Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080229039 | Dual Writing Device and Its Control Method - A first storage system misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of a volume and provides the host computer with a first volume. A second storage system misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of a second volume as being identical to those misrepresented by the first storage system and provides the host computer with a second volume. A management computer acquires, upon detection of a failure in an access, a status of copying, a status of the first storage system, and a status of the second storage system and controls an access from the host computer with reference to the plurality of acquired statuses. Accordingly, even when a fault occurs in one of the two storage systems, a network that connects the two storage systems, or the like, the host computer can access to latest data. | 09-18-2008 |
20080270695 | Storage system and method of managing the same - A storage system includes a plurality of storage apparatuses respectively connected to a host apparatus via a network. A disk controller of each storage apparatus has DKC identifying information for recognizing itself, a logical device identifier created based thereon, and a virtual/logical device identifier set containing a real/logical device identifier and a virtual/logical device identifier. The storage apparatus defined with a pair relationship creates a virtual/logical device identifier set of a mirrored image relationship by replacing its own real/logical device identifier and using it as its own virtual/logical device identifier. | 10-30-2008 |
20080301777 | Hot standby server system - A server system has servers that can be operated through switching as a primary system and a standby system, and a shared disk unit for storing data accessed by the servers. Each of the servers has a driver that acquires information on a configuration inside the shared disk unit after starting of the system. The driver sets the shared disk unit in an active state in which an access request can be sent to the shared disk unit. Access control determines whether the access request issued by an application should be sent on the basis of a management table indicating inhibited types of access requests for each access destination. The access control sends the access request to the driver when the access request is not inhibited for an access destination of the access request. By this arrangement, hot standby switching processing can be performed at high speed. | 12-04-2008 |
20090024815 | REMOTE COPY SYSTEM - A remote copy system includes a plurality of first storage systems and a plurality of second storage systems. Each first storage system assigns a sequential number to write data received from the host and sends the write data with the sequential number to the second storage system. One of the first storage systems defers the processing of the write request received from the host and instructs each of the first storage systems to create a marker, whereupon each of the first storage systems defers the processing of the write request, creates a marker including a sequential number and having a marker number, and sends the marker to the second storage system. Each of the second storage systems, when receiving a marker from the first storage system, stores the marker number included in the marker. One of the second storage systems reads the marker number stored by each of the second storage systems and reports to each of the second storage systems the marker number of smallest value of the marker numbers which were thus read. Each of the second storage systems writes to a logical volume in sequential number order write data, of the write data received from the first storage system, that includes a sequential number of a value smaller than the sequential number of the marker including the marker number reported from one of the second storage systems. | 01-22-2009 |
20090125680 | Storage System for Restoring Data Stored in Failed Storage Device - The present invention maintains mapping information denoting which real areas have been allocated to which virtual areas for a virtual volume, the capacity of which is dynamically expanded. The present invention also maintains real area management information denoting which real areas have been allocated to which virtual areas. The real area management information is referenced to determine whether or not a low-reliability real area, which is a real area for which reliability has been lowered by the occurrence of a failure in a certain physical storage device, and which belongs to a RAID group comprising this certain physical storage device, has been allocated to a virtual area. A data restore process is not carried out for a low-reliability real area that has not been allocated to a virtual area, but a data restore process is carried out for a low-reliability real area that has been allocated to a virtual area. | 05-14-2009 |
20090187722 | Computer System Storing Data on Multiple Storage Systems - During the normal operation state of a computer system | 07-23-2009 |
20090271582 | Information System and I/O Processing Method - First and second storage apparatuses respectively and internally set a remote copy pair for copying data of a first volume to a second volume and associate a third volume with a remote copy pair according to an external command. When an I/O request to the first volume ends in an error, a host computer sends an I/O request directed to the second volume to the second storage apparatus. If the first and the second storage apparatuses detect a failure in the first or the second storage apparatus of the other side or a connection failure between the first and the second storage apparatuses, the first and the second storage apparatuses store in the third volume a failure information flag showing that the failure was detected. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276661 | STORAGE SYSTEM CREATING A RECOVERY REQUEST POINT ENABLING EXECUTION OF A RECOVERY - A switch connected to a network system including a computer and a storage apparatus: controlling read/write request from the computer to the storage apparatus and controlling to store journal data in the storage apparatus; wherein the storage apparatus includes a first storage area for storing data to be used by the computer and a second storage area for storing journal data including write data and first update log information corresponding to the write data when there is a write request from the computer for writing data in the first storage area; wherein when the switch detects an event of status change related to the network system, the switch marks a first point of time corresponding to the event as a recovery request point, and creates second update log information corresponding to the recovery request point. | 11-05-2009 |
