual management server and a first virtual server, the first virtual management server managing the first cluster node;

a second cluster node providing a second virtual management server and a second virtual server, the second virtual management server managing the second cluster node;

a management computer; and

a storage system coupled to the first cluster node and the second cluster node, the storage system comprising;

a first system logical volume;

a second system logical volume;

a first logical volume; and

a second logical volume,

wherein the first system logical volume and the second system logical volume each store first system software executed by the first virtual management server and the second virtual management server, respectively,

wherein the first logical volume and the second logical volume each store second system software executed by the first virtual server and the second virtual server respectively, the second system software being compatible with the first system software,

wherein the first virtual management server, in response to receipt of a version upgrade request from a management computer, for the first system software executed by the first virtual management server, stores in the first system logical volume a new version of the first system software and a new version of the second system software, which is compatible with the new version of the first system software, the new version of the first system software and the new version of the second system software being received from the management computer, stops the first virtual server, sends to the second virtual management server a request to start the second virtual server, and upgrades the first system software to the new version of the first system software stored in the first system logical volume,

wherein the management computer, in response to receipt of the completion of an upgrade of the first system software on the first virtual management server, sends to the second virtual management server a version upgrade request for the first system software executed by the second virtual management server,

wherein the second virtual management server, in response to receipt of the version upgrade request, stores in the second system logical volume the new version of the first system software and the new version of the second system software, which is compatible with the new version of the first system software, the new version of the first system software and the new version of the second system software being received from the management computer, stops the second virtual server, sends to the first virtual management server a request to start the first virtual server, and upgrades the first system software to the new version of the first system software stored in the second system logical volume, and

wherein the first virtual management server, in response to receipt of the request from the second virtual management server, upgrades the second system software to the new version of the second system software stored in the first system logical volume, and starts the first virtual server.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the request to start the second virtual server includes version information regarding the second system software that the first virtual server executes, and

wherein the second virtual management server, in response to receipt of the request to start the second virtual server, checks the version information associated with the request, and starts the second virtual server when, as a result of the checking the version information associated with the request, an upgrade of the second system software that the second virtual server executes is deemed unnecessary.

3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the request to start the first virtual server includes version information regarding the second system software that the second virtual server executes, and

wherein the first virtual management server, in response to receipt of the request to start the first virtual server, checks the version information associated with the request, and upgrades the second system software when, as a result of checking the version information associated with the request, an upgrade of the second system software that the first virtual server executes is deemed necessary.

4. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the first virtual management server mounts the first logical volume and performs the upgrade of the second system software.

5. A system software update method for a computer system, the computer system comprising a first cluster node providing a first virtual management server and a first virtual server, the first virtual management server managing the first cluster node;

a second cluster node providing a second virtual management server and a second virtual server, the second virtual management server managing the second cluster node;

a management computer; and

a storage system coupled to the first cluster node and the second cluster node, the storage system comprising a first system logical volume;

a second system logical volume;

a first logical volume; and

a second logical volume, the method comprising;

storing in each of the first system logical volume and the second system logical volume first system software executed by the first virtual management server and the second virtual management server, respectively;

storing in each of the first logical volume and the second logical volume second system software executed by the first virtual server and the second virtual server respectively, the second system software being compatible with the first system software;

wherein the first virtual management server, in response to receipt of a version upgrade request from a management computer, for the first system software executed by the first virtual management server, performs steps of;

storing in the first system logical volume a new version of the first system software and a new version of the second system software, which is compatible with the new version of the first system software, the new version of the first system software and the new version of the second system software being received from the management computer;

stopping the first virtual server;

sending to the second virtual management server a request to start the second virtual server; and

upgrading the first system software to the new version of the first system software stored in the first system logical volume,

wherein the management computer, in response to receipt of the completion of an upgrade of the first system software on the first virtual management server, sends to the second virtual management server a version upgrade request for the first system software executed by the second virtual management server,

wherein the second virtual management server, in response to receipt of the version upgrade request, performs steps of;

storing in the second system logical volume the new version of the first system software and the new version of the second system software, which is compatible with the new version of the first system software, the new version of the first system software and the new version of the second system software being received from the management computer;

stopping the second virtual server;

sending to the first virtual management server a request to start the first virtual server; and

upgrading the first system software to the new version of the first system software stored in the second system logical volume, and

wherein the first virtual management server, in response to receipt of the request from the second virtual management server, upgrades the second system software to the new version of the second system software stored in the first system logical volume, and starts the first virtual server.

6. The system software update method according to claim 5, wherein the request to start the second virtual server includes version information regarding the second system software that the first virtual server executes, and

wherein the second virtual management server, in response to receipt of the request to start the second virtual server, checks the version information associated with the request, and starts the second virtual server when, as a result of the checking the version information associated with the request, an upgrade of the second system software that the second virtual server executes is deemed unnecessary.

7. The system software update method according to claim 5, wherein the request to start the first virtual server includes version information regarding the second system software that the second virtual server executes, and

wherein the first virtual management server, in response to receipt of the request to start the first virtual server, checks the version information associated with the request, and upgrades the second system software when, as a result of checking the version information associated with the request, an upgrade of the second system software that the first virtual server executes is deemed necessary.

8. The system software update method according to claim 5, further comprising:

mounting, by the first virtual management server, the first logical volume; and

performing, by the first virtual management server, the upgrade of the second system software.