JP2002023959A - Disk array control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To update data shared for plural host computers in the disk areas allocated to respective host computers without requiring user's operation. SOLUTION: When system constitution is changed due to a change in a host computer to be connected and initialization is required in a disk array device 10 capable of connecting plural host computers 8-1 to 8-3 or data shared for respective host computers are changed, a disk area to be a copy destination is found out on the basis of management information 30 and master data are copied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a disk array device having a plurality of disk drives, and more particularly to a disk array device having a function of allocating an arbitrary address space to a specific host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A disk array device having a plurality of disk drives and capable of storing a large amount of data is used as an external storage device of a host computer or the like. It has a plurality of external interfaces, and is configured to be accessible from a plurality of host computers via each interface. When a new host computer is connected to this disk array device, first connect the new host computer via the external interface, and then connect a dedicated host computer directly to the disk array device via a dedicated line. Initial settings are made from the terminal and the already connected host computer. In this way, the new host computer is made accessible to the disk array device. Note that the initial setting is intended to mean information for enabling the host computer to access the memory area, such as allocation of a memory area (hereinafter, referred to as a logical disk) accessible by a new host computer. are doing. When this initial setting is completed, the host computer executes necessary processing such as formatting for the logical disk and installation of an OS (Operating System), and when all these operations are completed, the host computer uses the logical disk. It becomes possible.

In the above-described assignment of the logical disk, the same memory area is not accessed by a plurality of host computers.

[0004]

However, there are still problems to be solved in the above-described disk array device. That is, when there is no change in the host computer connected to the disk array device, there is no particular problem. However, when the host computer is added due to a change in load, the above-described initial setting work is performed each time. When installation work is required for logical disks managed by all host computers due to OS or other software version upgrades, etc., the same installation work is performed for each host computer via each host computer. This requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, in the present invention, even when the system configuration is changed due to the addition of a host computer or the like, and the installation work due to the upgrade of the OS occurs, the OS commonly used by all the host computers and other An object of the present invention is to provide a disk array device capable of automatically executing installation or update processing for information.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk array apparatus comprising: a plurality of disk drives; a plurality of host computers receiving requests from the plurality of host computers; In a disk array device having a disk controller that executes writing and reading of data, information indicating a storage position of common data used by the plurality of host computers and management information including a disk capacity allocated to each host computer are held. Storage means, detecting means for detecting that a new host computer has been connected, and receiving a signal indicating that a new host computer has been detected by the detecting means, based on the management information, In addition to allocating available disk space to the host computer, To characterized in that it has an initial setting unit for executing a copy process of the data. With such a configuration, even when the number of host computers connected to the disk array device changes, initial settings can be performed without bothering the user. Further, in the disk array device according to the invention of claim 2,
In a disk array device including a plurality of disk drives and a disk controller that receives requests from a plurality of host computers and executes writing and reading of data to and from the disk drives, a common data used by the plurality of host computers is provided. Storage means for storing management information indicating a storage location and a disk area allocated to the plurality of host computers; detecting means for detecting whether a change has occurred in the common data; and a change to the common data by the detecting means. Copying means for receiving a signal indicating the detection and copying the common data to a disk area of each host computer based on the management information.

With this configuration, even if data commonly used by a plurality of host computers is changed, copying to the disk areas of all the host computers is automatically performed by a single data update procedure. It is possible to execute.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a disk array device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a disk array device main body. The disk array device 10 includes an array controller 1 and four hard disk drives (HDDs) 2-1 to 2-4. Are a processor 3 for reading and writing data and other controls; a buffer memory 4 for temporarily holding data to be read and written; and a non-volatile memory (ROM) 5 for storing a program for determining the operation of the processor 3. 1 and volatile memory (RA
M) 5-2, and a plurality of interfaces 6-1 to 6-4 for connecting to external devices. The disk array device 10 is connected to a terminal 7 via an interface 6-1 and two host computers 8-1 and 8-2 via interfaces 6-2 and 6-3. The terminal 7 is a small computer such as a personal computer, and a new host computer is connected to the disk array device 10.
Is used to set information for enabling the disk array device 10 to recognize a new host computer, that is, a port number and an ID assigned to the host computer. For example, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) is used between the host computer and the interface.
ce) When connecting via a bus, the port number is a SCSI port number and the ID is SCSI-ID.

