Storage system, and method for controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a method A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer; a first storage controller connected communicably to the host computer, for receiving a data frame transmitted from the host computer and executing data input to and data output from a first storage device in response to a data input/output request described in the data frame; and a second storage controller connected communicably to the first storage controller, comprising relaying by the first storage controller, upon receipt of the data frame transmitted from the host computer, the data frame to the second storage controller in response to information described in the data frame.

1 . A method of controlling to data access in a virtualization system coupled to a plurality of host systems and at least one storage system, at least one of the host systems sending a write request to a volume in the virtualization system, the storage system having a plurality of disk drives and a plurality of logical volumes related to the disk drives, the method comprising: 
 receiving a first write request, the first write request being sent from a first host system of the host systems and being targeted to a first volume;    transferring data of the first write request to the first volume;    copying data of the first write request to a second volume, the second volume being a pair volume of the first volume and being a virtual volume for being used to transfer the copy of data of the first write request to a first logical volume of the storage system;    transferring the copy of data of the first write request to the storage system based on a first relationship information between the second volume and the first logical volume;    receiving a second write request, the second write request being sent from a second host system of the host systems and being targeted to the second volume;    restricting to transfer data of the second write request to the second volume, if the second host system is not allowed to access to the second volume; and    transferring the data of the second write request to the second volume, if the second host system is allowed to access to the second volume.    
   
   
       2 . The method of controlling data access as recited in  claim 1 , wherein storing the first relationship information between the second volume and the first logical volume.  
   
   
       3 . The method of controlling data access as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing a second relationship information between a specified host system of the host systems and the second volume,    wherein the virtualization system performs the restricting step or the transferring step of the data of the second write request to the second volume, based on the second relationship information including a relationship between the second host system and, the second volume.    
   
   
       4 . The method of controlling data access as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing a second relationship information between a specified host system of the host systems and the second volume; and    determining whether or not the second host system is allowed to access to the second volume, based on the second relationship information including a relationship between the second host system and the second volume.    
   
   
       5 . The method of controlling data access as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing a third relationship information for identifying a pair relationship between the first volume and the second volume,    wherein the virtualization system performs the copying step based on the third relationship information.    
   
   
       6 . The method of controlling data access as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first volume, the second volume and the first logical volume is identified by using a Logical Unit Number (LUN).  
   
   
       7 . The method of controlling data access as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first relationship information relates the second volume to both the first logical volume and a second logical volume of the storage system.  
   
   
       8 . The method of controlling data transfer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the virtualization system includes a data switching part and a control part, and 
 wherein the data switching part conducts the receiving step for receiving the first write request, the transferring step for transferring data of the first write request to the first volume, the transferring step for transferring the copy of data of the first write request to the storage system, the receiving step for receiving the second write request, the restricting step for restricting to transfer data of the second write request to the second volume, and the transferring step for transferring the data of the second write request to the second volume.    
   
   
       9 . A virtualization system coupled to a plurality of host systems and at least one storage system, at least one of the host systems sending a write request to a volume in the virtualization system, the storage system having a plurality of disk drives and a plurality of logical volumes related to the disk drives, the virtualizations system comprising: 
 a plurality ports coupled to the host systems and the storage system;    a data switching part; and    a control part;    wherein the data switching part and/or the control part perform a plurality of steps of:    receiving a first write request, the first write request being sent from a first host system of the host systems and being targeted to a first volume,    transferring data of the first write request to the first volume,    copying data of the first write request to a second volume, the second volume being a pair volume of the first volume and being a virtual volume for being used to transfer the copy of data of the first write request to a first logical volume of the storage system,    transferring the copy of data of the first write request to the storage system based on a first relationship information between the second volume and the first logical volume,    receiving a second write request, the second write request being sent from a second host system of the host systems and being targeted to the second volume,    restricting to transfer data of the second write request to the second volume, if the second host system is not allowed to access to the second volume, and    transferring the data of the second write request to the second volume, if the second host system is allowed to access to the second volume.    
   
   
       10 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein storing the first relationship information between the second volume and the first logical volume.  
   
   
       11 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the data switching part and/or the control part further perform a step of: 
 storing a second relationship information between a specified host system of the host systems and the second volume,    wherein the virtualization system performs the restricting step or the transferring step of the data of the second write request to the second volume, based on the second relationship information including a relationship between the second host system and the second volume.    
   
   
       12 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the data switching part and/or the control part further perform a plurality of steps of: 
 storing a second relationship information between a specified host system of the host systems and the second volume; and    determining whether or not the second host system is allowed to access to the second volume, based on the second relationship information including a relationship between the second host system and the second volume.    
   
   
       13 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the data switching part and/or the control part further perform a step of: 
 storing a third relationship information for identifying a pair relationship between the first volume and the second volume,    wherein the virtualization system performs the copying step based on the third relationship information.    
   
   
       14 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of the first volume, the second volume and the first logical volume is identified by using a Logical Unit Number (LUN).  
   
   
       15 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first relationship information relates the second volume to both the first logical volume and a second logical volume of the storage system.  
   
   
       16 . The virtualization system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the data switching part performs the receiving step for receiving the first write request, the transferring step for transferring data of the first write request to the first volume, the transferring step for transferring the copy of data of the first write request to the storage system, the receiving step for receiving the second write request, the restricting step for restricting to transfer data of the second write request to the second volume, and the transferring step for transferring the data of the second write request to the second volume.