Storage switch system, storage switch method, management server, management method, and management program

• US 20070174659A1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Masuda, Kouji, Takamoto, Yoshifumi, Takuwa, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2025 using centralised failover control functionality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2046 where the redundant components share persistent storage G06F11/2043 takes precedence

Abstract

When a failure is detected in a server currently being used, a management server changes the network topology for the server currently being used and another server which substitutes the server. Then, the management server instructs the network SW with the changed network topology so as to cause the network SW to set the network topology logically. In addition, the management server instructs a disk array unit to control accesses from the other server to the disk in accordance with the server where the failure is detected.

Claims

1. A storage switch system including a storage unit, a switch which logically sets a network topology between the storage unit and a plurality of computers, and a management server which communicates with the switch and the storage unit, wherein

the storage unit comprises one or more disks and a controller which controls accesses to the disks corresponding to each of the computers, wherein

the management server comprises a memory and a processor, wherein

the memory holds the network topology which is set by the switch, wherein

when a failure is detected in one of the computers currently being used, the processor of the management server refers to the memory to change the network topology for the computer where the failure is detected and another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected, and instructs the switch with the changed network topology so as to cause the switch to logically set the changed network topology, and wherein

the controller of the storage unit controls accesses from the another computer to the disks in accordance with the computer where the failure is detected.

2. A storage switch method to switch a storage unit using a computer system which comprises a storage unit, a switch which logically sets a network topology between the storage unit and a plurality of computers, and a management server which communicates with the switch and the storage unit, wherein

the storage unit comprises one or more disks and a controller which controls accesses to the disks corresponding to each of the computers, wherein

the management server comprises a memory and a processor, and wherein

the memory holds the network topology which is set by the switch, comprising steps of:

when a failure is detected in one of the computers currently being used, the processor of the management server referring to the memory to change the network topology for the computer where the failure is detected and another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected, and instructing the switch with the changed network topology so as to cause the switch to logically set the changed network topology; and

the controller of the storage unit controlling accesses from the another computer to the disks corresponding to the computer where the failure is detected.

10. A management program which performs a storage switch method as claimed in claim 2.

3. A management server which communicates with a plurality of computers connected to a storage unit by a network through a switch, wherein

the management server comprises a memory and a processor, wherein

the memory holds a network topology which is set by the switch, and wherein

when a failure is detected in one of the computers currently being used, the processor of the management server refers to the memory to change the network topology for the computer where the failure is detected and another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected, instructs the switch with the changed network topology so as to cause the switch to logically set the changed network topology, and instructs the storage unit to control accesses from the another computer to the disks corresponding to the computer where the failure is detected.

4. A management server as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the memory further holds current statuses of the computers, and wherein

the processor refers to the current statuses of the computers in the memory to search for a computer whose current status indicates a reserve as the another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected.

5. A management method used in a management server which communicates with a plurality of computers connected to a storage unit by a network through a switch, wherein

the management server comprises a memory and a processor, and wherein

the memory holds a network topology which is set by the switch, comprising steps of:

when a failure is detected in one of the computers currently being used, the processor of the management server referring to the memory to change the network topology for the computer where the failure is detected and another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected, and instructing the switch with the changed network topology so as to cause the switch to logically set the changed network topology; and

the processor of the management server instructing the storage unit to control accesses from the another computer to the disks corresponding to the computer where the failure is detected.

6. A management method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a step wherein

the memory further holds current statuses of the computers, and wherein

the processor refers to the current statuses of the computers in the memory to search for a computer whose current status indicates a reserve as the another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected.

7. A management method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a step of

specifying at least identifiers of the computers, an identifier of the switch, and port numbers of the switch, and identifying information of the network for the network topology which is held by the memory.

8. A management method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step wherein

the processor receives an IP address sent from the computer where the failure is detected and the IP address is changed to an IP address which is an identifier of the another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected.

9. A management method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a step of

using a device which supports VLAN, or a router for the switch.

11. A management program which performs a management method as claimed in claim 5.

12. A management program which performs a management method as claimed in claim 6.

13. A management program which performs a management method as claimed in claim 7.

14. A management program which performs a management method as claimed in claim 8.

15. A management program which performs a management method as claimed in claim 9.