Hitachi, Ltd.

Other

Hitachi Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Takeshi Koide

Katsunori Nakamura

Teruo Nagasawa

Takahisa Kimura

Toru Suzuki

Koji Ozawa

Shuji Kondo

Naohisa Kasako

Kazuhide Sano

Tooru Suzuki

Takashi Oeda

Toshio Nakano

Yoshinori Okami

Seiichi Higaki

Kyosuke Achiwa

Shigeru Kishiro

Mikito Ogata

Hiroshi Abei

Yasushi Saitsu

In a data processing system in which main and sub disk storage devices are under the control of individual each disk control devices, the write processing time is reduced by selectively sending data according to the command-chaining time between main and sub disk control devices. A section for judging cable length and function of the sub disk control deviceestimates command-chaining time between a pair of main and sub disk storage devices. The channel command analyzing sectionestimates the number of records to be transferred and the length of a record using a LOCATE RECORD command. The command judgment section for the sub disk control deviceoptimizes the command-chain to be issued to the sub disk control device using the above-mentioned information. Then, the section for issuing command to the sub disk control deviceissues the optimized command chain. Thus, a shorter transmission time is realized by either sending individual records or an entire track of data.

External storage control device and data transfer method between external storage control devices

A storage device system includes an information processing device and at least first and second storage devices. The first and second storage devices are equipped with first and second storage volumes, respectively. The information processing device generates first data including a first instruction that is to be executed by the second storage device, and sends a write request to a first write request section to write the first data according to a first communications protocol in the first storage volume. When the first data written in the first storage volume is the command to be executed by the second storage device, the first storage device sends to a second write request section a write request to write the first data according to a second communications protocol in the second storage volume. The second storage device executes the first command set in the first data that is written in the second storage volume.

Remote storage disk control device with function to transfer commands to remote storage devices

Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.

Remote copy for a storage controller in a heterogeneous environment

A storage system which includes a first storage device, and a storage control device connected to a higher level device and the first storage device. The storage control device controls reading or writing of data from or to the higher level device to or from the storage control device. The storage control device can be connected to another storage control device, and can acquire device information of the other storage control device.

Subsystem replacement method

A storage apparatus system comprises first and second data storage systems. The first data storage systems can copy an image of data stored therein to the second data storage system without affecting access to storage in the first data storage system. In addition, failover processing is provided between the first and second data storage systems, wherein the second data storage system serves as the failover system.

Adaptive remote copy in a heterogeneous environment

With the purpose of achieving consistent non-synchronous copying of data from a plurality of primary side control units to a plurality of secondary side control units, all of the secondary side control units are connected via a loop, and each of the secondary side control units determines guarantee time by circulating a time added to the data received from the primary side control units via said loop communication route. A consistent data copying is guaranteed by circulating the determined guarantee time via the loop communication route.

Method and apparatus for data duplexing in storage unit system

A storage system which includes a first storage device, and a storage control device connected to a higher level device and the first storage device. The storage control device controls reading or writing of data from or to the higher level device to or from the storage control devices. The storage control device can be connected to another storage control device, and can acquire device information of the other storage control device.

According to the present invention, techniques for performing real time backup of data in the presence of a pending hazard, such as a natural disaster, or the like. Embodiments can provide data storage controllers, networked data storage systems, methods and the like, that detect imminent hazardous conditions and alter backup behavior to provide greater integrity of backed up data. In a representative embodiment according to the present invention, update of the primary data is temporarily suspended after the recognition of a probable occurrence of a hazardous event. By suspending updating the primary data temporarily, the increase of un-updated secondary data can be prevented, so that lost data is decreased. Then, the un-updated secondary data can be updated quickly or exclusively, in order to avoid un-updated secondary data.

Data backup in presence of pending hazard

According to the present invention, techniques for performing real time backup of data in the presence of a pending hazard, such as a natural disaster, or the like are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide data storage controllers, networked data storage systems, methods and the like, that detect imminent hazardous conditions and alter backup behavior to provide greater integrity of backed up data. In a representative embodiment according to the present invention, update of the primary data is temporarily suspended after the recognition of a probable occurrence of a hazardous event. By suspending updating the primary data temporarily, the increase of un-updated secondary data can be prevented, so that lost data is decreased. Then, the un-updated secondary data can be updated quickly or exclusively, in order to avoid un-updated secondary data.

In order to enable data migration between old and new subsystems to be performed under stopless operation, a plurality of first access paths and are prepared between a CPU and an old CU (old subsystem) having an old VOL and a plurality of third access paths and are set between the old CU and a new CU (new subsystem) having a new VOL. The connection is switched from the first access paths and of the old subsystem as a replacement source to the second access paths and of the new subsystem as a replacement destination on a plurality of occasions. When the CPU accesses the new subsystem via the second access paths and on the new subsystem side during the connection change, a path replacement controller relays the access to the old subsystem via the third access paths and and allows the access to be processed. Data migration from the old subsystem to the new subsystem is executed after all of the first access paths are switched to the second access paths.

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Odawara, Japan

Takeshi Koide