Method and System for Backing Up Storage System Data

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-Copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-device, for example a tape or DLT library, and then backups the information indicated in the E-Copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.

1 . A method in a storage system for transmitting data stored on therein to a destination port from among a plurality of destination ports, said storage system in data communication with said plurality of destination ports via a network, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a first port from among a plurality of ports of said storage system, a backup command to backup data stored in said storage system, said backup command including information indicative of a second port of a backup device on which said data is backed up, said second port being one of said plurality of destination ports;    determining a third port from among said plurality ports of said storage system based on said backup command, said first port and said third port being different ports; and    transferring said data to said second port via said third port.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said backup command includes information indicative of a world wide name (WWN) of said backup device and a logical unit number (LUN) identifying the location of said data in said storage system.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first port which receives said backup command and said third port are selected based on content of said data to be backed up, wherein said second port indicated in said backup command is selected based on content of said data to be backed.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said storage system is in communication with a management console, said management console receiving a command indicative of said first port, said second port, and said third port, said management console thereby specifying said first port, said second port, and said third port to said storage system.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said storage system is in communication with a management console, said management console receiving a command to group said first port and said third port.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a third port comprises automatically checking said plurality of ports of the storage system until to identify a connection to said second target port.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining whether said second port is available and transferring said data to said backup device via said second port if said second port is available.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said network is component of a storage area network.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of backup device is a tape drive.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said storage system is a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) device.  
   
   
       11 . A data copying method in a storage device, said storage device in communication with a server, the method in said storage device comprising: 
 receiving from said server a data copy command;    identifying a first backup device from among a plurality of backup devices; and    sending data associated with said data copy command to said first backup device based on information in said data copy command.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said data copy command includes information indicative of a world wide name (WWN) of said backup device and a logical unit number (LUN) identifying the location of said data in said storage device.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said storage device and said backup device each have a plurality of ports for data transmission and reception, the method including selecting ports of said storage device for data transmission and data reception and a port of said backup device for data reception based on said data copy command.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said storage device is in communication with a management console, wherein said selecting ports includes receiving at said management console a selection command, said selecting port being performed in accordance with said selection command.