Storage systems and data storage method

• US 8,423,776 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Asanuma, Kaoru, Etou, Fumihiko, Honda, Kazunari
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODCHILD, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/475,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,484 Days
• Field of Search: 711161- 5, 714/5, 714/6, 707201-205
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• 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]

Abstract

Proposed are a storage system and a data storage method capable of automatically and flexibly changing the redundant destination of data, and verifying the authenticity of data when a system is changed. A primary storage apparatus includes a search unit for searching a secondary storage apparatus for storing the redundant data, and a primary creation unit for creating primary-side authentic information showing that the data is authentic. A secondary storage apparatus includes a secondary creation unit for creating secondary-side authentic information showing that the redundant data is authentic. This storage system also includes a primary storage unit for storing the data in a storage extent of the primary storage apparatus and a secondary storage unit for storing the redundant data in a storage extent of the secondary storage apparatus when the primary-side authentic information and the secondary-side authentic information coincide.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

at least two or more primary storage apparatuses having a storage extent for storing data; and

a plurality of secondary storage apparatuses having redundant data of said data,

wherein said primary storage apparatus comprises;

a search unit for searching a secondary storage apparatus for storing said redundant data under a predetermined condition, and

a primary creation unit for creating primary-side authentic information showing that said data is authentic;

wherein said secondary storage apparatus comprises;

a secondary creation unit for creating secondary-side authentic information showing that said redundant data is authentic;

wherein said storage apparatus compares said primary-side authentic information and said secondary-side authentic information;

wherein said storage system further comprises;

a primary storage controller for storing said data in a storage extent of said primary storage apparatus and a secondary storage controller for storing said redundant data in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus when said primary-side authentic information and said secondary-side authentic information coincide according to the comparison;

wherein said primary creation unit comprises;

a primary virtual creation unit for virtually creating virtual partitioned redundant data corresponding to partitioned redundant data in said primary storage apparatus before storing said partitioned redundant data, which is obtained by partitioning said redundant data, in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus when it determines that said redundant data of said data cannot be stored in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus, and

a virtual partitioned authentic information creation unit for creating virtual partitioned authentic information showing that said virtual partitioned redundant data is authentic;

wherein said secondary creation unit comprises;

a partitioned authentic information creation unit for creating partitioned authentic information showing that said partitioned redundant data is authentic;

wherein said storage system further comprises;

a partitioned redundant storage unit for storing said partitioned redundant data in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus when said virtual partitioned authentic information and said partitioned authentic information coincide;

wherein said secondary storage apparatus is comprised of a plurality of secondary storage apparatuses;

wherein said secondary creation unit comprises;

a consolidated redundancy creation unit for creating consolidated redundant data formed by consolidating said partitioned redundant data with secondary storage apparatuses other than the secondary storage apparatus storing said partitioned redundant data,

a consolidated authentic information creation unit for creating consolidated authentic information showing that said consolidated redundant data is authentic, and

a consolidated redundancy storage unit for storing said consolidated redundant data in a storage extent of said other secondary storage apparatuses when said primary-side authentic information and said consolidated authentic information coincide;

wherein said primary storage apparatus searches said plurality of second storage apparatuses for a secondary storage apparatus which meets predetermined requirements;

wherein said predetermined requirements for a secondary storage apparatus includes;

(1) that the secondary storage apparatus must have a capacity that is closest to the data size of the data that is to be stored in the primary storage apparatus,

(2) that the secondary storage apparatus must have a lowest ratio of apparatus or storage area failures as set forth to information stored in a total information table, and

(3) the secondary storage apparatus must have a lowest apparatus utilization ratio.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein said search unit searches said secondary storage apparatuses for storing said redundant data by sending to said secondary storage apparatuses individual identifying information that is given to said primary storage apparatus among individual identifying information given respectively to all storage apparatuses and which recognizes the respective storage apparatuses.

3. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein when a storage apparatus connected to a host system receives data from the host system, the storage system selects, from among a plurality of storage apparatuses, a storage apparatus that becomes a primary storage apparatus, and

wherein the selected primary storage apparatus selects a secondary storage apparatus to store the redundant data.

4. A data storage method of a storage system comprising at least two or more primary storage apparatuses having a storage extent for storing data and a plurality of secondary storage apparatuses having redundant data of said data, said data storage method comprising the steps of:

said primary storage apparatus searching a secondary storage apparatus for storing said redundant data under a predetermined condition; and

said primary storage apparatus creating primary-side authentic information showing that said data is authentic;

said secondary storage apparatus creating secondary-side authentic information showing that said redundant data is authentic;

comparing said primary-side authentic information and said secondary-side authentic information; and

storing said data in a storage extent of said primary storage apparatus and storing said redundant data in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus when said primary-side authentic information and said secondary-side authentic information coincide according to the comparing step;

wherein said creating primary-side authentic information is performed by a primary creation unit which comprises;

a primary virtual creation unit for virtually creating virtual partitioned redundant data corresponding to partitioned redundant data in said primary storage apparatus before storing said partitioned redundant data, which is obtained by partitioning said redundant data, in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus when it determines that said redundant data of said data cannot be stored in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus, and

a virtual partitioned authentic information creation unit for creating virtual partitioned authentic information showing that said virtual partitioned redundant data is authentic;

wherein said creating secondary-side authentic information is performed by a secondary creation unit which comprises;

a partitioned authentic information creation unit for creating partitioned authentic information showing that said partitioned redundant data is authentic;

wherein said storage system further comprises;

a partitioned redundant storage unit for storing said partitioned redundant data in a storage extent of said secondary storage apparatus when said virtual partitioned authentic information and said partitioned authentic information coincide;

wherein said secondary storage apparatus is comprised of a plurality of secondary storage apparatuses;

wherein said secondary creation unit comprises;

a consolidated redundancy creation unit for creating consolidated redundant data formed by consolidating said partitioned redundant data with secondary storage apparatuses other than the secondary storage apparatus storing said partitioned redundant data,

a consolidated authentic information creation unit for creating consolidated authentic information showing that said consolidated redundant data is authentic, and

a consolidated redundancy storage unit for storing said consolidated redundant data in a storage extent of said other secondary storage apparatuses when said primary-side authentic information and said consolidated authentic information coincide;

wherein said primary storage apparatus searches said plurality of second storage apparatuses for a secondary storage apparatus which meets predetermined requirements;

wherein said predetermined requirements for a secondary storage apparatus includes;

(1) that the secondary storage apparatus must have a capacity that is closest to the data size of the data that is to be stored in the primary storage apparatus,

(2) that the secondary storage apparatus must have a lowest ratio of apparatus or storage area failures as set forth to information stored in a total information table, and

(3) the secondary storage apparatus must have a lowest apparatus utilization ratio.

5. The data storage method according to claim 4, wherein, at said searching step, said primary storage apparatus searches said secondary storage apparatuses for storing said redundant data by sending to said secondary storage apparatuses individual identifying information that is given to one'"'"'s own storage apparatus among individual identifying information given respectively to all storage apparatuses and which recognizes the respective storage apparatuses.

6. The data storage method according to claim 4, wherein when a storage apparatus connected to a host system receives data from the host system, the storage system selects, from among a plurality of storage apparatuses, a storage apparatus that becomes a primary storage apparatus, and

wherein the selected primary storage apparatus selects a secondary storage apparatus to store the redundant data.