Storage controlling unit

Abstract

Provided is a storage controller capable of changing a system configuration with scalability. A storage controller blade of the storage controller includes: interface units that each connect to one of a host computer and a disk device; a processor unit that controls a configuration of the storage controller and data access; a memory unit that stores a data cache and configuration information on the interface unit and the processor unit; and a mutual connection unit that connects the interface units, the processor unit, and the memory unit to one another. The processor unit recognizes a form of connection to another storage controller blade over the mutual network, and the connection path to another storage controller blade is set in the mutual connection unit based on the recognized form of connection.

1 . A storage controller for controlling data access made from a host computer to a disk device, comprising:
 a plurality of storage controlling units which control data access to at least one of a plurality of disk devices;   a non-volatile storage unit which is accessible by each of the storage controlling units; and   a mutual network system that connects the storage controlling units to one another,   wherein each of the storage controlling unit comprises:   a processor unit that controls a configuration of the storage controlling unit and data access to at least one of the disk devices,   interface units that are connected to the host computer and the disk devices,   a memory unit that stores a data cache and configuration information of the storage controlling unit, and   a mutual connection unit that connects the interface units, the processor unit, and the memory unit to one another,   wherein the processor unit recognizes a form of connection of the storage controlling unit to another storage controlling unit over the mutual network system.   
   
   
       2 . The storage controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage controlling units are connected to each other by cables through a back plane. 
   
   
       3 . The storage controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage controlling units are connected to each other through a switch connection unit. 
   
   
       4 . The storage controller according to  claim 3 , wherein the switch connection unit comprises:
 a switch that controls send/receive of data and configuration information among the storage controlling units; and   a shared memory that stores information shared among the storage controlling units.   
   
   
       5 . The storage controller according to  claim 3 , wherein the processor unit judges whether the other storage controlling unit or the switch connection unit is connected as a correspondent device to the storage controlling unit, and stores information representing the correspondent device in a discovery information table. 
   
   
       6 . The storage controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the discovery information table includes device information representing a type of the correspondent device, slot information representing a location of a slot of the mutual network system which connects the correspondent device, the correspondent port information that representing a port of the correspondent device, function information representing a function of the correspondent device, memory information representing a capacity of the memory unit provided to the correspondent device, port information representing a port of the storage controlling unit which connects the correspondent device. 
   
   
       7 . The storage controller according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a case where a configuration of the storage controller is changed by replacing a first storage controlling unit to a second storage controlling unit, the first storage controlling unit stores configuration information on the storage controller that has not changed, and the second storage controlling unit reads the stored configuration information and applies the read configuration information on the second storage controlling unit.