Storage system, data backup method, and system restarting method of a storage system incorporating volatile and nonvolatile memory devices

• US 8,707,096 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sekino, Yuta, Nakayama, Shinichi, Yagisawa, Ikuya, Nishimoto, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUDIRKA, JOSEPH R
• Application Number:
  US13/265,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 714/6.3, 714/14, 714/22
• US Class Current: 714/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1658 Data re-synchronization of a redundant component, or initial sync of replacement, additional or spare unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2015 Redundant power supplies power supply failure G06F1/30

Abstract

In a storage system for performing data backup using a battery during blackout, when the blackout continues for a long time, problems such as the loss of volatile memory data due to the consumption of battery capacity and the difference in recovery time between controller units after power recovery occur during restarting of the system. The present invention solves the problems by selecting (a1) battery backup or (a2) saving of data in a nonvolatile device based on the battery capacity or setting of modes, and selecting (b1) inhibiting restart of the system or (b2) storing of data in the volatile memory to a nonvolatile memory means and performing access via write-through based on the remaining capacity of the battery when restarting the system after power recovery. Further, the system enables to increase and decrease the volatile memory capacity of the write area and mutually confirms synchronization of controller units and contents of volatile memories. Thereby, the system enables to prevent data loss and inconsistency of data.

Claims

1. A storage system coupled to a computer or a management computer, the storage system comprising one or more controller units, one or more power supply units, one or more battery units, and a drive unit having a plurality of nonvolatile devices the one or more controller units comprising:

a control unit;

a volatile memory; and

a nonvolatile memory device,

the one or more power supply units being coupled to the one or more battery units and including an external power input unit and a power supply control unit,

wherein the volatile memory includes a read data storage area for storing read data read from a plurality of nonvolatile devices, and a write data storage area for storing write data written from the computer, and when the storage system selects to retain data stored in the volatile memory, a capacity of the write data storage area of the volatile memory is increased or decreased based on a capacity of a battery, wherein, when a power supply from an exterior is interrupted, the one or more controller units determine content of interruption of the power supply from the exterior, and based on a determination result and a data backup mode information set via the management computer, select whether to continue retaining the data stored in the volatile memory or to store the data in the nonvolatile memory device and retain the data therein, and

wherein a selection is made as to whether to inhibit restarting of the storage system or to restart the storage system and select a write-through mode for write access to the volatile memory when the power supply from the exterior is resumed.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein when the storage system selects to retain the data stored in the volatile memory, the storage system further selects whether to keep the data stored in the volatile memory or to store and retain the data in the nonvolatile memory device based on a capacity of the battery.

3. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the data is composed of a management information, data and a user data.

4. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein when the storage system selects to retain data in the volatile memory, a total capacity of the volatile memory is increased or decreased based on the capacity of the battery.

5. The storage system according to claim 4, wherein a mode for writing data to the write data storage area of the volatile memory is selected between a write-back mode and a write-through mode based on the capacity of the battery.

6. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein after inhibiting restarting of the storage system or after restarting the storage system, a remaining battery capacity is monitored, and when the remaining battery capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold, restarting of the storage system is started or the mode of write access to the volatile memory is changed from the write-through mode to the write-back mode.

7. The storage system according to claim 6, wherein during restarting of the storage system after the power supply from the exterior is resumed, the following steps are performed:

(1) migrating data from the nonvolatile memory device to the volatile memory;

(2) confirming data consistency by comparing data in the nonvolatile memory device and the data migrated to the volatile memory;

(3) after confirming consistency, deleting the data in the nonvolatile memory device;

(4) storing management information data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory device;

(5) shifting the storage system to a normal state; and

(6) storing user data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory device and deleting the user data in the volatile memory.

8. The storage system according to claim 7, wherein during restarting of the storage system after the power supply from the exterior is resumed, the following steps are additionally performed:

(7) checking synchronization of controller units; and

(8) mutually checking contents of data stored in volatile memories of the controller units and matching the data.

9. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein the remaining capacity of the battery, a backup available time, and a total capacity or the write data storage area capacity of the volatile memory are displayed, and settings of a data backup mode, the backup available time, the write data storage area capacity of the volatile memory, and settings of the restart mode of the storage system or a threshold of the capacity of the battery are performed via the management computer.