20100049933 | REMOTE COPY SYSTEM - Even when a host does not give a write time to write data, consistency can be kept among data stored in secondary storage systems. The present system has plural primary storage systems each having a source volume and plural secondary storage systems each having a target volume. Once data is received from a host, each of the plural storage systems creates write-data management information having sequential numbers and reference information and sends, to one of the primary storage systems, the data, sequential number and reference information. Each of the secondary storage systems records reference information corresponding to the largest sequential number among serial sequential numbers and stores, in a target volume in an order of sequential numbers, data corresponding to reference information having a value smaller than the reference information based on the smallest value reference information among reference information recorded in each of the plural secondary storage systems. | 02-25-2010 |
20100191864 | Message conversion method and message conversion system - A message given with an electronic signature is modified, for example, by adding or deleting data to or from the message, while keeping validity of the electronic signature. A conversion information insertion unit | 07-29-2010 |
20100205479 | INFORMATION SYSTEM, DATA TRANSFER METHOD AND DATA PROTECTION METHOD - Availability of an information system including a storage system that performs remote copy between two or more storage apparatuses and a host computer using such storage system is improved. A third storage apparatus including a third volume is coupled to a first storage apparatus, a fourth storage apparatus including a fourth volume is coupled to a second storage apparatus, the first and third storage apparatuses perform remote copy of copying data stored in a first volume to the third volume, the first and second storage apparatuses perform remote copy of copying data stored in the first volume to a second volume, and the third and fourth storage apparatuses perform remote copy of copying data stored in the third volume to the fourth volume. | 08-12-2010 |
20100281229 | Computer System Storing Data On Multiple Storage Systems - During the normal operation state of a computer system | 11-04-2010 |
20100313068 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD - Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a computer is improved. First and second storage apparatuses execute remote copy of copying data written into a first primary volume from the computer to a second primary volume, at least one of the first and second storage apparatuses executes local copy of copying the data written into the first or second primary volume in a self-storage apparatus to the corresponding first or second secondary volume, and the computer switches the destination of a write request of the data from the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus. | 12-09-2010 |
20110078397 | REMOTE COPY SYSTEM - Even when a host does not give a write time to write data, consistency can be kept among data stored in secondary storage systems. The present system has plural primary storage systems each having a source volume and plural secondary storage systems each having a target volume. Once data is received from a host, each of the plural storage systems creates write-data management information having sequential numbers and reference information and sends, to one of the primary storage systems, the data, sequential number and reference information. Each of the secondary storage systems records reference information corresponding to the larges sequential number among serial sequential numbers and stores, in a target volume in an order of sequential numbers, data corresponding to reference information having a value smaller than the reference information based on the smallest value reference information among reference information recorded in each of the plural secondary storage systems. | 03-31-2011 |
20110154102 | INFORMATION SYSTEM, DATA TRANSFER METHOD AND DATA PROTECTION METHOD - Availability of an information system including a storage system that performs remote copy between two or more storage apparatuses and a host computer using such storage system is improved. A third storage apparatus including a third volume is coupled to a first storage apparatus, a fourth storage apparatus including a fourth volume is coupled to a second storage apparatus, the first and third storage apparatuses perform remote copy of copying data stored in a first volume to the third volume, the first and second storage apparatuses perform remote copy of copying data stored in the first volume to a second volume, and the third and fourth storage apparatuses perform remote copy of copying data stored in the third volume to the fourth volume. | 06-23-2011 |
20110167294 | STORAGE SYSTEM FOR RESTORING DATA STORED IN FAILED STORAGE DEVICE - A storage system including: a controller; and, a plurality of physical storage devices coupled to the controller and constituting a RAID group; wherein the controller provides one or more logical volumes belonging to the RAID group, each of the one or more logical volumes having a plurality of storage areas; one or more virtual volumes, wherein, when receiving a write request to a virtual volume of the one or more virtual volumes, the controller allocates a storage area in a logical volume to the virtual volume; and writes data to the allocated storage area, wherein, when a physical storage device of the plurality of physical storage devices fails, the controller selectively performs a RAID restore process to a storage area allocated to a virtual volume. | 07-07-2011 |
