STORAGE SYSTEM AND TRANSFER MONITORING METHOD

Abstract

To easily monitor the progress of transfer of data between network attached storages (NASs).SOLUTION: A storage system 100 includes a first network attached storage (NAS) 101, a second NAS 102, a control terminal device 120, a server device 130, and a monitoring terminal device 140 connected to the Internet. The control terminal device 120 includes a transfer instruction unit 121 for transmitting a transfer instruction to the first NAS 101 to transfer data to the second NAS 102. The first NAS 101 includes a data transmission / reception unit 111 which directly transmits / receives data to / from the second NAS 102 based on the transfer instruction, and a progress transmission unit 112 which transmits progress information on the data transfer to the server device 130. The monitoring terminal device 140 includes a progress information acquisition unit 141 which acquires progress information from the server device 130, and a progress presentation unit 142 which presents the progress.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage system having a plurality of network storage devices (NAS (Network Attached Storage)) connected to a network, and to a storage system capable of monitoring direct data transfer between two network storage devices, and a transfer monitoring method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are cases where a large amount of data is transferred between multiple network storage devices connected to a network. For example, when transferring data to one network storage device as a backup to another network storage device or when replacing a network storage device, two network storage devices are temporarily connected to the network and data is transferred from one network storage device to the other network storage device.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a network storage device that, upon receiving a transfer instruction from a control terminal device that controls the network storage device, transmits and receives data directly between two network storage devices without going through the control terminal device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-197357 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when data transfer is performed between only two network storage devices without the intervention of a control terminal device, the control terminal device is not involved in the data transfer, and therefore the progress of the data transfer becomes unknown over a long period of time when a large amount of data is being transferred.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a storage system and a transfer monitoring method that can monitor the data transfer status between two network storage devices using a monitoring terminal device other than the control terminal device that sent the transfer instruction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one storage system of the present invention is a storage system comprising a plurality of network storage devices connected to a network, a control terminal device that controls at least one of the network storage devices, a server device connected to the network, and a monitoring terminal device connected to the network and monitoring at least one of the network storage devices, and further comprising a transfer instruction unit that sends a transfer instruction to one of the plurality of network storage devices to instruct it to transfer data to another of the network storage devices, and the network storage device comprises a data transmission / reception unit that performs data transmission and reception directly with the other of the network storage devices via the network based on the transfer instruction from the transfer instruction unit, and a progress transmission unit that transmits progress information regarding the progress of data transmission and reception to the server device via the network, and the monitoring terminal device comprises a progress information acquisition unit that acquires progress information from the server device, and a progress presentation unit that presents the progress of data transmission and reception based on the acquired progress information.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, another transfer monitoring method of the present invention is a transfer monitoring method in a storage system comprising a plurality of network storage devices connected to a network, a control terminal device that controls at least one of the network storage devices, a server device connected to the network, and a monitoring terminal device connected to the network and monitoring at least one of the network storage devices, wherein a transfer instruction unit sends a transfer instruction to one of the plurality of network storage devices instructing it to transfer data to another of the network storage devices, a data sending / receiving unit of the network storage device directly sends and receives data to the other of the network storage devices via the network based on the transfer instruction from the transfer instruction unit, a progress sending unit of the network storage device sends progress information regarding the progress of the data sending / receiving to the server device via the network, a progress information acquisition unit of the monitoring terminal device acquires the progress information from the server device, and a progress presentation unit of the monitoring terminal device presents the progress of the data sending / receiving based on the acquired progress information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] When direct data transfer is executed between two network storage devices, the progress of the data transfer can be monitored by a monitoring terminal device that is different from the control terminal device that sent the transfer instruction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the device configuration of a storage system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a storage system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the storage system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of a storage system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are presented as examples to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in a method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not indicate mathematical precision and include substantially acceptable errors and deviations. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0012] Furthermore, the drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions is appropriately made in order to explain the present invention, and the shapes, positional relationships, and proportions may differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions.

