US 2013/0097458 A1 · STORAGE SYSTEM, AND DATA BACKUP METHOD AND SYSTEM RESTARTING METHOD OF STORAGE SYSTEM

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.

Claims18

Dependent claims

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 and one or more battery units, and a drive unit having a plurality of nonvolatile devices;

the controller unit comprising
a control unit;
a volatile memory;
and
a nonvolatile memory device;
the power supply unit being coupled to the battery unit and including an external power input unit and a power supply control unit;
wherein when power supply from an exterior is interrupted, the controller unit determines the content of interruption of power supply from the exterior, and based on the determination result and a data backup mode information set via the management computer, selects whether to continue retaining the 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.

4 more elements

A system restarting method of a storage system coupled to a computer or a management computer, the system comprising a controller unit comprising a control unit, a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory device, a power supply unit composed of an external power input unit and a power supply control unit, a battery unit, and a drive unit having a plurality of nonvolatile devices, the method comprising:

a step of detecting interruption of power supply from the exterior;
a step of determining the contents of interruption of the power supply from the exterior;
a step of acquiring a backup mode information set via the management computer;
a step of selecting whether to continue retaining the data stored in the volatile memory in the volatile memory or to store the data in the non-volatile memory device and retain the data therein based on the determination result and the backup mode information;
a step of detecting resumption of power supply from the exterior;
a step of checking stored data in the nonvolatile memory device;
a step of storing the stored data in the nonvolatile memory device to the volatile memory and the nonvolatile device;
a step of confirming synchronization of the control units;
a step of mutually confirming contents of the data in the volatile memories of control units;
and
a step of matching the contents of the data in the volatile memories.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Storage system, and data backup method and system restarting method of storage system

Life of this patent

Storage system, and data backup method and system restarting method of storage system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18