In the present invention, when a new host computer is connected to the disk array device 10 and initial setting is required, or when an update operation of an OS used in all host computers is required. , Has a function for automatically executing initial setting and updating work, and is executed according to the procedure shown in FIG. This function is realized by the processor 3 executing a program stored in the ROM 5-1. First, when a new host computer is connected to the disk array device via the interface, a change occurs in the system configuration. The terminal 7 inputs a port number and an ID as identification information of the host computer. And processor 3
Are read from the HDDs 2-1 to 2-4 and read from the RAM 5-2.
A usable disk area is set for the newly connected host computer on the basis of the management information stored in (2) (step 21). FIG. 3 shows an example of the management information.
The processor 3 includes an ID 32, a used disk area 33, and master information 34. The processor 3 obtains an unused area from information on the used disk area, and sets a disk area based on a predetermined allocated capacity. Here, the above-mentioned allocated capacity of the disk area to each HDD may be held as one of the management information 30 or a program executed by the processor 3 may be present.

When the setting of the disk area as described above is completed, the master information 34 included in the management information 30 is next set.
(Step 2), based on the master information 34, a copy of file data designated by the master information 34 and software such as an OS (hereinafter, referred to as master data).
2). Hereinafter, the operation of a case where a new host computer is connected to the disk array device 10 will be described step by step. As shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that a new host computer 8-3 is connected to the interface 6-4 via a bus such as SCSI. After connecting the host computer 8-3,
A user such as a system administrator operates the terminal 7 to operate the port number 31 of the interface 6-4 and the host computer 8-3.
Of the host computer 8-3 is set to the interface 6-8. When the setting of the port number 31 and the ID 32 is completed, the ROM 5-
The program shown in FIG. 2 held in 1 is executed by the processor 3, and a setting is made by obtaining a disk area that can be allocated to the host computer 8-3 from the management information 30 held in the RAM 5-2. At this time, the management information 3
0 is the port number 31 and ID input by the terminal 7
32 is added to the used disk area 33 set and allocated by the processing of the processor 3.

[0010] The updated management information 30 includes all H
The DDs 2-1 to 2-4 are overwritten, but this overwriting process is executed when the load on the processor 3 is low or immediately after updating. The update of the management information 30 may be performed when a power-off request for the disk array device 10 is received. When the allocation of the disk area to the host computer 8-3 is completed, the processor 3 extracts the storage location of the master data set as the copy target from the master information 34 set in the management information 30, and The copy to the disk area allocated to 8-3 is executed. For example, as shown in FIG.
The master data 21 is stored in the HDD 2-1.
Assuming that the disk area 22 of the DD 2-2 is allocated to the host computer 8-3, the processor 3 recognizes the position where the master data 21 is stored from the master information 34, and stores the master data 21 in the buffer memory 4. Relay and copy to disk area 2-2. When all the above operations are completed, the host computer 8-3 can operate. In this way, even when the master data is specified and the system configuration is changed, such as when a new host computer is connected, the master data copy process can be automatically executed.

In the above description, the setting of the port number 31 and the ID 32 is performed using the terminal 7. However, when the host computer is connected to the disk array device 10, To own I
An initialization request including D32 may be transmitted.
In this case, the processor 3 extracts the ID 32 from the received initialization request, recognizes the port number 31 of the interface that has received the initialization request, and executes disk area allocation and master data copy processing. become. Subsequently, the OS and other application programs (hereinafter, referred to as software).
Will be described. This procedure is also realized by the processor 3 executing a program stored in the ROM 5-1. This procedure will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, it is assumed that software as master data is installed in a disk area of a specific host computer (for example, host computer 8-1) and is used by this host computer 8-1. First, it is checked whether there is an update instruction due to a version upgrade or bug correction and a change in software (step 61). If there is a change, the master information 34 of the management information 30 is used as master data. The storage location of the software and the disk area allocated to the host computer 8-2 as the copy destination are confirmed (step 62).