20110219189 | STORAGE SYSTEM AND REMOTE COPY CONTROL METHOD FOR STORAGE SYSTEM - A storage system maintains consistency of the stored contents between volumes even when a plurality of remote copying operations are executed asynchronously. A plurality of primary storage control devices and a plurality of secondary storage control devices are connected by a plurality of paths, and remote copying is performed asynchronously between respective first volumes and second volumes. Write data transferred from the primary storage control device to the secondary storage control device is held in a write data storage portion. Update order information, including write times and sequential numbers, is managed by update order information management portions. An update control portion collects update order information from each update order information management portion, determines the time at which update of each second volume is possible, and notifies each-update portion. By this means, the stored contents of each second volume can be updated up to the time at which update is possible. | 09-08-2011 |
20110246731 | BACKUP SYSTEM AND BACKUP METHOD - Provided are a backup system and a backup method for backing up data written by a host into a logical volume provided by a storage system, wherein an update location in the logical volume updated by the host is managed, and the storage system is controlled to selectively back up the data written into the update location in the logical volume based on the management result of the update location. It is thereby possible to ensure a fast data read speed in the backup of raw volumes and an easy multiplatform backup, whereby a backup system and a backup method capable of performing backup efficiently are realized. | 10-06-2011 |
20110302447 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD - Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a computer is improved. First and second storage apparatuses execute remote copy of copying data written into a first primary volume from the computer to a second primary volume, at least one of the first and second storage apparatuses executes local copy of copying the data written into the first or second primary volume in a self-storage apparatus to the corresponding first or second secondary volume, and the computer switches the destination of a write request of the data from the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus. | 12-08-2011 |
20120017058 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING STATUS THEREOF - There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses. | 01-19-2012 |
20120060051 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND I/O PROCESSING METHOD - An information system including: a first and second storage apparatus including a first and second volume; a failure detection storage apparatus including a third volume; wherein, for backup purposes, the first and second volumes form a remote copy pair, and, for I/O request purposes, are recognized as a single volume labeled with a same volume identifier, but accessible by alternative access paths designated with differing priorities; wherein, if one apparatus detects a failure in the other or a connection failure, the apparatus detecting the failure stores, in the third volume, a failure information flag showing failure; wherein, upon receiving the I/O request through the second access path, the second storage apparatus determines whether the failure information flag is stored in the third volume, and sends an error reply of the I/O request to the host computer if the failure information flag is stored in the third volume. | 03-08-2012 |
20120131298 | REMOTE COPY SYSTEM - Even when a host does not give a write time to write data, consistency can be kept among data stored in secondary storage systems. The present system has plural primary storage systems each having a source volume and plural secondary storage systems each having a target volume. Once data is received from a host, each of the plural storage systems creates write-data management information having sequential numbers and reference information and sends, to one of the primary storage systems, the data, sequential number and reference information. Each of the secondary storage systems records reference information corresponding to the larges sequential number among serial sequential numbers and stores, in a target volume in an order of sequential numbers, data corresponding to reference information having a value smaller than the reference information based on the smallest value reference information among reference information recorded in each of the plural secondary storage systems. | 05-24-2012 |
20120191652 | REMOTE COPY SYSTEM - In a system in which data employed by a computer is stored in a storage system, the storage system transfers this data to another storage system and a copy of the data is maintained in the other storage system. The consistency of the copy is maintained even when data is written, to the storage system by a computer, without having a write time applied. A source storage system, when a write time is applied to a write request, records the write time and applies this write time to the received write data and, when no write time is applied, applies the recorded write time to the received write data and transfers the write data with this write time applied thereto, to a target storage system. The target storage system stores the write data in a logical volume in the target storage system in accordance with the write time. | 07-26-2012 |