[0013] In addition, in the following, multiple inventions may be collectively described as one embodiment, and some of the contents described below may be described as optional components related to the present invention.

[0014] 1 is a diagram showing the device configuration of a storage system. The storage system 100 includes a first network storage device 101, which is one of the network storage devices, a second network storage device 102, which is another network storage device, a control terminal device 120, a server device 130, and a monitoring terminal device 140. The first network storage device 101, the second network storage device 102, the control terminal device 120, the server device 130, and the monitoring terminal device 140 are each connected to a network.

[0015] In this embodiment, the network includes a first network 210 and a second network 220 connected via an address translation device 150 .

[0016] The type of first network 210 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network), commonly known as the Internet, provided by a telecommunications carrier that allows communication based on a global IP address.

[0017] The type of second network 220 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) that communicates based on private IP addresses (local IP addresses). Specifically, the second network 220 is a network that complies with IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.3. Connected to this second network 220 are a first network storage device 101, a second network storage device 102, and a control terminal device 120. However, the devices connected to the second network 220 are not limited to these.

[0018] The address translation device 150 is a device that has a NAT (Network Address Translation) function that converts an IP address into another IP address. In this embodiment, the address translation device 150 is a so-called router.

[0019] The first network storage device 101 is one of the network storage devices, and is connected to the second network 220, capable of sending and receiving data via the second network 220, and storing the received data. Upon request from the control terminal device 120, the first network storage device 101 can send and receive data directly to and from the second network storage device 102 via the second network 220 without the need for the control terminal device 120.

[0020] The first network storage device 101 is equipped with a processor, and executes predetermined programs to realize various applications, such as a file sharing application, a data transfer application, a web server application, and a virus scanning application.

[0021] 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the storage system. The first network storage device 101 comprises a data transmission / reception unit 111 and a progress transmission unit 112 as processing units realized by causing a processor to execute a program.

[0022] The data transmitter / receiver 111 transmits and receives data directly to and from the second network storage device 102, which is another network storage device, via the second network 220, based on a transfer instruction from the control terminal device 120 or the like. Specifically, the data transmitter / receiver 111 stores in advance setting information for data transfer from the second network storage device 102 to itself, and when a transfer instruction is received from the control terminal device 120, it can transmit data directly from the second network storage device 102 to the first network storage device 101 without going through the control terminal device 120. The data transmitter / receiver 111 holds in advance information for data transfer, such as the total amount of data to be transferred and the total number of files to be transferred. After data transfer from the second network storage device 102 to the first network storage device 101 has begun, the control terminal device 120 is no longer involved in the data transfer and can therefore be disconnected from the second network 220.

[0023] The progress transmission unit 112 transmits progress information relating to the progress of data transmission and reception to the server device 130 via at least the first network 210. In the present embodiment, the progress transmission unit 112 transmits the progress information to the server device 130 via the second network 220 and the first network 210.

[0024] In this embodiment, the first network storage device 101 and the server device 130 are capable of communicating with each other via a network. Progress information is transmitted from the first network storage device 101 to the server device 130 at predetermined intervals, and the first network storage device 101 and the server device 130 are not constantly connected. Specifically, the progress transmission unit 112 obtains the total amount of data to be transferred, the amount of data transferred relative to the total number of files to be transferred, the number of transferred files, etc., and transmits the progress information to the server device 130 each time a predetermined percentage (e.g., 10%) of the total data is transmitted.

[0025] The second network storage device 102 is a device with the same functions as the first network storage device 101, and includes a data transmission / reception unit 111. In this embodiment, the second network storage device 102 is a device that replaces the first network storage device 101, and takes over the data stored in the first network storage device 101. Furthermore, the second network storage device 102 is not in a state where it can communicate with the server device 130 via the network, and does not transmit progress information or the like to the server device 130. The second network storage device 102 may also have a function to establish communication with the server device 130.

