US 8,015,325 B2 · Storage subsystem and storage controller having memory which stores management information indicating corresponding relations between processors and identifies of logical units

Abstract

A storage subsystem and a storage controller adapted to take advantage of high data transfer rates of fiber channels while offering enhanced reliability and availability and capable of connecting with a plurality of host computers having multiple different interfaces. A loop is provided to serve as a common loop channel having fiber channel interfaces. Host interface controllers (HIFC) connected to host computers having different interfaces permit conversion between the fiber channel interface and a different interface as needed. Control processors, shared by the host interface controllers, each reference FCAL (fiber channel arbitrated loop) management information to capture a frame having an address of the processor in question from among the frames passing through the loop. I/O processing is then carried out by the controller in accordance with a range of logical unit numbers (LUN) set in the captured frame.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A storage controller for controlling data transfer between a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of host computers in response to input/output requests received from said plurality of host computers, said storage controller comprising:

a plurality of processors which execute said input/output requests;
and
a memory having management information indicating that at least one first processor of said plurality of processors is related to at least one first identifier of a logical unit of said plurality of storage devices, and at least one second processor of said plurality of processors is related to at least one second identifier of a logical unit of said plurality of storage devices,
wherein the storage controller controls said at least one first processor to execute said data transfer related to said input/output requests for said at least one first identifier of a logical unit based on said management information, and
wherein the storage controller controls said at least one second processor to execute said data transfer related to said input/output requests for said at least one second identifier of a logical unit based on said management information.

2 more elements

a plurality of processors which execute said input/output requests;
and
a memory having management information indicating said data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one first identifier of a logical unit of said plurality of storage devices should be executed by at least one first processor of said plurality of processors, and said data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one second identifier of a logical unit of said plurality of storage devices should be executed by at least one second processor of said plurality of processors.

a plurality of processors which execute said input/output requests;
and
a memory which stores management information indicating corresponding relations between said processors and identifies of logical units,
wherein said data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one first identifier of a logical unit of said plurality of storage devices are executed by at least one first processor of said plurality of processors, and
wherein said data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one second identifier of a logical unit of said plurality of storage devices are executed by at least one second processor of said plurality of processors.

2 more elements

A method for controlling a storage controller having a plurality of processors transferring data between a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of host computers in response to input/output requests received from said plurality of host computers, said method comprising:

a step for controlling at least one first processor of said plurality of processors to execute data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one first identifier of a logical unit in said storage devices;
and
a step for controlling at least one second processor of said plurality of processors to execute data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one second identifier of a logical unit in said storage devices,
wherein a memory included in said storage controller stores management information indicating corresponding relations between said processors and identifies of logical units.

1 more element

A computer program stored on a memory within a storage controller having a plurality of processors transferring data between a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of host computers in response to input/output requests received from said plurality of host computers, said computer program comprising:

a program code for controlling at least one first processor of said plurality of processors to execute data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one first identifier of a logical unit in said storage devices;
and
a program code for controlling at least one second processor of said plurality of processors to execute data transfer related to said input/output requests for at least one second identifier of a logical unit in said storage devices,
wherein a memory included in said storage controller stores management information indicating corresponding relations between said processors and identifies of logical units.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Storage subsystem and storage controller having memory which stores management information indicating corresponding relations between processors and identifies of logical units

Life of this patent

Storage subsystem and storage controller having memory which stores management information indicating corresponding relations between processors and identifies of logical units

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37