20120246429 | STORAGE SYSTEM AND REMOTE COPY CONTROL METHOD FOR STORAGE SYSTEM - A storage system for managing a plurality of asynchronous remote copy proceedings between a plurality of first storage control devices and a plurality of second storage control devices, wherein each of a plurality of second storage control devices stores one or more update data corresponding to one or more update data related information including the same update reflection time information with the one that is received or older update reflection time information than this in a one or more second logical volume and changes status of the one or more second logical volumes to suspend status. | 09-27-2012 |
20120297157 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD OF INFORMATION SYSTEM - Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a host computer is improved. A host system includes a first storage apparatus provided with a first volume for storing data, and a second storage apparatus for storing the data sent from the first storage apparatus. In case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus, the host sends the data to be sent to the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus. | 11-22-2012 |
20120317373 | STORAGE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING STORAGE APPARATUS - Efficient data processing is implemented by using the functions of an external storage apparatus which is connected to the virtual storage apparatus. | 12-13-2012 |
20130073805 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING STATUS THEREOF - There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses. | 03-21-2013 |
20130086349 | COMPUTER SYSTEM - A computer system includes: a first storage apparatus; a second storage apparatus; a first volume of the first storage apparatus; and a second volume of the second storage apparatus; wherein the first volume and the second volume have a copy pair relationship and a host system recognizes the second volume as the same volume as the first volume; and wherein the first storage apparatus sends reservation information of the first volume to the second storage apparatus; and the second storage apparatus controls access from the host system on the basis of the received reservation information. | 04-04-2013 |
20130132767 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND I/O PROCESSING METHOD - Information system, including: first and second storage apparatuses connected to a host computer and including volumes designated by a common volume identifier, but being accessible via differing paths of differing priorities. A failure detection storage apparatus connected to the storage apparatuses includes a third volume. Any I/O request designating the common volume identifier, is first sent to the first volume though the first access path, but upon error is then sent to the second volume thorough the second access path. The first or second storage apparatus detecting failure stores, in the third volume, a failure information flag. Upon receiving an I/O request through the second access path, the second storage apparatus determines whether the failure information flag is stored in the third volume, and sends an error reply of the I/O request to the host computer if the failure information flag is stored in the third volume. | 05-23-2013 |
20130326139 | STORAGE SYSTEM FOR RESTORING DATA STORED IN FAILED STORAGE DEVICE - A storage system including: a controller; and, a plurality of physical storage devices coupled to the controller and constituting a RAID group; wherein the controller provides one or more logical volumes belonging to the RAID group, each of the one or more logical volumes having a plurality of storage areas; and one or more virtual volumes, wherein, when receiving a write request to a virtual volume of the one or more virtual volumes, the controller is configured to: allocate a storage area in a logical volume to the virtual volume, as an allocated storage area, where reliability of the storage area is used as a criterion in a selection of the storage area for allocation to the virtual volume; and write data to the allocated storage area, wherein, the controller is configured to selectively perform a RAID allocation process to a storage area allocated to a virtual volume. | 12-05-2013 |
20140032838 | COMPUTER SYSTEM, DATA MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND DATA MANAGEMENT METHOD - A data management apparatus of a computer system comprises, as a retention rule for volume data, change-time identification information for identifying a point-in-time for changing a logical unit, and migration-destination unit specification information for specifying a migration-destination logical unit. An edge storage apparatus stores first identification information, which enables the identification of volume data in a logical unit, and second identification information, which enables the identification of a logical unit in a storage system after associating the first identification information and the second identification information with each other. A data management apparatus (A1) transfers the volume data from a migration-source logical unit to the migration-destination logical unit conforming to the migration-destination unit specification information subsequent to a point-in-time identified in accordance with the change-time identification information. The edge storage apparatus (B1) associates the second identification information, which enables the identification of the migration-destination logical unit, with the first identification information, and stores the associated information in a storage device. | 01-30-2014 |
20140237179 | INFORMATION SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD OF INFORMATION SYSTEM - Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a host computer is improved. A host system includes a first storage apparatus provided with a first volume for storing data, and a second storage apparatus for storing the data sent from the first storage apparatus. In case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus, the host sends the data to be sent to the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus. The same identification number is used by the host computer for accessing data stored in the first volume via a first virtual volume and for accessing data stored in a second volume of the second storage system via a second virtual volume. | 08-21-2014 |