Disk array device and method for controlling disk array device

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the control information includes the number of ports available for use among the plurality of ports,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel control section stores in the port control table the number of ports whose linkage is initialized among the plurality of ports as the number of ports in use, and
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one channel control section refers to the numbers of ports available for use and the number of ports in use stored in the port control table, wherein, when the number of ports in use is less than the number of ports available for use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing;
• and when the number of ports in use is equal to the number of ports available for use, the at least one channel control section does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the at least one channel control section includes a plurality of protocol processors that control the plurality of ports,
• the control information includes the number of protocol processors available for use among the plurality of protocol processors,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel control section registers in the port control table specified protocol processors among the plurality of protocol processors that control ports whose linkage is initialized among the plurality of ports as protocol processors in use,
• the channel control section stores in the port control table the number of the protocol processors in use, and
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one channel control section refers to the port control table and determines whether the protocol processors that control the plurality of ports are the protocol processors in use,
• wherein, when the protocol processors that control the ports are the protocol processors in use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing;
• and
• wherein, when the protocol processors that control the ports are not the protocol processors in use, the at least one channel control section refers to the number of the protocol processors available for use and the number of protocol processors in use stored in the port control table, and
• wherein, when the number of the protocol processors in use is less than the number of the protocol processors available for use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and when the number of the protocol processors in use is equal to the number of the protocol processors available for use, the at least one channel control section does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the at least one channel control section includes a plurality of port groups each consisting of a set of plural ports among the plurality of ports, the control information includes the number of port groups available for use,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel control section registers in the port control table specified port groups among the port groups that include ports whose linkage is initialized among the plurality of ports as port groups in use,
• the channel control section stores in the port control table the number of the port groups in use, and
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one channel control section refers to the port control table and determines whether the port groups that include the plurality of ports are the port groups in use,
• wherein, when the port groups that include the plurality of ports are the port groups in use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing;
• and
• wherein, when the port groups that include the plurality of ports are not the port groups in use, the at least one channel control section refers to the number of the port groups available for use and the number of port groups in use stored in the port control table, wherein, when the number of port groups in use is less than the number of port groups available for use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and when the number of port groups in use is equal to the number of port groups available for use, the at least one channel control section does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• the disk array device further comprising:
• a plurality of packages each having a substrate with a circuit formed thereon for realizing the channel control section,
• wherein:
• the control information includes the number of packages available for use,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel control section registers in the port control table specified packages among the plurality of packages that include ports whose linkage is initialized among the plurality of ports as packages in use,
• the channel control section stores in the port control table the number of the packages in use, and
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one channel control section refers to the port control table and determines whether the packages that include the plurality of ports are the packages in use,
• wherein, when the packages that include the plurality of ports are the packages in use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing;
• and
• wherein, when the packages that include the plurality of ports are not the packages in use, the at least one channel control section refers to the number of the packages available for use and the number of packages in use stored in the port control table, wherein, when the number of packages in use is less than the number of packages available for use, the at least one channel control section sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and when the number of packages in use is equal to the number of packages available for use, the at least one channel control section does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the control information indicates an availability of the plurality of ports,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel control section includes at least one channel processor that governs the overall control of the channel control section, at least one protocol processor that controls the plurality of ports, and a register that is referred to by the at least one protocol processor,
• the at least one channel processor refers to the availability of the ports stored in the port control table, and sets the availability of the ports in the register, and
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one protocol processor refers to the register, wherein, when the ports are permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and
• when the ports are-not permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A click array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the at least one channel control section includes at least one channel processor that governs the overall control of the channel control section, at least one protocol processor that controls the plurality of ports, and a register that is referred to by the at least one protocol processor,
• the control information indicates an availability of the at least one protocol processor,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel processor refers to the availability of the at least one protocol processor stored in the port control table, and sets the availability of the at least one protocol processor in the register,
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing;
• the at least one protocol processor refers to the register, wherein, when the at least one protocol processor is permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and
• when the at least one protocol processor is not permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the at least one channel control section includes at least one channel processor that governs the overall control of the channel control section, at least one protocol processor that controls the plurality of ports, a register that is referred to by the at least one protocol processor, and at least one port group including sets of the plurality of ports,
• the control information indicates an availability of the at least one port group,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel processor refers to the availability of the at least one port group stored in the port control table, and sets the availability of the at least one port group in the register,
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one protocol processor refers to the register, wherein, when the at least one port group is permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and
• when the at least one port group is not permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• and
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein,
• wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, and the at least one channel control section refers to the control information set in the port control table and determines whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein:
• the at least one channel control section includes a plurality of packages each having a substrate with a circuit formed thereon for realizing the channel control section,
• the at least one channel control section includes at least one channel processor that governs the overall control of the channel control section, at least one protocol processor that controls the plurality of ports, and a register that is referred to by the at least one protocol processor,
• the control information indicates an availability of the packages,
• the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel processor refers to the availability of the packages stored in the port control table, and sets the availability of the packages in the register,
• upon receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, the at least one protocol processor refers to the register, wherein, when the packages are permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor sends to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, and
• when the packages are not permitted to be used, the at least one protocol processor does not send to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing.

