Providing unsolicited global disconnect requests to users of storage

• US 8,365,008 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Clark, Brian D., Coronado, Juan A., Filachek, Christopher D., Peterson, Beth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Nadeem
• Application Number:
  US12/903,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 714/4.1, 714/4.2, 714/4.21, 714/4.3, 714/4.4, 714/6.12, 714/6.23, 714/6.24, 714/6.3, 714/6.31, 714/6.32, 714 11- 13, 714/20, 714/42, 714/54
• US Class Current: 714/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2092 Techniques of failing over between control units

Abstract

A mechanism is provided in a storage control unit in a data processing system for providing unsolicited global disconnect requests to users. The mechanism stores lock control data in the storage control unit. The storage control unit allocates its resources into a plurality of clusters. Responsive to a given user connecting to a given partition that is for a logical subsystem resident on a first cluster within the plurality of clusters, the mechanism sends reflected partition information from the first cluster to a second cluster within the plurality of clusters. Responsive to the first cluster experiencing a failure condition, the mechanism moves control data from one or more logical subsystems from the first cluster to the second cluster and for each logical subsystem that moved from the first logical subsystem to the second logical subsystem and that has reflected partition information, presents unsolicited status to one or more users.

Claims

1. A method, in a storage control unit in a data processing system, for providing unsolicited global disconnect requests to users, the method comprising:

storing lock control data in the storage control unit, wherein the storage control unit allocates its resources into a plurality of clusters and wherein the lock control data contains knowledge about locks, logical subsystems, partitions, and users of the partitions;

responsive to a given user connecting to a given partition that is for a logical subsystem resident on a first cluster within the plurality of clusters, sending reflected partition information from the first cluster to a second cluster within the plurality of clusters, wherein the reflected partition information identifies one or more logical subsystems, partitions, and connected users; and

responsive to the first cluster experiencing a failure condition, moving control data from one or more logical subsystems from the first cluster to the second cluster, storing the control data for the one or more logical subsystems in association with the second cluster, and for each logical subsystem that moved from the first logical subsystem to the second logical subsystem and that has reflected partition information, presenting unsolicited status to one or more users, wherein the unsolicited status comprises a global disconnect requested message and wherein at least one user within the one or more users reads the unsolicited status.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the reflected partition information in association with the second cluster.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein storing the reflected partition information in association with the second cluster comprises:

storing the reflected information in processor memory of the second cluster.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein storing the reflected partition information in association with the second cluster comprises:

storing the reflected information in host adapter memory of the storage control unit, wherein the second cluster queries the host adapters for reflected information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users comprises:

creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a respective host associated with each of the one or more users; and

offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the one or more users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users comprises:

creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a host associated with a first user within the one or more users; and

responsive to the first user responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users further comprises:

responsive to the first user not responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a host associated with a next user within the one or more users and responsive to the next user responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the next user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsolicited status comprises a length, a message type, a reason code, and a reason code.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a storage control unit, causes the storage control unit to:

store lock control data in the storage control unit, wherein the storage control unit allocates its resources into a plurality of clusters and wherein the lock control data contains knowledge about locks, logical subsystems, partitions, and users of the partitions;

responsive to a given user connecting to a given partition that is for a logical subsystem resident on a first cluster within the plurality of clusters, send reflected partition information from the first cluster to a second cluster within the plurality of clusters, wherein the reflected partition information identifies one or more logical subsystems, partitions, and connected users; and

responsive to the first cluster experiencing a failure condition, move control data from one or more logical subsystems from the first cluster to the second cluster, store the control data for the one or more logical subsystems in association with the second cluster, and for each logical subsystem that moved from the first logical subsystem to the second logical subsystem and that has reflected partition information, present unsolicited status to one or more users, wherein the unsolicited status comprises a global disconnect requested message and wherein at least one user within the one or more users reads the unsolicited status.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program further causes the storage control unit to:

store the reflected partition information in association with the second cluster.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users comprises:

creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a respective host associated with each of the one or more users; and

offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the one or more users.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users comprises:

creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a host associated with a first user within the one or more users; and

responsive to the first user responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the first user.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users further comprises:

responsive to the first user not responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a host associated with a next user within the one or more users and responsive to the next user responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the next user.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the unsolicited status comprises a length, a message type, a reason code, and a reason code.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a data processing system and wherein the computer readable program was downloaded over a network from a remote data processing system.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a server data processing system and wherein the computer readable program is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage medium with the remote system.

17. A storage control unit, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

store lock control data in the storage control unit, wherein the storage control unit allocates its resources into a plurality of clusters and wherein the lock control data contains knowledge about locks, logical subsystems, partitions, and users of the partitions;

responsive to a given user connecting to a given partition that is for a logical subsystem resident on a first cluster within the plurality of clusters, send reflected partition information from the first cluster to a second cluster within the plurality of clusters, wherein the reflected partition information identifies one or more logical subsystems, partitions, and connected users; and

responsive to the first cluster experiencing a failure condition, move control data from one or more logical subsystems from the first cluster to the second cluster, store the control data for the one or more logical subsystems in association with the second cluster, and for each logical subsystem that moved from the first logical subsystem to the second logical subsystem and that has reflected partition information, present unsolicited status to one or more users, wherein the unsolicited status comprises a global disconnect requested message and wherein at least one user within the one or more users reads the unsolicited status.

18. The storage control unit of claim 17, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users comprises:

creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a respective host associated with each of the one or more users; and

offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the one or more users.

19. The storage control unit of claim 17, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users comprises:

creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a host associated with a first user within the one or more users; and

responsive to the first user responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the first user.

20. The storage control unit of claim 17, wherein presenting unsolicited status to one or more users further comprises:

responsive to the first user not responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, creating an unsolicited attention interrupt for a host associated with a next user within the one or more users and responsive to the next user responding to the unsolicited attention interrupt within a predetermined period of time, offloading an attention message associated with the unsolicited status to the next user.