Disk array device

• US 8,438,348 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hosaka, Fumiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bragdon, Reginald
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNARD, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/155,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering

Abstract

In control of the disk array device (backup system), when a blackout occurs, the disk array device is first operated in a first method to backed up a main memory by using a power supply from a battery. During the first method, a blackout continuous time and the like are integrated, and at a timing in which the integrated value satisfies a condition, the first method is then shifted to the second method to evacuate data from the main memory onto a nonvolatile memory based on a power supply.

Claims

1. A disk array device, comprising:

a disk array;

a controller thereof;

a power supply unit for normal operation; and

a battery for backup,

the controller including a first memory storing first data for normal operation and a second memory for backup, the first memory comprising volatile memory and the second memory comprising nonvolatile memory,

wherein, during backup control of the first data at a time of an occurrence of a blackout and a return of power, a first mode in which the first data is retained based on power supplied from the battery to the first memory, and a second mode in which the first data of the first memory is evacuated onto the second memory based on power supplied from the battery to respective units and which waits for the return of power, are used,

wherein, upon a blackout occurring, the disk array device is suspended and first operates in the first mode with battery power, integrates a blackout continuous time during operation of the disk array device in the first mode, and shifts from the first mode to the second mode to operate in the second mode upon the blackout continuous time reaching a predetermined time period corresponding to the battery power and a configuration of the first and second memories,

wherein the disk array device includes a processing function for allowing a user to select and set a desired pattern from a first pattern, a second pattern, and a third pattern on a setting screen as a pattern of backup control,

wherein, in the first pattern, the blackout continuous time is integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing in which an integrated value based on the blackout continuous time reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode,

wherein, in the second pattern, a battery discharge amount is integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing in which an integrated value based on the battery discharge amount reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode, and

wherein, in the third pattern, the blackout continuous time and a battery discharge amount are integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing when an integrated value based on both of the blackout continuous time and the battery discharge amount reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode.

2. The disk array device according to claim 1, wherein after shifting to the second mode, upon the return of power, the data of the second memory is read out and restored onto the first memory to restart the system.

3. The disk array device according to claim 1, wherein during the third pattern of backup control, during the first mode, the blackout continuous time and the battery discharge amount are integrated, and at a timing in which a consumption amount or a remaining amount of the battery, recognized with the integrated value of the blackout continuous time and the battery discharge amount, reaches the predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode, and the predetermined value is a battery amount and a time corresponding thereto, which are set within a battery amount range from a first amount required for the evacuating operation and an a second amount obtained by subtracting an insufficient discharge amount from a capacity of the battery.

4. The disk array device according to claim 3, wherein the disk array device has a processing function for allowing the user to set the predetermined value on the setting screen.

5. The disk array device according to claim 1, wherein before or during backup control, the disk array device has a processing of checking a capacity and a remaining amount of the battery, and charging the battery to be in a fully charged state if the battery is not in the fully charged state.

6. The disk array device according to claim 1, wherein the disk array device has a processing function for allowing the user to set a threshold value with respect to the integrated value of the blackout continuous time on the setting screen.

7. The disk array device according to claim 1, wherein during the second pattern of backup control, upon the blackout occurring, the disk array device is first operated in the first mode until a consumption amount or a remaining amount of the battery recognized with the integrated value of the battery discharge amount reaches a battery amount obtained by subtracting an amount required for the evacuating operation and an insufficient discharge amount from a capacity of the battery.

8. The disk array device according to claim 7, wherein during backup control, the disk array device recognizes the configuration of the first and second memories including the first memory capacity, and recognizes the amount required for the evacuating operation in accordance with the first memory capacity to determine the timing at which the first mode is shifted to the second mode in accordance with the battery amount required for the evacuating operation.

9. A disk array device, comprising:

a disk array;

a controller thereof;

a power supply unit for normal operation; and

a battery for backup,

the controller including;

a first memory storing first data for normal operation and a second memory for backup, the first memory comprising volatile memory and the second memory comprising nonvolatile memory; and

a control microcomputer and a memory controller connected to the first and second memories, the power supply unit for normal operation and the battery,

wherein, during backup control of the first data at a time of an occurrence of a blackout and a return of power, the control microcomputer uses a first mode in which the first data is retained based on power supplied from the battery to the first memory, and a second mode in which the first data of the first memory is evacuated onto the second memory based on power supplied from the battery to respective units and which waits for the return of power,

wherein, upon a blackout occurring, the disk array device is suspended and first operates in the first, mode with battery power, integrates a blackout continuous time during operation of the disk array device in the first mode, and shifts from the first mode to the second mode to operate in the second mode upon the blackout continuous time reaching a predetermined time period corresponding to the battery power and a configuration of the first and second memories,

wherein the disk array device includes a processing function for allowing a user to select and set a desired pattern from a first pattern, a second pattern, and a third pattern on a setting screen as a pattern of backup control,

wherein, in the first pattern, the blackout continuous time is integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing in which an integrated value based on the blackout continuous time reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode,

wherein, in the second pattern, a battery discharge amount is integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing in which an integrated value based on the battery discharge amount reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode, and

wherein, in the third pattern, the blackout continuous time and a battery discharge amount are integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing when an integrated value based on both of the blackout continuous time and the battery discharge amount reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode.

10. The disk array device according to claim 9, wherein the control microcomputer performs detection of the occurrence of the blackout and the return of power based on a power supply from the power supply unit for normal operation;

integration of the blackout continuous time by a counter function;

recognition of a configuration of the first memory; and

control of the evacuating operation by reading out and writing the data with respect to the first and second memories using the memory controller.

11. The disk array device according to claim 10, further comprising a current amount detection circuit connected to the battery, wherein the control microcomputer integrates a discharge current amount of the battery using the current amount detection circuit, and recognizes a battery state with the integration.

12. The disk array device according to claim 10, wherein the disk array device has a processing function to perform a setting with respect to control of the shift through a higher processor connected to the control microcomputer.

13. A disk array device, comprising:

a disk array;

a controller thereof;

a power supply unit for normal operation; and

a battery for backup,

the controller having a package of a cache memory, and the package of the cache memory having;

a first memory storing first data for normal operation, the first memory comprising volatile memory; and

a control microcomputer and a memory controller connected to the first memory, the power supply unit for normal operation, and the battery,

wherein a second memory and the battery for backup are connected to or built in the package of the cache memory and the second memory comprises nonvolatile memory,

during backup control of the first data at a time of an occurrence of a blackout and a return of power, the control microcomputer uses a first mode in which the first data is retained based on power supplied from the battery to the first memory, and a second mode in which the first data of the first memory is evacuated onto the second memory based on power supplied from the battery to respective units and which waits for the return of power,

wherein, upon a blackout occurring, the disk array device is suspended and first operates in the first mode with battery power, integrates a blackout continuous time during operation of the disk array device in the first mode, and shifts from the first mode to the second mode to operate in the second mode upon the blackout continuous time reaching a predetermined time period corresponding to the battery power and a configuration of the first and second memories,

wherein the disk array device has a processing function for allowing a user to select and set a desired pattern from a first pattern, a second pattern, and a third pattern on a setting screen as a pattern of backup control,

wherein, in the first pattern, the blackout continuous time is integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing in which an integrated value based on the blackout continuous time reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode,

wherein, in the second pattern, a battery discharge amount is integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing in which an integrated value based on the battery discharge amount reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode, and

wherein, in the third pattern, the blackout continuous time and a battery discharge amount are integrated during the first mode, and, at a timing when an integrated value based on both of the blackout continuous time and the battery discharge amount reaches a corresponding predetermined value, the first mode is shifted to the second mode.