A method for controlling a disk array device, the disk array device comprising a plurality of hard disk drives, at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives a data input/output request from the at least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives, at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends a data input/output request to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output request to the plurality of hard disk drives that is received by the at least one channel control section, and a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein, wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, the method comprising the steps, conducted by the at least one channel control section of:

• referring to the control information set in the port control table;
• comparing the number of ports in use to the number of ports available for use;
• when the number of ports in use is less than the number of ports available for use, responding to a connection request received from the at least one information processing device;
• and
• when the number of ports in use is equal to the number of ports available for use, not responding to the connection request.

A method for controlling a disk array device the disk array device comprising a plurality of hard disk drives, at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives a data input/output request from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives, at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends a data input/output request to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output request to the plurality of hard disk drives that is received by the at least one channel control section, and a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein, wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, the method comprising the steps, conducted by the at least one channel control section of:

• referring to the control information set in the port control table;
• and
• determining whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein the control information includes the number of ports available for use among the plurality of ports, and the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports, and
• the method further comprising the steps, conducted by the at least one channel control section of:
• storing in the port control table the number of ports whose linkage is initialized among the plurality of ports as the number of ports in use;
• receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing through the plurality of ports;
• referring to the numbers of ports available for use and the number of ports in use stored in the port control table;
• sending to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing when the number of ports in use is less than the number of ports available for use;
• and
• not sending to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing when the number of ports in use is equal to the number of ports available for use.

A method for controlling a disk array device the disk array device comprising a plurality of hard disk drives, at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via cables, and that receives a data input/output request from the least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives, at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends a data input/output request to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output request to the plurality of hard disk drives that is received by the at least one channel control section, and a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein, wherein the shared memory stores a port control table that sets control information indicating whether the plurality of ports are permitted for use, the method comprising the steps, conducted by the at least one channel control section, of:

• referring to the control information set in the port control table, and
• determining whether to respond to a connection request regarding the ports received from the at least one information processing device,
• wherein the control information indicates an availability of the plurality of ports, the connection request includes a primitive sequence in a link initialization processing for initializing linkage between the at least one information processing device and the plurality of ports, and the at least one channel control section includes at least one channel processor that governs the overall control of the channel control section, at least one protocol processor that controls the plurality of ports, and a register that is referred to by the at least one protocol processor, and
• the method comprising the steps conducted by the at least one channel processor, of:
• referring to the availability of the ports stored in the port control table;
• and
• setting the availability of the ports in the register, and
• the method further comprising the steps, conducted by the at least one protocol processor, of:
• receiving the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing,
• referring to the availability of the ports sent in the register,
• sending to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing, when the ports are permitted to be used, and
• not sending to the at least one information processing device a primitive sequence in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing when the ports are not permitted to be used.

A disk array device comprising:

• a plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one channel control section having a plurality of ports that are connectable to at least one information processing device via fiber cables, and that receives data input/output requests from the at least one information processing device to the plurality of hard disk drives;
• at least one disk control section that is communicatably connected to the plurality of hard disk drives and that sends data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives based on the data input/output requests to the plurality of hard disk drives that are received by the at least one channel control section;
• a shared memory that is accessible by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section for reading and writing data therein;
• a cache memory that is used by the at least one channel control section and the at least one disk control section to temporarily store data in association with the data input/output request;
• and
• a management terminal that is communicatably connectable,
• wherein the channel control section includes:
• at least one protocol processor that is communicatably connected to the plurality of ports, and controls sending and receiving data to and from the information processing device,
• at least one channel processor that is communicatably connected to the at least one protocol processor, the shared memory and the cache memory, and governs the overall control of the channel control section, and
• a local memory that is communicatably connected to the at least one channel processor and is accessed by the at least one channel processor to read and write data therein,
• wherein:
• the management terminal sets in the port control table the number of ports available for use among the plurality of ports,
• the at least one channel processor stores in the port control table the number of ports in use that are permitted to be used among the plurality of ports,
• the at least one protocol processor inquires the at least one channel processor of an availability of the ports, when connecting the fiber cables to the ports and upon receiving a primitive sequence in a link initialization through the ports,
• the at least one channel processor refers to the number of ports available for use and the number of ports in use stored in the port control table, notifies the at least one protocol processor of a permission to use the ports when the number of ports in use is less than the number of ports available for use, and notifies the at least one protocol processor of a prohibition to use the ports when the number of ports in use is equal to the number of ports available for use, and
• the at least one protocol processor initializes linkages in response to the primitive sequence in the link initialization processing upon receiving a notification of the permission to use from the at least channel processor, and does not respond to the primitive sequence in the link initialization upon receiving a notification of the prohibition to use.