System, apparatus, and method for managing a data storage system in an n-way active controller configuration
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJoseph G. Skazinski, Noel S. Otterness
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method for managing a data storage system in n-way active controller configuration, such that a controller can detect the failure of and reset more than just a single other controller. To accomplish this, a controller sends a ping message to at least a subset of the other controllers, and waits for any of the other controllers to respond to the ping message within a first predetermined amount of time. If any of the other controllers do not respond to the ping message within the first predetermined amount of time, it is determined that the non-responding controller has failed. The controller will reset any failed controller.
Claims35
A method for managing a data storage system in an n-way active controller configuration, the method comprising steps of:
- maintaining, by each controller in the data storage system, a respective controller table data structure that includes a set of controller profiles, each controller profile including information associated with a respective different controller;
- and,
- communicating, by a controller, with each of the respective different controllers represented in the controller's respective controller table data structure, such that an interruption in the communication, between the controller and a different controller, for a first predetermined amount of time indicates to the controller that the different controller has failed and needs to be reset,
- wherein any one active controller can detect the failure of and reset more than just a single other controller in the data storage system.
An apparatus for managing a data storage system in an n-way active controller configuration, the apparatus comprising:
- a memory having a data structure and a first procedure stored therein, the data structure including a controller table for storing one or more controller profiles, each controller profile containing information associated with a particular one of other external controllers, the first procedure using the information to identify any of the other external controllers that have failed by sending each of the other external controllers a ping message, the first procedure resetting any of the other external controllers that do not respond to the ping message within a first predetermined amount of time from the time that the ping message was sent;
- and,
- a processing unit coupled to the memory, for executing the first procedure.
A computer program product for use in conjunction with a processor to manage a data storage system in an n-way active controller configuration, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism, comprising an n-way ping procedure, the n-way ping procedure including instructions for:
- maintaining, by each active controller of a plurality of controllers, a respective controller table data structure that contains a respective controller profile for at least a subset of each other active controller in the data storage system;
- and,
- managing, by a controller, the data storage system with each of the other active controllers that are identified in the controller's table data structure, wherein the instructions of managing further comprise instructions for:
- detecting, by the controller, the failure of any controller identified in the controller's respective controller table data structure;
- and,
- resetting, by the controller, any detected failed controller,
- whereby each active controller in the data storage system manages the data storage system in an n-way active controller configuration, and wherein any one active controller can detect the failure of and reset more than just a single other controller in the data storage system.
A data storage system managed by multiple controllers in n-way active configuration, the data storage system comprising:
- a plurality of controllers;
- a host computer;
- and,
- one or more disk storage devices,
- wherein, each controller is operatively coupled to a first bus and a second bus, the host computer is coupled to the first bus, the one or more disk storage devices are coupled to the second bus, each controller being adapted to transfer data between the I/O devices and the host computer in response to instructions therefrom, at least a subset of the controllers being adapted to detect the failure of one or more of the other controllers, and upon detecting, by a controller, a failed controller, the controller resetting the failed controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.