JP2006059110A - Library control method, library control system, and library control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information management system capable of realizing high speed access equivalent to a hard disk drive at low costs equivalent to a conventional library device without giving pressure on a network resource of a user in the large capacity information management system aiming for online access. <P>SOLUTION: In the information management system comprising the hard disk drive and a library system in a hierarchical layer, when there is an instruction for mount processing from a host computer, restoring processing of data except the data existed in a cache memory regarding the hard disk drive is carried out between the hard disk drive and library system. When there is an instruction for unmounting processing from the host computer, backup processing of the data is carried out between the hard disk drive and the library system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a library control method, a library control device, and a library control program in a large-capacity information management system in which hard disk devices and library devices are hierarchically configured.

  As a conventional large-capacity information management system, a library apparatus using a medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical disk has been mainly used. However, since these library devices require a very long time to read and write information with the host computer, they are mainly used as backup devices, not as information storage devices for online access. there were. On the other hand, although a hard disk device can be accessed at high speed, it is overwhelmingly expensive compared to a magnetic tape or the like, and it has been difficult to realize a large capacity information management system using only a hard disk.

  Hierarchical information management systems that connect hard disk devices and magnetic tape library devices have also been implemented, but these systems are intended for automatic backup of information stored on hard disks, and users can use magnetic tapes. It was necessary to be aware of the library device.

  There is also a method for efficiently managing the hierarchical information management system using the host computer management software. However, these systems also require the user to be aware of the magnetic tape library device, and depending on the application. There was a problem that information access pressed the network resources of users.

  Also, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-26904, frequently used data is copied from a storage medium to a hard disk control means in advance, and when unrecorded data is requested, a library device The request data is not output directly from the library, but is copied and stored in the hard disk control means before it is output. Data requests from each application program are processed separately from the library device, and all data is stored on the hard disk. A data management system using a library device that controls to exist is disclosed. In the case of this example, there is a problem that a large-capacity hard disk is necessary and it takes time to send data not recorded on the hard disk to the host computer.

As another example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-242570 discloses a recognition in which a storage location for a magnetic disk device and a portable storage medium is provided in a plurality of housings, and the portable storage medium is attached to the portable storage medium. It has a library device that has a plurality of means to manage between symbols and moves between cases, and exchanges data with the magnetic disk device, making it possible to transfer large amounts of data without making the operator aware of it. An external storage device is disclosed that is configured to evacuate. Also in this example, the operator can handle all data as data on the magnetic disk without being aware of access to the magnetic tape, but it takes time to send the data to the host computer. There is.
JP-A-9-26904 JP 11-242570 A

  Therefore, when realizing a large-capacity information management system for online access, high-speed access equivalent to that of hard disk drives is put under pressure on user network resources, etc. at the same low cost as conventional library devices. It is necessary to realize without.

  An object of this invention is to provide the technique which solves said problem.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a library control method for an information management device in which a hard disk device and a library device are hierarchically configured, and the hard disk device when a mount processing instruction is issued from a host computer. A backup process is performed between the hard disk device and the library device when a restore process is performed between the hard disk device and the library device, except for data existing in the cache memory related to the host computer, and an unmount processing instruction is issued from the host computer. A library control method is characterized by performing processing.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a host computer, 2 is a disk array device, 3 is a hard disk device, 4 is a cache memory, 5 is a library control server, 6 is a tape library device, and 7 is a magnetic tape device. The disk array device 2 has a disk array control device (not shown) for controlling the hard disk device 3 and a cache memory 4. In the present invention, all user information is stored in the tape library device 6, and the library control server 5 transfers information between the hard disk device 3 and the magnetic tape device 7 as necessary, from the host computer. Is configured to access the disk array device 2. When the host computer 1 instructs the mount process, the target volume information is selected and restored to the hard disk device 3. Further, when the host computer 1 instructs the unmount process, the information stored in the hard disk device 3 is backed up to the tape library device 6. In addition, if there is an access to an unrestored area of the volume during the restoration process to the hard disk device 3, the information on the accessed location is preferentially restored, so that the user can wait at high speed without waiting. It is possible to access.

  Further, information that is accessed from the host computer 1 even when the volume is unmounted, such as volume information, is always stored in the cache memory 4 of the disk array device 2 so that unnecessary restore processing during unmounting does not occur. I have to.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the information on the mounted volume is always stored in the hard disk device, the user can feel as if the library device is configured only by the hard disk device. It can be used.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application communicates between the library control server that performs library control and the hard disk device, and between the library control server and the library device using a first communication protocol, The library control method according to claim 1, wherein communication is performed with the library control server by a second communication protocol.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication between the host computer 1 and the library control server 5 is performed by the communication protocol TCP / IP, and is provided between the disk array device 2 and the tape library device 6. The communication between the library control servers 5 is performed using, for example, a SCSI command, and the communication between the host computer 1 and the disk array device 2 is also performed, for example, by exchanging information between the devices using the SCSI command. High-speed access can be realized because user network resources and server resources are not used.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, in the information management device in which the hard disk device and the library device are hierarchically configured, a cache memory related to the hard disk device is instructed when a mount processing instruction is issued from a host computer. Processing means for performing restoration processing between the hard disk device and the library device except for the data existing in the hard disk device, and backup processing between the hard disk device and the library device when instructed by the host computer to perform unmount processing. And a processing means for performing the library control apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 3 of the present application, when there is a mount instruction from the host computer, for example, the data of the target volume is selected except for the data that is always stored in the cache memory of the disk array device, and from the library device Restore to the hard disk drive. Also, when an unmount instruction is issued from the host computer, the data of the target volume is selected, and backup is performed from the hard disk device to the library device as necessary.

