virtual storage system and control method thereof
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsAi Satoyama, Yoshiaki Eguchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A virtual storage system is equipped with a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization device for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer. When one of the storage systems receives a command from the host computer, in the event that the storage system itself is not in possession of a function corresponding to the command, the storage system retrieves a storage system in possession of a function corresponding to the command and transfers this command to the storage system in possession of the function corresponding to the command.
Claims20
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer, comprising:
- a storage section for storing a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- a retrieval section for retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems;
- and
- a transfer section for transferring the commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer,
- each storage system comprising:
- a storage section for storing a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- a retrieval section for retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems in the event of not being in possession of function corresponding to the commands received from the host computer itself;
- and
- a transfer section for transferring the commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems, a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer, and a management device for managing the plurality of storage systems,
- each storage system comprising:
- an interrogation section for interrogating the management device as to which of the storage systems are storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands in the event of a storage system not being in possession of functions corresponding to the commands received from the host computer itself;
- and
- a transfer section for receiving a response to the interrogation and transferring the commands to storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands,
- the management device comprising:
- a storage section for storing a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- and
- a retrieval section for retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems in response to the interrogation and responding with the retrieval results.
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems, a host computer, and a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to the host computer,
- the host computer comprising:
- a storage section for storing a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- a retrieval section for retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems;
- and
- an issuing section for issuing the commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer,
- the virtualization layer comprising:
- a storage section for storing a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- a retrieval section for receiving commands issued by the host computer and retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems;
- and
- a transfer section for transferring the commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems, a host computer, and a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to the host computer,
- each storage system comprising:
- a storage section for storing a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- a retrieval section for retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems in the event of a storage system not being in possession of functions corresponding to the commands received from the host computer itself;
- and
- an instructing section for instructing the host computer of re-issuing of the commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A virtual storage system having a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization layer for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer, comprising:
- a storage section for storing specification information for each storage system;
- a retrieval section for retrieving storage systems of high specifications from within the plurality of storage systems;
- and
- a transfer section for transferring commands issued by the host computer to storage systems of high specification.
A method for controlling a virtual storage system comprising the steps of:
- receiving a command from a host computer at one of a plurality of storage systems virtualized logically into a single storage resource;
- retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems based on a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions in the event of a storage system not being in possession of functions corresponding to the commands received from the host computer itself;
- and
- transferring the commands to a storage system in possession of the functions corresponding to the command.
A method for controlling a virtual storage system comprising the steps of:
- receiving a command from a host computer at any of a plurality of storage systems virtualized logically into a single storage resource;
- interrogating the management device as which of the storage systems is in possession of functions corresponding to the commands in the event of a storage system not being in possession of functions corresponding to the commands received from the host computer itself;
- the management device, in response to the interrogation, retrieving a storage system in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems based on a corresponding relationship between functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- and
- the storage system receiving a response to the interrogation and transferring the commands to the storage system in possession of functions corresponding to the commands.
A method for controlling a virtual storage system comprising the steps of:
- retrieving which storage systems, of a plurality of storage systems virtualized logically into a single storage resource, are in possession of functions corresponding to commands, based on a corresponding relationship between functions corresponding to the commands and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- and
- issuing commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A method for controlling a virtual storage system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving commands issued by a host computer:
- retrieving which storage systems, of a plurality of storage systems virtualized logically into a single storage resource, are in possession of functions corresponding to commands, based on a corresponding relationship between functions corresponding to the commands and storage systems in possession of the functions;
- and
- transferring commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
A method for controlling a virtual storage system comprising the steps of:
- receiving commands from a host computer at one of a plurality of storage systems virtualized logically into a single storage resource;
- retrieving storage systems in possession of functions corresponding to the commands from the plurality of storage systems based on a corresponding relationship between commands issued by the host computer, functions corresponding to the commands, and storage systems in possession of the functions in the event of a storage system not being in possession of functions corresponding to the commands received from the host computer itself;
- and
- instructing the host computer of re-issuing of the commands to the storage systems in possession of the functions corresponding to the commands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.