Storage Virtualization for Seamless Fault Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in seamlessly switching between primary and secondary logical devices across different storage control apparatuses, leading to inefficiencies in data access and management, especially during faults, as manual intervention is required for switching and data replication is not transparently managed.
Innovation Solution
A storage system and virtualization method that virtualizes logical devices across multiple storage control units, allowing for transparent switching between primary and secondary devices by designating them as a pair with a virtual identifier, enabling remote copying and automatic role changes between copy source and destination, and managing these changes through a management device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored in multiple logical devices across different storage control apparatuses, then data redundancy and system reliability are improved, but the complexity of managing and switching between these devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple logical devices from different storage control apparatuses into a single virtual logical device. The virtualization management apparatus creates a virtual logical device that aggregates physical logical devices, allowing the host to access multiple devices through a unified interface. This merging approach maintains data redundancy while simplifying management by presenting a single virtual device to the host system.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtualization management apparatus acts as an intermediary between the host and multiple storage control apparatuses. It manages the virtual logical device and coordinates access to underlying physical devices, handling switching operations transparently. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of managing multiple devices across different storage systems while maintaining reliability through redundant storage paths.
2Reliability
If manual switching between primary and secondary logical devices is implemented, then data access continuity is maintained during faults, but the time required for switching and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the virtual logical device to include multiple physical logical devices as potential access paths. The virtualization management apparatus establishes the relationship between virtual and physical devices in advance, so that when a fault occurs, the switching can be executed immediately without manual intervention. The host is presented with a unified virtual device that already has redundant paths prepared.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtualization management apparatus implements automatic switching functionality that operates without manual intervention. When a fault is detected in the primary logical device, the system automatically switches access to the secondary logical device through the virtual logical device interface. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual switching operations and reduces the time loss associated with fault recovery.
3Ease of operation
If logical devices from different storage control apparatuses are virtualized as one virtual logical device, then ease of access and management are improved, but the complexity of coordinating remote copying and role switching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualization management apparatus provides universal management functionality for logical devices across different storage control apparatuses. It implements a unified interface and control mechanism that handles various operations including access management, remote copying coordination, and role switching. This multi-functional approach allows the system to manage heterogeneous storage devices through a single universal management platform, simplifying ease of access while handling coordination complexity internally.
Data Source
AI summary
The storage system of the present invention is able to generate one virtual logical device from different logical devices which exist in each of the different storage control units and remote-copy all or part of the virtual logical device to another logical device. The same virtual identifier is set for a volume of the first storage unit and for a volume of the second storage unit. The path control unit of the host identifies a plurality of volumes which have the same virtual identifier as one virtual volume. A remote copy pair can also be set by a virtual volume and a volume of the third storage unit. The setting of the virtual volume and the setting of the remote copy can be performed by means of an instruction from the management server.