  Here, if there is an access to the unrestored area of the volume during the restoration process to the hard disk device, the information on the accessed location is preferentially restored, so that the user can wait at high speed without waiting. It is possible to access.

  Further, information such as volume information that is accessed from the host computer even when the volume is unmounted is always stored in the cache memory of the disk device, so that unnecessary restoration processing at the time of unmounting does not occur.

In the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, the library control server that performs library control and the hard disk device, and the library control server and library device communicate with each other using a first communication protocol. 4. The library control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a communication unit and a second communication unit that communicates between the host computer and the library control server using a second communication protocol.
The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is a library control program for an information management device in which a hard disk device and a library device are hierarchically configured, and the computer is instructed to mount processing from the host computer. When there is a restore processing function for performing restore processing between the hard disk device and the library device except for data existing in a cache memory related to the hard disk device, and when an instruction for unmount processing is issued from the host computer, the hard disk A library control program for realizing a backup processing function for performing backup processing between a device and the library device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously achieve high-speed access, availability, and cost reduction of a hard disk device by using a low-cost medium library as a library device. A large-capacity information management system can be constructed at low cost.

  In FIG. 1, a SCSI command is used between the host computer 1 and the disk array device 2, and communication via the network, for example, communication using the TCP / IP protocol is used between the host computer 1 and the library control server 5. To do.

  Further, even when a volume such as volume information is unmounted, information accessed from the host computer is always stored in the cache memory of the disk array device 2 so that unnecessary restore processing at the time of unmounting does not occur. ing.

  In the present invention, since the information of the mounted volume is always stored in the hard disk device, the user can use it as if it were a library device composed only of hard disks.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a hardware configuration according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a cluster configuration having two library control servers 207. In FIG. 2, a disk array device 203 is connected to a host computer 201 via a CA (channel adapter) 202, and the disk array device 203 includes a cache memory 204. The disk array device 203 is connected to a library control device 207 via a switch 205 via an HBA (host bus adapter) 206. The tape library device 208 is connected via a switch.

  FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a firmware / software configuration according to the present invention. A disk array device 302 is connected to a host computer 301 via a CA 305. The disk array device 302 controls a VDE (virtual disk engine) 306, which is a firmware component for performing library control on the hard disk device side, and various resources. A resource control 307 for controlling the cache memory, a cache control 308 for controlling the cache memory, a RAID control / DA 309 for controlling the RAID or the disk array, and a RAID 310. In addition, it has maintenance control and configuration control components.

  The library control server 303 is connected to the disk array device 302 and the tape library device 304 via the HBA 311.

  The library control server 303 has software component MRC (migration / recall controller) 312 that performs data transfer processing for migration and recall, cluster control, maintenance control, and system control components.

  The tape library device 304 has a plurality of drives, and has a robot control component and a maintenance control component for taking in and out the tape between the tape library and the drives.

  In addition, a maintenance terminal 313 with a monitor connected to each maintenance control component of the disk array device 302, the library control server 303, and the tape library device 304 is provided.

  The details when the host computer 301 instructs the disk array apparatus 302 to mount or unmount will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a flow in the case where data exists on the disk array at the time of mounting. In the figure, first, when a mount processing command is input to the host computer 301, an interface command corresponding to the command is issued from the host computer 301 to the disk array device 302. The disk array device 302 analyzes the interface command and recognizes that mounting has been instructed (S401). The VDE 306 confirms that the target volume is mapped on the disk (S402), and responds to the host computer 301 that the mounting is completed (S403).

  FIG. 5 is an example of a flow when there is no data on the disk array at the time of mounting.

  When a mount processing command is input to the host computer 301, an interface command corresponding to the command is issued from the host computer 301 to the disk array device 302. The disk array device 302 analyzes the interface command and recognizes that mounting has been instructed (S501). When the VDE 306 confirms that the target volume is not mapped on the disk (S502), the target volume is an MRB (migration) that is the minimum unit for exchanging data with a free logical volume on the disk by migration or recall. Mapping is newly performed in units of (recall block) (S503), and thereafter, the host computer 301 is responded that the mounting is completed (S504).