10. The storage system according to claim 6, wherein during restarting of the storage system after the power supply from the exterior is resumed, the following steps are performed:

(1) migrating data from the nonvolatile memory device to the volatile memory;

(2) confirming data consistency by comparing data in the nonvolatile memory device and the data migrated to the volatile memory;

(3) after confirming consistency, storing management information data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory device;

(4) storing user data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory device and deleting the user data in the volatile memory; and

(5) deleting management information data from the volatile memory.

11. The storage system according to claim 10, wherein during restarting of the storage system after the power supply from the exterior is resumed, the following steps are additionally performed:

(6) checking synchronization of control units; and

(7) mutually checking contents of data stored in volatile memories of the control units and matching the data.

12. The storage system according to claim 11, wherein the remaining capacity of the battery, a backup available time, and a total capacity or the write data storage area capacity of the volatile memory are displayed, and settings of a data backup mode, the backup available time, the write data storage area capacity of the volatile memory, and settings of the restart mode of the storage system or a threshold of the capacity of the battery are performed via the management computer.

13. A data backup method of a storage system coupled to a computer and a management computer, the storage system comprising:

a controller unit comprising a control unit, a volatile memory, and a nonvolatile memory device;

a power supply unit comprising an external power input unit and a power supply control unit;

a battery unit; and

a drive unit comprising a plurality of nonvolatile devices, the method comprising;

detecting interruption of a power supply from an exterior;

determining contents of the interruption of the power supply from the exterior;

acquiring a backup mode information set via the management computer; and

selecting whether to continue retaining data stored in the volatile memory in the volatile memory or to store the data in the nonvolatile memory device and retain the data therein based on a determination result and the backup mode information set,

wherein the volatile memory includes a read data storage area for storing read data read from a plurality of nonvolatile devices, and a write data storage area for storing write data written from the computer, and when the storage system selects to retain data stored in the volatile memory, a capacity of the write data storage area of the volatile memory is increased or decreased based on a capacity of the battery, and

wherein a selection is made as to whether to inhibit restarting of the storage system or to restart the storage system and select a write-through mode for write access to the volatile memory when the power supply from the exterior is resumed.

14. A system restarting method of a storage system coupled to a computer or a management computer, the storage system comprising:

a controller unit comprising a control unit, a volatile memory, and a nonvolatile memory device;

a power supply unit comprising an external power input unit and a power supply control unit;

a battery unit; and

a drive unit comprising a plurality of nonvolatile devices, the method comprising;

detecting interruption of a power supply from an exterior;

determining contents of the interruption of the power supply from the exterior;

acquiring a backup mode information set via the management computer;

selecting whether to continue retaining data stored in the volatile memory in the volatile memory or to store the data in the nonvolatile memory device and retain the data therein based on a determination result and the backup mode information set;

detecting resumption of the power supply from the exterior;

checking stored data in the nonvolatile memory device;

storing the stored data in the nonvolatile memory device into the volatile memory and the nonvolatile memory device;

confirming synchronization of control units;

mutually confirming contents of data in volatile memories of the control units; and

matching the contents of the data in the volatile memories,

wherein the volatile memory includes a read data storage area for storing read data read from a plurality of nonvolatile devices, and a write data storage area for storing write data written from the computer, and when the storage system selects to retain data stored in the volatile memory, a capacity of the write data storage area of the volatile memory is increased or decreased based on a capacity of a battery, and

wherein a selection is made as to whether to inhibit restarting of the storage system or to restart the storage system and select a write-through mode for write access to the volatile memory when the power supply from the exterior is resumed.

15. The method for restarting the storage system according to claim 14, wherein storing the stored data in the nonvolatile memory device into the volatile memory and the nonvolatile memory device comprises:

(1) migrating data from the nonvolatile memory device to the volatile memory;

(2) confirming data consistency by comparing data in the nonvolatile memory device and the data migrated to the volatile memory;

(3) deleting the data in the nonvolatile memory device after confirming consistency;

(4) storing management information data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory device;

(5) shifting the storage system to a normal state; and

(6) storing user data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory device and deleting the user data in the volatile memory.

16. The method for restarting the storage system according to claim 14, wherein storing the stored data in the nonvolatile memory device into the volatile memory and the nonvolatile memory device comprises:

(1) migrating data from the nonvolatile memory device to the volatile memory;

(2) confirming data consistency by comparing data in the nonvolatile memory device and the data migrated to the volatile memory;

(3) storing the management information data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile device after confirming consistency;

(4) storing user data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile device and deleting the user data in the volatile memory; and

(5) deleting management information data from the volatile memory.