Method and apparatus for verifying data in a storage system

Abstract

A method for verifying data in a storage system is disclosed. A host computer transmits area management data to a storage controller. The area management data specifies a range of a storage area in a storage device to be used by an application program having a mechanism for verifying data suitability. Upon receipt of an input / output request transmitted from the host computer, the storage controller performs verification, which is usually performed by the application program, of the data that is to be processed according to the data input / output request and to be input / output to / from the storage area, which is specified in accordance with the received area management data.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-092685 filed Mar. 28, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a method for verifying data in a storage system, a host computer and a storage controller in a storage system. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A storage system in which a host computer and a storage controller such as a disk array device are interconnected via a SAN (Storage Area Network) or other networks for intensive storage operation or other similar purposes have been attracting considerable attention. Storage systems configured as above are now being operated at IDCs (Internet Data Centers) and many other places. Recently, focus has been made on systems that use a storage controller called a NAS (Network Attached Storage) which is provided with a file system and use...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach allows for accurate verification and assurance of data suitability within the storage system, enhancing data management reliability and facilitating recovery by enabling the storage controller to perform data verification independently.

Problems solved by technology

Even if an application program is provided with the above-mentioned algorithm, however, the data suitability may be lost depending on the SAN or other cm cation path for connecting a host computer to a storage controller or due to an internal process performed by the storage controller.

If, for instance, the suitability of the data to be written into a storage controller is lost in a situation in which an application program is not involved, the storage controller will not be able to recognize such a loss of data suitability and will automatically store the unsuitable data.

If there is a long time lag between the instant at which the data is written and the instant at which the data is read, data recovery may be difficult to achieve.

Even in situations where data is backed up by the storage controller, data recovery will not be achievable if the backed-up data has already lost suitability.

Further, if the data suitability is lost in a situation in which an application program is not involved as mentioned above, the cause of the problem is often difficult to specify so that subsequent failure recovery and other similar operations may be rendered difficult to accomplish.

However, the storage controller would not be able to get hold of the above-mentioned information and arrangement.

That is, as far as the traditional storage system scheme is used, the data verification process performed by an application program cannot be performed by the storage controller.

Further, the RAS data does not relate to the data suitability required by an application program.

The disclosed scheme is not configured to recognize such information or configuration nor to verify the suitability demanded by individual application programs running on a host computer.

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