Dispatching of service requests in redundant storage virtualization subsystems
First Claim
1. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
- configuring redundantly a first SVC and a second SVC of the plurality of SVCs such that when one of said first and second SVCs fails, the other of said first and second SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests;
configuring said first SVC and said second SVC such that not only said first SVC but also said second SVC handle the service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said the other SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle said service requests;
mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity;
issuing, by said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, a first service request to said first SVC, when said first SVC and said second SVC, which are different SVCs, are both alive;
handling, by said first SVC, said first service request, acquiring a first result of servicing the first service request, and returning said first result to the host entity, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive;
issuing, by said host entity, a second service request to said second SVC, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; and
handling, by said second SVC, said second service request, acquiring a second result of servicing the second service request, and returning said second result to the host entity, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive;
wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring.
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Abstract
A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of the host entity issuing a first service request to a first one of the SVCs; the first SVC handling the first service request, acquiring a first result of servicing the first service request, and returning the first result to the host entity the result; and, the host entity issuing a second service request to a second one of the SVCs; and, the second SVC handling the second service request, acquiring a second result of servicing the second service request, and returning the second result to the host entity the result. A storage virtualization subsystem implementing the method, a computer system comprising such storage virtualization subsystem, and a storage media having machine-executable codes stored therein for performing the method are also disclosed.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
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configuring redundantly a first SVC and a second SVC of the plurality of SVCs such that when one of said first and second SVCs fails, the other of said first and second SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests; configuring said first SVC and said second SVC such that not only said first SVC but also said second SVC handle the service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said the other SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle said service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; issuing, by said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, a first service request to said first SVC, when said first SVC and said second SVC, which are different SVCs, are both alive; handling, by said first SVC, said first service request, acquiring a first result of servicing the first service request, and returning said first result to the host entity, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; issuing, by said host entity, a second service request to said second SVC, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; and handling, by said second SVC, said second service request, acquiring a second result of servicing the second service request, and returning said second result to the host entity, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
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configuring redundantly the plurality of SVCs such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests; configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle said service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle said service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; selecting at least one of the SVCs by said host entitywhich is external to the plurality of SVCs, when said plurality of SVCs are alive; enabling a port on the at least one selected SVC for dispatching of service requests, when said plurality of SVCs are alive; issuing at least one service request to said at least one selected SVC, when said plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; handling said at least one service request by said at least one selected SVC, when said plurality of SVCs are alive; acquiring a result of servicing the at least one service request by said at least one selected SVC, when said plurality of SVCs are alive; and
,returning to the host entity the result by said at least one selected SVC, when said plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
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configuring redundantly a first SVC and a second SVC of the plurality of SVCs such that when one of said first and second SVCs fails, the other of said first and second SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests; configuring said first SVC and said second SVC such that not only said first SVC but also said second SVC may handle said service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said the other SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle said service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; selecting, by said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, said first SVC to issue said service requests, when said first SVC and said second SVC, which are different SVCs, are both alive; receiving, by said first SVC, said service requests, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; completing, by said first SVC, the servicing of all the received service requests, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; and
,selecting, by said host entity, said second SVC to issue said service requests, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring.
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10. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
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configuring redundantly a first SVC and a second SVC of the plurality of SVCs such that when one of said first and second SVCs fails, the other of said first and second SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests; configuring said first SVC and said second SVC such that not only said first SVC but also said second SVC may handle the service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said the other SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle the service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; receiving, by said first SVC, a service request from said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, and forwarding said received service request to said second SVC, when said first SVC and said second SVC, which are different SVCs, are both alive; dispatching, by said second SVC, the service request for servicing, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; on completion of request servicing, said second SVC conveying response data and status information to said first SVC, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; and
,forwarding, by said first SVC, said response data and status information to the host entity, when said first SVC and said second SVC are both alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization computer system including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
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configuring redundantly a plurality of SVCs such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests; configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle said service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle the service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; selecting, by said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, only one of the plurality of SVCs at a time to issue said service requests, when said plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; and receiving, by said selected SVC, said service requests from said host entity and servicing them, then returning the results of the servicing of the service requests to said host entity, when said plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for dispatching of service requests, said method being performed by a host in a redundant storage virtualization computer system including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), comprising the steps of:
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configuring redundantly a plurality of SVCs such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests; configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle said service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle said service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to the host entity; generating a service request by the host entity which is external to the plurality of redundant SVCs, when the plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; checking if all issued service requests have been serviced to completion, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; issuing said service request to one of the redundant SVCs, if all issued service requests have been serviced to completion, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; otherwise, issuing, by said host entity, said service request to one of said SVCs after said issued service requests have been serviced to completion, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for dispatching of service requests, said method being performed by a host in a redundant storage virtualization computer system having a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), said SVCs being redundantly configured such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests, comprising the steps of:
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configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle the service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to the host entity; generating a new service request by the host which is external to the plurality of SVCs, when the plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; checking if all previously issued service requests have been serviced to completion, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; issuing said new service request to one of the SVCs, if all the previously issued service requests have been serviced to completion, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; otherwise, issuing, by said host entity, said new service request to the SVC which received said service requests issued previously and not serviced to completion, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization computer system having a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), said SVCs being redundantly configured such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests, comprising the steps of:
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configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle the service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle the service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; selecting, by said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, one of the SVCs to issue the service requests, when the plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; receiving the service requests from said host entity by said selected SVC and checking if said selected SVC itself is an owner of the service request servicing function, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; and
,if it is, then said selected SVC servicing the service request, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; and
,if it is not, said selected SVC forwarding the service requests to an owner of the service request servicing function, when the plurality of SVCs are alive, then said owner receiving and dispatching the service requests for servicing and returning the results of the servicing of the service requests to said host entity, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for dispatching of service requests, said method being performed by a first SVC in a redundant storage virtualization computer system having a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), said SVCs being redundantly configured such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests, comprising the steps of:
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configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle the service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle the service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; receiving a service request from said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs, when the plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; forwarding said service request to a second SVC of the plurality of SVCs, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; receiving response data and status information of servicing said service request from the second SVC, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; and
,forwarding said data and information to said host entity, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for dispatching of service requests, said method being performed by a first SVC in a redundant storage virtualization computer system having a plurality of storage virtualization controllers (SVCs) and a plurality of physical storage devices (PSDs), said SVCs being redundantly configured such that when one of the plurality of SVCs fails, another of the plurality of SVCs will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle I/O requests, comprising the steps of:
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configuring the plurality of SVCs such that the plurality of SVCs handle the service requests, and that when the one SVC fails, said another SVC will take over functionality of the failed SVC to handle the service requests; mapping, by the plurality of SVCs, combinations of sections of physical storage media of the PSDs into a logical media unit visible to a host entity; receiving a service request from a second SVC of the plurality of SVCs when the plurality of SVCs, which are different SVCs, are alive; servicing said service request, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; and
,issuing response data and status information of servicing said service request to the second SVC, when the plurality of SVCs are alive; wherein the service request is selected from one of a group comprising a configuration request, a management request and a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is issued for monitoring not including for IO error monitoring; and wherein the service request is issued by said host entity which is external to the plurality of SVCs. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification