Redundant manager for a storage system

• US 20050015658A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Helman, Haim, Zohar, Ofir, Schwartz, Shemer, Revah, Yaron, Cohen, Dror
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/00 Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring error detection, correction or monitoring in information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer G11B20/18; monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing G11B27/36; in static stores G11C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2002 where interconnections or communication control functionality are redundant flexible arrangements for bus networks involving redundancy H04L12/40176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2017 where memory access, memory control or I/O control functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005; redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2082 Data synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2092 Techniques of failing over between control units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3034 where the computing system component is a storage system, e.g. DASD based or network based digital input from or digital output to record carriers G06F3/06; digital recording or reproducing G11B20/18; 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], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems

Abstract

A method for managing activity of a data storage system, including at least partly managing and performing an operator interaction with the storage system using a first processing system, and monitoring operation of the first processing system using a second processing system. The method further includes detecting a failure in operation of the first processing system using the second processing system and at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction using the second processing system in response to detecting the failure.

Claims

1. A method for managing activity of a data storage system, comprising:

at least partly managing and performing an operator interaction with the storage system using a first processing system;

monitoring operation of the first processing system using a second processing system;

detecting a failure in operation of the first processing system using the second processing system; and

at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction using the second processing system in response to detecting the failure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction comprises performing an action wherein a response from the operator is intended.

3. The method according to claim 1, and comprising managing an input/output activity of the data storage system.

4. The method according to claim 1, and comprising at least partly de-activating the first processing system, in response to detecting the failure.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from booting the data storage system and shutting down the system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from defining, modifying, and removing one of a software and a hardware element of the data storage system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from reacting to and initiating a modification of a configuration of the data storage system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from changing a graphic user interface and an administration element of the data storage system.

9. The method according to claim 1, and comprising:

the second processing system at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction;

the first processing system monitoring the operation of the second processing system;

detecting a failure in operation of the second processing system using the first processing system; and

the first processing system at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction in response to detecting the failure.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first processing system comprises a first processing unit communicating with a first memory and the second processing system comprises a second processing unit communicating with a second memory.

11. The method according to claim 10, and comprising a third processing system which at least partly manages and performs a further operator interaction with the storage system, and wherein the third processing system comprises the second processing unit communicating with a third memory.

12. The method according to claim 10, and comprising a third processing system which at least partly manages and performs a further operator interaction with the storage system, and wherein the third processing system comprises a third processing unit communicating with the second memory.

13. The method according to claim 10, and comprising the second processing system at least partly managing and performing a further operator interaction with the storage system.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction comprises completely managing the operator interaction.

15. Apparatus for redundantly managing activity of a data storage system, comprising:

a first processing system which is adapted to at least partly manage and perform an operator interaction with the storage system; and

a second processing system which is adapted to monitor the first processing system, and in response to detecting a failure in operation of the first processing system, to at least partly manage and perform the operator interaction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction comprises performing an action wherein a response from the operator is intended.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and the second processing systems manage an input/output activity of the data storage system.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second processing system at least partly de-activates the first processing system in response to detecting the failure.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from booting the data storage system and shutting down the system.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from defining, modifying, and removing one of a software and a hardware element of the data storage system.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from reacting to and initiating a modification of a configuration of the data storage system.

22. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operator interaction comprises at least one activity chosen from changing a graphic user interface and an administration element of the data storage system.

23. The apparatus according to claim 15, and comprising:

the second processing system at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction;

the first processing system monitoring the operation of the second processing system;

the first processing system detecting a failure in operation of the second processing system; and

the first processing system at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction in response to detecting the failure.

24. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first processing system comprises a first processing unit communicating with a first memory and the second processing system comprises a second processing unit communicating with a second memory.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, and comprising a third processing system which at least partly manages and performs a further operator interaction with the storage system, and wherein the third processing system comprises the second processing unit communicating with a third memory.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, and comprising a third processing system which at least partly manages and performs a further operator interaction with the storage system, and wherein the third processing system comprises a third processing unit communicating with the second memory.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, and comprising the second processing system at least partly managing and performing a further operator interaction with the storage system.

28. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least partly managing and performing the operator interaction comprises completely managing the operator interaction.

29. A method for managing activity of a data storage system, comprising:

at least partly managing and performing an autonomous activity of the storage system using a first processing system;

monitoring operation of the first processing system using a second processing system;

detecting a failure in operation of the first processing system using the second processing system; and

at least partly managing and performing the autonomous activity using the second processing system in response to detecting the failure.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the storage system is operative according to a protocol, and wherein the autonomous activity is unrelated to the protocol.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the autonomous activity comprises at least one activity chosen from automatic shut-down of the data storage system, automatic re-configuration of a topology of the data storage system, periodic monitoring of parameters to be sent to an operator of the data storage system, and scheduling a launch of backup activity of the system.

32. Apparatus for managing activity of a data storage system, comprising:

a first processing system which is adapted to at least partly manage and perform an autonomous activity of the storage system; and

a second processing system which is adapted to monitor the first processing system, and in response to detecting a failure in operation of the first processing system, to at least partly manage and perform the autonomous activity.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the storage system is operative according to a protocol, and wherein the autonomous activity is unrelated to the protocol.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the autonomous activity comprises at least one activity chosen from automatic shut-down of the data storage system, automatic re-configuration of a topology of the data storage system, periodic monitoring of parameters to be sent to an operator of the data storage system, and scheduling a launch of backup activity of the system.