Clustering storage system

• US 20030185064A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ozawa, Koji, Arakawa, Hiroshi, Hirakawa, Yusuke
• Granted Patent: US 6,922,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• 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

A clustering storage system, which enables to operate a plurality of storage system units as a single storage system, presents connection information between clustering storage systems to a user and receives data to be backed up and an instruction about a path between the clustering storage systems from the user. The clustering storage system uses load information or a transfer speed of a data connection line between the storage system units to determine a path between the clustering storage systems used for backup and a storage system unit for holding a backup copy so that the data transfer between the storage system units becomes minimum. Besides, the clustering storage system mainly uses the determined path for backing up the data.

Claims

1. A method of copying data from one clustering storage system to another clustering storage system in a storage system which is comprised of a plurality of connected clustering storage systems having a plurality of storage system units, comprising the steps of:

searching for a data transfer route from said one clustering storage system to said other clustering storage system; and

determining a data transfer route according to the result of searching by said searching step.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

transferring data from said one clustering storage system to said other clustering storage system through said data transfer route; and

storing said transferred data in said other clustering storage system.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining the data transfer route selects a data transfer route between said clustering storage systems according to information about the distance between the storage system units.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said step of determining the data transfer route further comprises the steps of:

selecting a plurality of data transfer routs from said searched result; and

allotting a priority to said plurality of data transfer routes, wherein;

said data transfer step selects a data transfer route having a higher priority among said plurality of data transfer routes and performs the data transfer.

5. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of clustering storage systems having a plurality of storage system units; and

a communication line which connects the plurality of clustering storage systems, wherein;

one of said plurality of clustering storage systems determines according to a prescribed condition a data transfer route from a copy source logical storage area of a first clustering storage system among said plurality of clustering storage systems to a copy destination logical storage area of a second clustering storage system among said plurality of clustering storage systems, and

copies data which is stored in said copy source logical storage area to said copy destination logical storage area through the determined data transfer route.

6. A storage system according to claim 5, wherein said prescribed condition is a combination that the sum of a speed of the data transfer in said first clustering storage system and a speed of the data transfer in said second clustering storage system becomes largest.

7. A method for backup of data from one clustering storage system to another clustering storage system in a storage system which is connected to a host computer and comprised of a plurality of connected clustering storage systems having a plurality of storage system units, comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction about data to be backed up from said host computer;

receiving an instruction of said clustering storage system which holds a backup copy from said host computer;

receiving an instruction about a path between said clustering storage systems used for backup from said host computer;

presenting information about connection between said clustering storage systems and information about a distance between the storage system units to a user through said host computer;

determining a path between said clustering storage systems used for backup and a storage system unit for holding a backup copy of data according to information selected by the user; and

copying data between said clustering storage systems using the path determined by said step of determining.

8. A method for backup of data from one clustering storage system to another clustering storage system in a storage system which is connected to a host computer and comprised of a plurality of connected clustering storage systems having a plurality of storage system units, comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction about data to be backed up from said host computer;

receiving an instruction of said clustering storage system which holds a backup copy from said host computer;

determining a path between said clustering storage systems used for backup and a storage system unit for holding a backup copy of data according to information about connection between said clustering storage systems and information about a distance between the storage system units; and

copying data between said clustering storage systems using the path determined by said step of determining.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said distance information between said storage system units is a transfer speed of data between the storage system units.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said distance information between said storage system units is the time of use of a data connection line between the storage system units in unit time.

11. A storage system connectable to a host computer comprising:

a plurality of clustering storage systems; and

a communication line which connects said plurality of clustering storage systems, wherein;

said plurality of clustering storage systems comprise a plurality of storage system units,

wherein said storage system units include a control section,

wherein said control section includes connection information between said plurality of clustering storage systems and distance information between said plurality of storage system units, and when said control section receives an instruction about data to be backed up from said host computer, it copies said data to be backed up to a clustering storage system determined according to said connection information and said distance information through a path determined according to said connection information and said distance information.

12. A storage system according to claim 11, wherein said distance information between said storage system units is a transfer speed of data between the storage system units.

13. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said control section includes a shared memory, wherein said distance information is stored in said shared memory.

14. A storage system according to claim 13

wherein said storage system units include a plurality of disk devices.