US 9,069,640 B2Granted

Patch applying method for virtual machine, storage system adopting patch applying method, and computer system

AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.

InventorsDaisuke Shinohara, Wataru Okada

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Abstract

In a computer system composed of a computer in which a plurality of VMs (Virtual Machines) are operated and a storage system, when a patch of an OS in the VM is applied, update data accompanying the application of the patch is stored in each VM image, causing increase of load of the storage system accompanying the concentration of read requests and the elongation of the patch applying process time. Therefore, the present invention provides a high-speed patch applying method to the VMs. When a patch applying request from a user using the VM is received and a patch is applied to the first VM, the patch is applied after creating a replication of the original GI (Golden Image) by which a new GI is created, and the new GI is used when the patch is applied to the second and subsequent VMs. During a patch applying process of the VM, a VM image is created from a new GI, and a path information related to the VM image is changed to thereby execute the patch applying process.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A storage system coupled to a computer in which a plurality of virtual computers is operated, comprising a controller and a plurality of memory devices,

wherein the storage system is configured to:
store OS data in a first volume provided by the plurality of memory devices;
and
provide a plurality of first virtual volumes to which the first volume is allocated;
wherein the plurality of virtual computers is operated using any one of OS images provided by each of the plurality of first virtual volumes;
wherein the controller is configured to:
create a replication of the first volume storing the OS data when a patch applying request is received from the computer to at least two or more first virtual computers of the plurality of the virtual computers;
create a second volume by applying a patch having received the patch applying request to the replicated volume;
generate a plurality of second virtual volumes to which the second volume is allocated;
and
switch the allocation of each of the first virtual computers from the plurality of the first virtual volumes to any one of the plurality of second virtual volumes;
wherein the replication of the first volume is performed by having the data stored in the first volume copied to a different volume or by having a new virtual volume associated with the first volume created;
wherein, when the allocated plurality of the second virtual volumes in a second virtual computer has difference data regarding the OS data stored in the first volume, switching is not performed for the second volume allocated to the second virtual computer,
wherein a replication of the first volume is created when a request to execute a test with respect to the second virtual computer is received;
wherein, following receipt of the patch applying request, a patch is applied to the replication of the first volume;
wherein a test volume is created by applying difference data stored in the first virtual volume allocated to the second virtual computer;
and
wherein a notification is made as to a result of performing the test so as to determine whether or not the test volume has a problem.

15 more elements

A computer system comprising a computer, in which a plurality of virtual computers is operated, and a storage system coupled to the plurality of virtual computers,

wherein the storage system comprises a controller and a plurality of memory devices and is configured to:
store OS data in a first volume provided by using the plurality of memory devices;
and
provide a plurality of first virtual volumes to which the first volume is allocated;
wherein the plurality of virtual computers is operated using any one of OS images provided by each of the plurality of first virtual volumes;
wherein the controller is configured to:
create a replication of the first volume storing the OS data when a patch applying request is received from the computer to at least two or more first virtual computers of the plurality of the virtual computers;
create a second volume by applying a patch having received the patch applying request to the replicated volume;
generate a plurality of second virtual volumes to which the second volume is allocated;
and
switch the allocation of each of the first virtual computers from the plurality of the first virtual volumes to the plurality of the second virtual volumes;
wherein the replication of the first volume is performed by having the data stored in the first volume copied to a different volume or by having a virtual volume associated with the first volume created;
wherein when the allocated plurality of the second virtual volumes in a second virtual computer has difference data regarding the OS data stored in the first volume, switching is not performed for the second volume allocated to the second virtual computer,
wherein a replication of the first volume is created when a request to execute a test with respect to the second virtual computer is received;
wherein, following receipt of the patch applying request, a patch is applied to the replication of the first volume;
wherein a test volume is created by applying difference data stored in the first virtual volume allocated to the second virtual computer;
and
wherein a notification is made as to a result of performing the test so as to determine whether or not the test volume has a problem.

15 more elements

A patch applying method in a computer system composed of a computer, in which a plurality of virtual computers is operated, and a storage system coupled to the plurality of virtual computers, wherein the storage system comprises a controller and a plurality of memory devices, the method comprising:

storing, using the storage system, OS data in a first volume provided by using the plurality of memory devices;
and
providing, using the storage system, a plurality of first virtual volumes to which the first volume is allocated;
wherein the plurality of virtual computers is operated using any one of OS images provided by each of the plurality of first virtual volumes;
and
creating, using the controller, a replication of the first volume storing the OS data when a patch applying request is received from the computer to at least two or more first virtual computers of the plurality of the virtual computers;
creating, using the controller, a second volume by applying a patch having received the patch applying request to the replicated volume;
generating, using the controller, a plurality of second virtual volumes to which the second volume is allocated;
and
switching, using the controller, the allocation of each of the first virtual computers from the plurality of the first virtual volumes to any one of the plurality of second virtual volumes;
wherein the replication of the first volume is performed by having the data stored in the first volume copied to a different volume or by having a virtual volume associated with the first volume created;
wherein when the allocated plurality of the second virtual volumes in a second virtual computer has difference data regarding the OS data stored in the first volume, switching is not performed for the second volume allocated to the second virtual computer, and the method further comprises:
creating a replication of the first volume when a request to execute a test with respect to the second virtual computer is received;
following receipt of the patch applying request, applying a patch to the replication of the first volume;
creating a test volume by applying difference data stored in the first virtual volume allocated to the second virtual computer;
and
providing a notification as to a result of performing the test so as to determine whether or not the test volume has a problem.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.