Storage system having data format conversion function

A storage system comprising:

• a plurality of host adaptors, which can be coupled to at least one host device, and which form interfaces for the host device;
• a plurality of storage devices for storing therein data transferred from the host device;
• a plurality of disk adaptors coupled to said storage devices, which form interfaces for said storage devices;
• a plurality of caches for temporarily storing therein data transferred between said host adaptors and said disk adaptors;
• two buses, coupled to said host adaptors, said disk adaptors, and said caches, which transfer data among said host adaptors, said disk adaptors, and said caches, wherein said two buses operate as a pair of buses having a transfer ability larger than one of said two buses;
• a memory for storing status information indicating which of said two buses is available for use due to a failure in the other of said two buses,
• wherein each of said host adaptors includes a format converter for converting data of a count key data (CKD) format, in a case where one of said host adaptors, being coupled to a host device, receives the data of the CKD format from a host device, into data of a fixed block architecture (FBA) format suitable for storage in said storage devices before being stored in said caches and sending the converted data of the FBA format to said caches through said two buses,
• wherein said caches store the converted data of the FBA format converted by said format converter and
• wherein upon failure one of said two buses is used based on said status information stored in said memory.

A storage system comprising:

• a plurality of host adaptors, which can be coupled to at least one host device, and which form interfaces for the host device;
• a plurality of storage devices for storing therein data transferred from the host device;
• a plurality of disk adaptors, coupled to said storage devices, which form interfaces for said storage devices;
• at least one cache memory unit for temporarily storing therein data transferred between said host adaptors and said disk adaptors;
• at least one path, coupled to said host adaptors, said disk adaptors and said at least one cache memory unit, which transfers data among said host adaptors, said disk adaptors and said at least one cache memory unit, and
• wherein each said host adaptors includes a format converter for converting data of a count key data (CKD) format, in a case where one of said host adaptors, being coupled to a host device, receives the data of the CKD format from said host device, into data of a fixed block architecture (FBA) format suitable for said storage devices before being stored in said at least one cache memory unit, and sending the converted data of the FBA format to said at least one cache memory unit through said at least one path, and said at least one cache memory unit stores the converted data of the FBA format converted by said format converter.

A storage system comprising:

• a plurality of host adaptors, which can be coupled to at least one host device, and which form interfaces for the host device;
• a plurality of storage devices for storing therein data transferred from the host device;
• a plurality of disk adaptors, coupled to said storage devices, which form interfaces for said storage devices;
• at least one cache memory unit for temporarily storing therein data transferred between said host adaptors and said disk adaptors;
• and
• at least one path, coupled to said host adaptors, said disk adaptors and said at least one cache memory unit, which transfers data among said host adaptors, said disk adaptors and said at least one cache memory unit,
• wherein each of said host adaptors includes a format converter for converting data of a count key data (CKD) format, in a case where one of said host adaptors, being coupled to a host device, receives the data of the CKD format from the host device, into data of a fixed block architecture (FBA) format suitable for said storage devices before being stored in said at least one cache memory unit, and sending the converted data of the FBA format to said at least one path;
• and
• wherein said at least one cache memory unit then stores therein the converted data of the FBA format converted by said format converter and sent through said at least one path.

A storage system comprising:

• at least one adaptor, which can be coupled to at least one host device and to a plurality of storage devices, and which forms an interface for said at least one host device and said storage devices,
• wherein said storage devices store therein data transferred from said at least one host device;
• at least one cache memory unit for temporarily storing therein data transferred from said at least one adaptor;
• and
• at least one path, coupled to said at least one adaptor and said at least one cache memory unit, which transfers data between said at least one adaptor and said at least one cache memory unit,
• wherein said at least one adaptor includes a format converter for converting data of a count key data (CKD) format, in a case where one of said host adaptors, being coupled to a host device, receives the data of the CKD format from said at least one host device, into data of a fixed block architecture (FBA) format suitable for said storage devices before being stored in said at least one cache memory unit, and sending the converted data of the FBA format to said at least one cache memory unit through said at least one path, and said at least one cache memory unit stores the converted data of the FBA format converted by said format converter.

A storage system comprising:

• at least one adaptor, which can be coupled to at least one host device and to a plurality of storage devices, and which forms an interface for said at least one host device and said storage devices,
• wherein said storage devices store therein data transferred from said at least one host device;
• at least one cache memory unit for temporarily storing therein data transferred from said at least one adaptor;
• and
• at least one path, coupled to said at least one adaptor and said at least one cache memory unit, which transfers data between said at least one adaptor and said at least one cache memory unit,
• wherein said at least one adaptor includes a format converter for converting data of a count key data (CKD) format, in a case where one of said host adaptors, being coupled to a host device, receives the data of the CKD format from said at least one host device, into data of a fixed block architecture (FBA) format suitable for said storage devices before being stored in said at least one cache memory unit, and
• sending the converted data of the FBA format to said at least one path, and
• wherein said at least one cache memory unit then stores therein the converted data of the FBA format converted by said format converter and sent through said at least one path.