Communications system/method from host having variable-length format to variable-length format first I/O subsystem or fixed-length format second I/O subsystem using table for subsystem determination

A heterogeneous computer system comprising:

• a first host computer;
• a first I/O subsystem connected by an interface of variable-length record format to said first host computer and including at least one external memory;
• a back-up system connected to said first host computer;
• a second host computer;
• a second I/O subsystem connected to said second host computer by an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory;
• and
• a communication mechanism for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem;
• wherein said first host computer includes:
• a means for issuing to said first I/O subsystem a read request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of the external memory from which data is to be read, and backing up the data received from said first I/O subsystem in said back-up system;
• wherein said first I/O subsystem includes:
• a table for storing a device address of an external memory, data indicating one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said device address is assigned, and a device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem;
• a means for receiving from said first host computer a first read request conforming with said interface of variable-length record format including the address of the external memory to be read from, and upon decision, with reference to said table, that said address of said external memory included in said first read request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem with reference to said table, converting said first read request into a second read request conforming to said interface of fixed-length record format, sending said second read request to said second I/O subsystem, and sending the data received from said second I/O subsystem to said first host computer;
• and
• a means for backing up said data received by said first host computer in said back-up system.

A heterogeneous computer system comprising:

• a first host computer;
• a first I/O subsystem connected by an interface of variable-length record format to said first host computer and including at least one external memory;
• a back-up system connected to said first host computer;
• a second host computer;
• a second I/O subsystem connected to said second host computer by an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory;
• and
• a communication unit for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem;
• wherein said first host computer includes a means for issuing to said first I/O subsystem a write request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of the external memory to be written into, and for sending the data read from said back-up system to said first I/O subsystem;
• wherein said first I/O subsystem includes:
• a table for storing a device address of an external memory, data indicating one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said device address is assigned, and a device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem;
• a means for receiving from said first host computer a first write request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of the external memory to be written into, and upon decision, with reference to said table, that said address of said external memory included in said first write request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem with reference to said table, converting said first write request into a second write-request conforming to said interface of fixed-length record format, sending said second write request to said second I/O subsystem, and sending the data received from said first host computer to said second I/O subsystem.

A heterogeneous input/output system for use with a host computer connected thereto, comprising:

• a first I/O subsystem having an interface of variable-length record format and including at least one external memory, and a second I/O subsystem having an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory, and a communication unit for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem;
• wherein said first I/O subsystem includes:
• a table for storing a device address of an external memory, data indicating one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said device address is assigned, and a device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem, and
• a means for receiving a read/write request from said host computer conforming to said interface of variable-length record format designating an address of the external memory to be read from or written into, and upon decision, with reference to said table, that said address of said external memory designated in said read/write request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem, converting is said read/write request into a second read/write request conforming to said fixed-length record format and sending said second read/write request to said second I/O subsystem.

A method of accessing an external memory for a heterogeneous computer system comprising a first host computer, a first I/O subsystem connected by an interface of variable-length record format to said first host computer and including at least one external memory, a second host computer, a second I/O subsystem connected to said second host computer by an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory, and a communication unit for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing in an internal table of said first I/O subsystem a device address of an external memory, data indicating the external memory of that one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said device address is assigned, and a device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem;
• and
• said first I/O subsystem receiving from said first host computer a read/write request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of said external memory to be read from or written into and deciding, with reference to said table, whether the address of the external memory included in said read/write request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem;
• and
• converting said read/write request into a second read/write request conforming to the interface of fixed-length record format and sending said second read/write request to said second I/O subsystem when said address of said external memory is assigned to said external memory included in said second I/O subsystem.

A method of backing up data in a heterogeneous computer system comprising a first host computer, a first I/O subsystem connected by an interface of variable-length record format to said first host computer and including at least one external memory, a back-up system connected to said first host computer, a second host computer, a second I/O subsystem connected to said second host computer by an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory, and a communication unit for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem, said first host computer including a means for issuing a read request to said first I/O subsystem and backing up the data received from said first I/O subsystem in said back-up system, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing in an internal table of said first I/O subsystem a first device address of an external memory, data indicating the external memory of that one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said first device address is assigned, and a second device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said first device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem;
• and
• said first I/O subsystem receiving from said first host computer a read request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of said external memory to be read from and deciding, with reference to said table, whether the address of the external memory included in said read request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem;
• converting said read request into a second read request conforming to the interface of fixed-length record format and sending said second read request to said second I/O subsystem when said address of said external memory is assigned to said external memory included in said second I/O subsystem;
• said first I/O subsystem receiving the read data from said second I/O subsystem, and sending said received read data to said first host computer;
• and
• backing up the data received by said first host computer in said back-up system.

A method of restoring the back-up data in a heterogeneous computer system comprising a first host computer, a first I/O subsystem connected by an interface of variable-length record format to said first host computer and including at least one external memory, a back-up system connected to said first host computer, a second host computer, a second I/O subsystem connected to said second host computer by an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory, and a communication unit for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem, said first host computer including a means for issuing a write request to said first I/O subsystem and sending the data read from said back-up system to said first I/O subsystem, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing in an internal table of said first I/O subsystem a first device address of an external memory, data indicating the external memory of that one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said first device address is assigned, and a second device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said first device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem;
• and
• said second I/O subsystem receiving from said first host computer a write request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of an external memory to be written into and deciding, with reference to said table, whether the external memory address included in said write request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem;
• converting said write request into a second write request conforming to the interface of fixed-length record format and sending said second write request to said second I/O subsystem when said external memory address is assigned to said external memory included in said second I/O subsystem;
• and
• said first I/O subsystem sending the data read from said back-up system and received from said first host computer to said second I/O subsystem.

A method of accessing an external memory in a heterogeneous input/output system for use with a host computer connected thereto, comprising a first I/O subsystem having an interface of variable-length record format and including at least one external memory, a second I/O subsystem having an interface of fixed-length record format and including at least one external memory, and a communication unit for connecting said first I/O subsystem to said second I/O subsystem, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing in an internal table of said first I/O subsystem a first device address of an external memory, data indicating one of said first I/O subsystem and said second I/O subsystem to which said first device address is assigned, and a second device address of said external memory in said second I/O subsystem when said first device address is assigned to the external memory of said second I/O subsystem;
• said first I/O subsystem receiving from said host computer a read/write request conforming to said interface of variable-length record format including the address of an external memory to be read from or written into, and deciding, with reference to said table, whether the external memory address included in said read/write request is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem;
• and
• converting said read/write request into a second read/write request conforming to said interface of fixed-length record format and sending said second read/write request to said second I/O subsystem when said external memory address is assigned to the external memory included in said second I/O subsystem.