[0026] The control terminal device 120 is a computer connected to the second network 220, and controls network storage devices such as the first network storage device 101 and the second network storage device 102 via the second network 220. The control terminal device 120 realizes a transfer instruction unit 121 by having a processor execute a program.

[0027] In this embodiment, the first network storage device 101, the second network storage device 102, the control terminal device 120, and the address translation device 150, which are connected to the second network 220, are installed in the same first premises 301. Furthermore, the second network storage device 102 may be disconnected from the second network 220 after data transfer is complete. Note that "data transfer" includes "data duplication" and "data movement."

[0028] The transfer instruction unit 121 transmits a transfer instruction to the first network storage device 101, which is one of the network storage devices, to instruct the transfer of data from the second network storage device 102, which is another network storage device. The specific operation of the control terminal device 120 will be described later.

[0029] The server device 130 is a device capable of communicating with at least one of a plurality of network storage devices connected to the second network 220 via the first network 210, and realizes a progress information update unit 131 by having a processor execute a program. In this embodiment, the server device 130 is capable of communicating with a plurality of network storage devices respectively connected to a plurality of LANs, etc., via the Internet, and is also capable of communicating with a plurality of monitoring terminal devices 140 via the Internet. The server device 130 can also be realized as a virtual server built in a cloud environment of the first network 210.

[0030] The progress information update unit 131 receives progress information transmitted from the second network storage device 102 and updates the previously received progress information with the newly received progress information. For example, if the first network storage device 101 transmits progress information every 10% of the total amount of data to be transferred, the progress information update unit 131 updates the progress information in the order of 10%, 20%, ... 100%. In this embodiment, when the progress information reaches 100%, the progress information update unit 131 forcibly transmits completion information indicating the completion of data transfer to the monitoring terminal device 140.

[0031] The monitoring terminal device 140 is a computer connected to the first network 210 and receives progress information from the server device 130 via the first network 210. The monitoring terminal device 140 realizes a progress information acquisition unit 141 and a progress status presentation unit 142 by causing a processor to execute a program. In this embodiment, the monitoring terminal device 140 is installed in a second premises 302 that is different from the first premises 301. Note that the second premises 302 is not limited to a specific location, and may be any location that can be connected to the first network 210.

[0032] The progress information acquisition unit 141 is a processing unit that acquires progress information from the server device 130. In the present embodiment, the progress information acquisition unit 141 can access the progress information update unit 131 of the server device 130 based on an instruction from a monitor who operates the monitoring terminal device 140, and acquire the latest updated progress information.

[0033] The progress status presentation unit 142 presents the progress status of data transmission and reception based on the progress information acquired by the progress information acquisition unit 141. Specifically, the progress information is presented to the monitor by displaying it on a display provided in the monitoring terminal device 140.

[0034] Next, the operation of the storage system 100 will be described. Figure 3 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the storage system. In the following explanation, a file will be used as an example of the data to be transferred. Also, a case will be described in which all files stored in the second network storage device 102 are copied to the first network storage device 101 in accordance with the setting information included in the transfer instruction from the control terminal device 120.

[0035] A user with administrative privileges (Admin) logs in to the first network storage device 101 using a browser from the control terminal device 120 (S1). When the user requests a device setting screen from the first network storage device 101 (S2), a configuration file for the device setting screen is sent to the control terminal device 120 (S3). The browser implemented by the control terminal device 120 renders the received configuration file and displays it on the display of the control terminal device 120. When the user operates the control terminal device 120 to further request a backup setting screen and receives the configuration file for the backup setting screen, the browser displays the backup setting screen.

[0036] When network direct copy (hereinafter abbreviated as NDC) is selected from the backup setting screen, a request for an NDC setting screen is sent from the browser of the control terminal device 120 to the first network storage device 101 (S4). The first network storage device 101 sends a configuration file for the NDC setting screen to the control terminal device 120 (S5). Upon receiving the NDC configuration file, the browser of the control terminal device 120 renders the NDC setting screen and displays it on the display. NDC is a data copy function in which the control terminal device issues an instruction to transfer data from one network storage device to another, and once the transfer has begun, the control terminal device is not involved in the data transfer.

