Storage subsystem that connects fibre channel and supports online backup

• US 8,234,449 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Yoshiko, Takamoto, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): BATAILLE, PIERRE MICHE
• Application Number:
  US13/004,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20110107029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 711/112, 711/114, 711/154, 711/167, 711/156, 711/E12.001
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

The storage system includes first and second disk arrays. The first disk array has a first port coupled to a second port of the second disk array, a port controller controlling the first port, a plurality of disk devices to store data, and a controller managing a plurality of logical units on the plurality of disk drives. The first port controller controls the first port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to a initiator task and data transfer corresponding to a target task. The initiator task is generated to execute the data transfer from a first logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the first disk array to a second logical unit on a plurality of disk drives of the second disk array. The target task is generated to execute the data transfer to receive data from the second disk array.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a first disk array; and

a second disk array,

the first disk array comprising;

a first port being coupled to a second port of the second disk array;

a first port controller controlling the first port;

a plurality of disk devices to store data; and

a controller managing a plurality of logical units on the plurality of disk drives,

wherein the first port controller controls the first port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to an initiator task and data transfer corresponding to a target task, the initiator task is generated by the first port controller to execute the data transfer between the first disk array and the second disk array when the controller of the first disk array sends an access request to the second disk array, the target task is generated by the first port controller to execute the data transfer between the first disk array and the second disk array when the first port controller receives an access request from the second disk array.

2. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

3. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

4. A storage system according to claim 1,

wherein the data transfer is executed between a first logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the first disk array and a second logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the second disk array.

5. A disk array coupled to a plurality of other devices comprising:

a port being coupled to the plurality of other devices via network;

a port controller controlling the port;

a plurality of disk devices to store data; and

a controller managing a plurality of logical unit on the plurality of disk drives,

wherein the port controller controls the port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to a target task and data transfer corresponding to an initiator task, the target task is generated by the port controller to execute the data transfer between the disk array and a first other device when the port controller receives an access request from the first other device, the initiator task is generated by the port controller to execute the data transfer between the disk array and a second other device when the controller sends an access request to the second other device.

6. A disk array according to claim 5,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

7. A disk array according to claim 5,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

8. A disk array according to claim 5,

wherein the data transfer corresponding to the target task is executed between a first logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the disk array and a second logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the second other device.

9. A disk array according to claim 5,

wherein the first other device is a host computer, and the second other device is another storage system.

10. A first disk array of a storage system having the first disk array and a second disk array, comprising:

a first port being coupled to a second port of the second disk array;

a first port controller controlling the first port;

a plurality of disk devices to store data; and

a controller managing a plurality of logical units on the plurality of disk drives, wherein the first port controller controls the first port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to an initiator task and data transfer corresponding to a target task, the initiator task is generated by the first port controller to execute the data transfer between the first disk array and the second disk array when the controller of the first disk array sends an access request to the second disk array, the target task is generated by the first port controller to execute the data transfer between the first disk array and the second disk array when the first port controller receives an access request from the second disk array.

11. A first disk array according to claim 10,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

12. A first disk array according to claim 10,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

13. A control method of a storage system having a first disk array and a second disk array, wherein the first disk array comprising:

a first port being coupled to a second port of the second disk array;

a first port controller controlling the first port;

a plurality of disk devices to store data; and

a controller managing a plurality of logical units on the plurality of disk drives, the method comprising;

generating, by the first port controller, an initiator task to execute data transfer between the first disk array and the second disk array when the controller of the first disk array sends an access request to the second disk array;

generating, by the first port controller, a target task to execute the data transfer between the first disk array and the second disk array when the first port controller receives an access request from the second disk array; and

controlling the first port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to the initiator task and data transfer corresponding to the target task.

14. A control method according to claim 13,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the initiator task.

15. A control method according to claim 13,

wherein sending and receiving data are executed corresponding to the target task.

16. A control method according to claim 13,

wherein the data transfer is executed between a first logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the first disk array and a second logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the second disk array.