Storage apparatus and method for controlling same

• US 8,799,534 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Komikado, Kosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): ABAD, FARLEY J
• Application Number:
  US13/383,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 710/74, 710/36, 710/37, 710/39
• US Class Current: 710/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0611 in relation to response time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD

Abstract

Proposed are a storage apparatus and controlling method to prevent deterioration in the response performance of the whole system effectively. A storage apparatus provides a host computer with one or more storage areas for reading and writing data to the corresponding storage areas based on commands from the host computer. The number of receivable commands from the host computer is managed according to preconfigured management modes for managing the number of receivable commands. The management modes comprise at least one management mode among a first management mode for managing the number of receivable commands for each of the storage areas, a second management mode for managing the number of receivable commands in host group units which are sets of one or more of the host computers, and a third management mode for managing the number of receivable commands in identification information units assigned to the logged on host computers.

Claims

1. A storage apparatus which provides a host computer with one or more storage areas which are storage areas for reading and writing data and which reads and writes data to the corresponding storage areas on the basis of commands supplied from the host computer, the storage apparatus comprising:

a management unit which manages the number of commands that can be received;

a storage unit which stores preconfigured management modes for managing the number of commands that can be received; and

one or more ports connected to the host computers,

wherein the management modes comprise at least one management mode among a first management mode for managing the number of receivable commands for each of the storage areas, a second management mode for managing the number of receivable commands in host group units which are sets of one or more of the host computers, and a third management mode for managing the number of receivable commands in identification information units assigned to the logged on host computers,

wherein the management unit manages the number of receivable commands supplied from the host computer according to the management modes stored in the storage unit,

wherein commands from the host computers are received via the ports,

wherein a command queue having a predetermined number of entries is configured for each of the ports, and

wherein the management unit, if the third management mode is configured as the management mode, divides the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, among each of the identification information assigned to each of the host computers logged on via the ports and manages the number of receivable commands of each of the host computers so that the number of commands from the host computers stored in the command queue is in the range of the number of entries divided among the identification information assigned to the host computers.

2. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the management unit, if the first management mode is configured as the management mode, divides the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, among each of the storage areas connected to the ports and manages the number of receivable commands of each of the storage areas so that the number of commands targeting the storage areas stored in the command queue is in the range of the number of entries divided among the storage areas.

3. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the management unit, if the second management mode is configured as the management mode, divides the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, among each of the host groups created in the ports and manages the number of receivable commands of each of the host groups so that the number of commands from the host groups stored in the command queue is in the range of the number of entries divided among the host groups.

4. The storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit stores priority levels which are preconfigured for each of the host groups, and

wherein the management unit, if the second management mode is configured as the management mode, divides the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports on the basis of the priority level for each of the host groups stored in the storage unit, among each of the host groups created in the ports in a ratio which corresponds to the priority level configured for each of the host groups.

5. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit manages, for each of the ports, the state of issuance of the commands of the host computers which have logged on via the ports, and wherein, if the third management mode has been configured as the management mode, the management unit divides the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, among the identification information assigned to the host computer that issued a command within a predetermined time among the host computers which have logged on via the ports.

6. A method for controlling a storage apparatus which provides a host computer with one or more storage areas, which are storage areas for reading and writing data and which reads and writes data to the corresponding storage areas on the basis of commands supplied from the host computer, and comprises one or more ports connected to the host computers, the method comprising:

a first step of storing preconfigured management modes for managing the number of commands that can be received; and

a second step of managing the number of receivable commands supplied from the host computer according to the management modes stored in the storage unit,

wherein the management modes comprise at least one management mode among a first management mode for managing the number of receivable commands for each of the storage areas, a second management mode for managing the number of receivable commands in host group units which are sets of one or more of the host computers, and a third management mode for managing the number of receivable commands in identification information units assigned to the logged on host computers,

wherein commands from the host computers are received via the ports, and

wherein a command queue having a predetermined number of entries is configured for each of the ports, and wherein, in the second step, if the third management mode is configured as the management mode, the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, is divided among each of the identification information assigned to each of the host computers logged on via the ports and the number of receivable commands of each of the host computers is managed so that the number of commands from the host computers stored in the command queue is in the range of the number of entries divided among the identification information assigned to the host computers.

7. The method for controlling a storage apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

in the second step, if the first management mode is configured as the management mode, the management unit divides the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, among each of the storage areas connected to the ports and manages the number of receivable commands of each of the storage areas so that the number of commands targeting the storage areas stored in the command queue is in the range of the number of entries divided among the storage areas.

8. The method for controlling a storage apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

in the second step, if the second management mode is configured as the management mode, the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, are divided among each of the host groups created in the ports, and the number of receivable commands for each of the host groups is managed so that the number of commands from the host groups stored in the command queue is in the range of the number of entries divided among the host groups.

9. The method of controlling the storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in the first step, priority levels which are preconfigured for each of the host groups are stored, and

wherein, in the second step, if the second management mode is configured as the management mode, the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports on the basis of the priority level for each of the host groups stored in the storage unit, is divided among each of the host groups created in the ports in a ratio which corresponds to the priority level configured for each of the host groups.

10. The storage apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the second step, the state of issuance of the commands of the host computers which have logged on via the ports is managed for each of the ports, and

wherein, if the third management mode has been configured as the management mode, the number of command queue entries, which are configured so as to correspond to the ports, is divided among the identification information assigned to the host computer that issued a command within a predetermined time among the host computers which have logged on via the ports.