[0037] The user inputs setting items based on the NDC setting screen. Specifically, the user specifies the first network storage device 101, which is the copy destination, and the second network storage device 102, which is the copy source, by private IP addresses or the like. The user also specifies the files to be copied based on the NDC setting screen. In this embodiment, all files are set to be copied.

[0038] When the user presses the execute button on the NDC setting screen, the NDC setting information is sent from the control terminal device 120 to the first network storage device 101 (S6).

[0039] Next, the first network storage device 101 sends a connection request including a user name and password to the second network storage device 102 (S7). The second network storage device 102 performs authentication processing using the user name and password, and if authentication is successful, sends a connection response to the first network storage device 101 (S8).

[0040] The first network storage device 101, which has received the connection response, sends a file transmission request in accordance with the setting information (S9). The second network storage device 102 reads the file in accordance with the file transmission request and transmits the read file (S9a). The above file transmission and reception is repeated until transmission and reception of all files in accordance with the setting information is completed.

[0041] During file transfer, when the amount of data transferred from the second network storage device 102 to the first network storage device 101 reaches a predetermined amount, the first network storage device 101 transmits progress information to the server device 130 via the first network 210 (S10).

[0042] The monitoring terminal device 140 requests progress information from the server device 130 via the first network 210 at any timing (S11). When the server device 130 receives the request for progress information from the monitoring terminal device 140, it transmits the latest progress information to the monitoring terminal device 140. The monitoring terminal device 140 presents the received progress information.

[0043] When the first network storage device 101 determines that the transfer of all files has been completed, it sends a connection termination request to the second network storage device 102 (S13). When the second network storage device 102 receives the connection termination request, it sends a connection termination response to the first network storage device 101 (S14). When the first network storage device 101 receives the connection termination response from the second network storage device 102, it sends completion information indicating that the progress is 100% to the server device 130 (S15). When the server device 130 receives the completion information, it forcibly sends the completion information to the monitoring terminal device 140. The monitoring terminal device 140 forcibly presents the completion information as final progress information using a pop-up or the like.

[0044] Furthermore, when the first network storage device 101 receives a connection termination response from the second network storage device 102, it records in a log that the NDC has been completed successfully. The first network storage device 101 sends an NDC completion notification to at least the control terminal device 120 that instructed the data transfer (S17). When the control terminal device 120 receives the NDC completion notification, it can also display on the display, for example, as a pop-up, that the data transfer has been completed.

[0045] According to the storage system 100 of the above embodiment, data is transferred directly between the first network storage device 101 and the second network storage device 102 without going through the control terminal device 120. In other words, the control terminal device 120 is not involved in the data transfer itself, so the control terminal device 120 can smoothly perform other processes while the data is being transferred. Furthermore, the power to the control terminal device 120 can be turned off during the data transfer.

[0046] Furthermore, the progress status of the data transfer is transmitted from the first network storage device 101 to the server device 130, which updates and stores the progress information. Therefore, the progress status of the data transfer can be confirmed at any time by accessing the server device 130 from the monitoring terminal device 140. By connecting the monitoring terminal device 140 to the first network 210, the monitor can monitor the progress of the data transfer from anywhere, eliminating the need for the monitor to stay on the first premises 301 until the data transfer is complete.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention may be embodied in another embodiment by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present invention also includes various modifications that would occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the wording of the claims.

[0048] For example, in the above embodiment, the first network storage device 101 at the destination (replacement destination) calculates the progress based on the amount of data received and transmits progress information indicating the progress to the server device 130, but the second network storage device 102 at the source (replacement source) may calculate the progress based on the amount of data transmitted and transmit the progress information to the server device 130.