Then, the updated software is copied to the disk area of the host computer 8-2 (step 63). For example, as shown in FIG.
If the application program 71 is upgraded among the master data stored in the disk array device 10, first, the installation process is performed using the terminal 7 or the host computer 8-1 connected to the disk array device 10, and then Then, an instruction for an update process is issued to the disk array device 10. When receiving the update processing instruction, the processor 3 receives the master information 3 of the management information 34.
4 to the storage location of the application program 71;
The disk area 72 allocated to the host computer 8-2 is confirmed, and the application program 71 is copied to the disk area 72. In the above description, the software update processing has been described. However, even when new software is installed, the same processing is executed so that the host computer 8-1 that manages the master data moves from the host computer 8- 2 can be installed in the second disk area. Further, the master data to be updated may be file data. However, in this case, writing or reading from an arbitrary host computer (for example, the host computer 8-2) may be performed during the file data copying operation.

The processing in this case will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. First, it is checked whether the access from the host computer 8-2 is to the file data being updated (step 81), and if the access is to the file data being updated, it is checked whether it has already been copied (step 81). 82) If it has already been copied, writing and reading are performed on the disk area allocated to the host computer 8-2, regardless of whether the access request is writing or reading (step 83). . If it is determined in step 82 that the access is for file data for which copying has not been completed, it is checked whether the access is a write request or a read request (step 84). If it has, the reading is executed from the master file data (step 85). If the access is a write request in step 84, the write request is temporarily stored in the RAM 5-2 as a work memory (step 8).
6) After the completion of the file data copy process, the write data is moved to the disk area of the host computer 8-2 (step 87). In this way, even if the file data is randomly accessed from the host computer,
It is possible to copy to all disk areas by one installation work.

In the above description, the operation of copying the master data to the disk area of all the host computers connected to the disk array device has been described. However, only a part of the host computers constituting the system has the specific software. When file and file data are commonly used, unnecessary copy processing can be reduced by setting a disk area of a host computer to which software and file data are copied in the management information 30. is there.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is necessary to initialize the disk array device shared by a plurality of host computers when the system configuration is changed due to the addition of a host computer or the like. Even if the OS or other application software used by a plurality of host computers needs to be upgraded, the initial setting and the upgrade process should be performed with minimum user's hand. Becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a disk array device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a master data copy process of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of management information according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection state between a disk array device and a host computer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a copy state of master data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing software upgrade processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a copy state of software.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing when an access request to a disk is issued during master data copy processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Array controller 2-1 to 2-4 ... Hard disk drive 3 ... Processor 4 ... Buffer 5-1 ... Non-volatile memory (ROM) 5-2 ... Volatile memory (RAM) 7 ... Terminal 8-1 to 8-3 ... Host computer 10 ... Disk array device 30 ... Management information

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A disk array device comprising: a plurality of disk drives; and a disk controller that receives requests from a plurality of host computers and executes writing and reading of data to and from the disk drives. A storage unit for storing information indicating a storage position of common data to be stored, management information including a disk capacity allocated to each host computer, a detecting unit for detecting that a new host computer is connected, Initial setting for receiving a signal indicating that a new host computer has been detected, allocating an available disk area to a newly connected host computer based on the management information, and executing the common data copying process And a disk array device. 2. A disk array device comprising: a plurality of disk drives; and a disk controller that receives requests from a plurality of host computers and executes writing and reading of data to and from the disk drives. Storage means for storing management information indicating a storage location of common data to be stored and disk areas allocated to the plurality of host computers; a detection means for detecting whether a change has occurred in the common data; and A disk array device comprising: a copying unit that receives a signal indicating that a change has been detected in the common data, and copies the common data to a disk area of each host computer based on the management information. 3. The write access control means according to claim 2, further comprising a write access control means for temporarily storing the write request in a work memory when a write request for the common data being copied is detected from the host computer during the copy. Disk array device. 4. When a read request for common data being copied is detected from the host computer during copying, it is checked whether the request is for a common data portion that has already been copied. 3. The disk array device according to claim 2, further comprising reading means for reading from data.