  The VDE 306 queues the recall request for the target volume in the request queue in units of MRB (S505). The process from here is illustrated in detail in FIG. FIG. 9 shows an example of the recall process at the time of mounting. The MRC 312 mounted on the library control server 303 in FIG. 3 sequentially receives the recall request by polling and is queued in the command queue (S506). In FIG. 9, in order to parallelize the processing, the MRC 312 loads the tapes constituting the target volume for the number of drives, and the recall request is queued for each drive (S507). Then, restoration processing from the tape is performed, data is written to the disk of the disk array device 302 (S508), and the recall processing is terminated.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the flow when no data exists on the disk array at the time of unmounting.

  When a command for unmount processing is input in the host computer 301, an interface command corresponding to the command is issued from the host computer 301 to the disk array device 302. The disk array device 302 analyzes the interface command and recognizes that an unmount has been instructed (S601). When the VDE 306 confirms that the target volume is not mapped on the disk (S602), the VDE 306 responds to the host computer 301 that the mounting is completed (S603).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a flow when data exists on the disk array at the time of unmounting. When a command for unmount processing is input in the host computer 301, an interface command corresponding to the command is issued from the host computer 301 to the disk array device 302. The disk array device 302 analyzes the interface command and recognizes that mounting has been instructed (S701). When the VDE 306 confirms that the target volume is mapped on the disk (S702), the VDE 306 responds to the host computer 301 that the unmount is complete (S703). Then, the VDE 306 checks whether there is a dirty MRB in the target volume, and removes the MRB that is not dirty from the mapping. Normally, since the dirty MRB is periodically copied to the tape, at the time of an unmount request, only a small part of the MRB constituting the target volume remains on the disk as a dirty MRB.

  The process from here is illustrated in detail in FIG. FIG. 10 shows an example of migration processing during unmounting. The MRC 312 mounted on the library control server 303 in FIG. 3 sequentially receives migration requests by polling and queues them in the command queue (S706). In FIG. 10, in order to parallelize the processing, the MRC 312 loads the tapes constituting the target volume by the number of drives, and the migration request is requeued in units of drives (S707). Then, the data store processing to the tape is performed, and the disk state of the disk array device 302 is reflected to the tape (S708). Then, the MRB for which writing to the tape has been completed is removed from the mapping, and the migration process is terminated (S709).

  Finally, the flow when there is no data on the disk array and there is no free volume at the time of mounting will be described with reference to FIG. When a mount processing command is input to the host computer 301, an interface command corresponding to the command is issued from the host computer 301 to the disk array device 302. The disk array device 302 analyzes the interface command and recognizes that mounting has been instructed (S801). The VDE 306 confirms that the target volume is not mapped on the disk (S802). Then, it is confirmed that all the disks are mapped and there is no free volume (S803), and a mount error is returned to the host computer 301 (S804).

Overview of the present invention An embodiment of a hardware configuration according to the present invention An embodiment of firmware / software configuration according to the present invention Example flow when data is present on the disk array during mounting Example of flow when there is no data on the disk array when mounting Example flow when there is no data on the disk array when unmounting Example flow when there is data on the disk array when unmounting Example of flow when there is no data on the disk array and there is no free volume when mounting Example of recall processing during mounting Example of migration processing during unmount

Explanation of symbols

1, 201, 301 Host computer 2, 203, 302 Disk array device
3 Disk device 4 Cache memory 5, 207, 303 Library control server 6, 208, 304 Tape library device 7 Tape device

Claims (5)

A library control method for an information management device in which a hard disk device and a library device are hierarchically configured,
When there is a mount processing instruction from the host computer, except for the data existing in the cache memory related to the hard disk device, a restore process is performed between the hard disk device and the library device,
When there is an instruction for unmount processing from the host computer, backup processing is performed between the hard disk device and the library device.
A library control method characterized by the above. Communication between the library control server that performs library control and the hard disk device, and communication between the library control server and the library device using a first communication protocol,
Communication between the host computer and the library control server is performed using a second communication protocol.
The library control method according to claim 1. In an information management device in which a hard disk device and a library device are hierarchically configured,
When there is a mount processing instruction from the host computer,
Processing means for performing restore processing between the hard disk device and the library device except for data existing in a cache memory related to the hard disk device;
When there is an instruction for unmount processing from the host computer,
Processing means for performing backup processing between the hard disk device and the library device;
A library control apparatus comprising: First communication means for performing communication between the library control server that performs library control and the hard disk device, and between the library control server and the library device using a first communication protocol;
A second communication means for performing communication between the host computer and the library control server using a second communication protocol;
The library control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: A library control program of an information management device in which a hard disk device and a library device are hierarchically configured,
When there is a mount processing instruction from the host computer,
A restore processing function for performing restore processing between the hard disk device and the library device except for data existing in a cache memory related to the hard disk device;
When there is an instruction for unmount processing from the host computer,
A backup processing function for performing backup processing between the hard disk device and the library device;
Library control program for realizing.

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