[0049] In addition, the server device 130 or the monitoring terminal device 140 may grasp the total amount of data to be transferred and obtain the amount of data transferred as progress information, thereby allowing the server device 130 or the monitoring terminal device 140 to calculate the degree of progress.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the copying of a file from the second network storage device 102 connected to the second network 220 to the first network storage device 101 has been described. However, the storage system 100 can transmit progress information about data transfer between two other network storage devices connected to the second network 220 to the server device 130. For example, the control terminal device 120 may instruct the second network storage device 102, which is the sender (replacement source), to set up an NDC, copy a file from the second network storage device 102 to the first network storage device 101, and the second network storage device 102 may transmit progress information about the server device 130. Furthermore, the monitoring terminal device 140 may present progress information by distinguishing between multiple network storage devices.

[0051] In addition, the storage system 100 may be installed on a premises other than the first premises 301 and may transmit progress information to the server device 130 regarding data transfer between two network storage devices connected to a network different from the second network 220.

[0052] In addition, although the case where the first network storage device 101 is newly connected to the second network 220 and all files in the second network storage device 102 are copied to the first network storage device 101 has been described, the user may arbitrarily select the data to be transferred based on the control terminal device 120, such as copying some of the files in the second network storage device 102 to the first network storage device 101.

[0053] In addition, although the first network storage device 101 has been described as sending progress information to the server device 130 via the address translation device 150, the first network storage device 101 may also send progress information to the server device 130 via the first network 210 without going through the address translation device 150. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 100 Storage Systems 101 First network storage device 102 second network storage device 111 Data transmission / reception unit 112 Progress Transmission Unit 120 Control terminal 121 Transfer instruction section 130 Server device 131 Progress Information Update Section 140 Monitoring terminal device 141 Progress Information Acquisition Unit 142 Progress Status Presentation Section 150 Address translation device 210 First Network 220 Second Network 301 First campus 302 Second premises

Claims

1. A storage system comprising: a plurality of network storage devices connected to a network; a control terminal device that controls at least one of the network storage devices; a server device that is connected to the network; and a monitoring terminal device that is connected to the network and monitors at least one of the network storage devices, a transfer instruction unit that transmits a transfer instruction to one of the plurality of network storage devices to instruct the other of the plurality of network storage devices to transfer data to the other of the plurality of network storage devices; The network storage device a data transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data directly to and from other network storage devices via the network based on a transfer instruction from the transfer instruction unit; a progress transmission unit that transmits progress information regarding the progress of data transmission and reception to the server device via the network, The monitoring terminal device a progress information acquisition unit that acquires progress information from the server device; a progress status presentation unit that presents a progress status of data transmission and reception based on the acquired progress information, The network comprises: a first network and a second network connected via an address translation device; the monitoring terminal device and the server device are connected to the first network; the plurality of network storage devices and the control terminal device are connected to the second network; The control terminal device After the transmission and reception of data has begun, the device is disconnected from the second network. Storage system.

2. A transfer monitoring method in a storage system comprising a plurality of network storage devices connected to a network, a control terminal device that controls at least one of the network storage devices, a server device that is connected to the network, and a monitoring terminal device that is connected to the network and monitors at least one of the network storage devices, comprising: The network comprises: a first network and a second network connected via an address translation device; the monitoring terminal device and the server device are connected to the first network; the plurality of network storage devices and the control terminal device are connected to the second network; a transfer instruction unit of the control terminal device transmits a transfer instruction to one of the plurality of network storage devices to transfer data to another of the network storage devices; a data transmission / reception unit of the network storage device directly transmits and receives data to and from another network storage device via the network based on a transfer instruction from the transfer instruction unit; After the transmission and reception of data has started, the control terminal device is disconnected from the second network; a progress transmission unit of the network storage device transmits progress information relating to the progress of data transmission and reception to the server device via the network; a progress information acquisition unit of the monitoring terminal device acquires progress information from the server device; A progress status presentation unit of the monitoring terminal device presents the progress status of data transmission and reception based on the obtained progress information. Transfer monitoring method.

Images