JP2013003833A - Auxiliary storage device and downgrade determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the possibility of a downgrade by determining the acceptance/rejection of the downgrade by using actually used storage capacity in an auxiliary storage device, such as a disk array device.SOLUTION: A device restriction determination part 15 determines whether a downgrade is possible with the present number of HDDs 12 as it is by using configuration information of the present HDDs 12 managed by a configuration information holding part 13 and configuration information of HDDs mountable at a lower-order grade stored in a lower-order grade maximum configuration information holding part 14. In the case of being impossible, a remapping determining part 16 determines whether the downgrade is possible if reducing the number of HDDs 12 by moving data stored in the HDDs 12 to a space area. In the case that the downgrade is possible, a downgrade processing part 17 changes setting of a device configuration to execute the downgrade.

Description

  The present invention relates to an auxiliary storage device of a computer such as a disk array device and a downgrade determination method for determining whether or not the downgrade is possible.

  The disk array device uses a plurality of magnetic disk devices (hereinafter referred to as “HDDs”) as storage media, and can be accessed as one logical disk from the host computer side. A typical example of a disk array device is RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks).

  RAID technology was first introduced in a paper by Paterson et al. At the University of California, Berkeley in 1987. By using a large number of relatively inexpensive HDDs, fault tolerance is improved, speed is increased, and capacity is increased. Currently, it is widely used as a technology that can achieve this.

  Such a disk array device can be easily upgraded to a disk array device with a large capacity and a large-scale configuration by adding HDDs.

  However, if the disk array device is upgraded based on the prediction that the usage will increase, but the prediction does not increase and the actual usage does not increase, or if the actual usage does not occur as planned, Operation in a scale configuration becomes a problem in terms of power consumption and maintenance. Furthermore, occupying many unnecessary HDDs is also a problem in terms of effective use of resources. In such a case, in order to delete unnecessary HDDs, a downgrade may be performed in which the grade (class) is lowered and the setting is changed to a disk array device having a small configuration.

  When performing a downgrade, the disk array device is downgraded while holding different configuration information as in the case of multi-booting of an OS (Operating System) that is basic software. In this case, for example, the condition that the number of HDDs that are actually used before the downgrade must be equal to or less than the maximum number of HDDs that can be mounted in the target lower grade configuration needs to be satisfied.

  Patent Document 1 below describes a procedure for expanding the storage capacity by replacing the HDD used in the disk array device with a HDD having a larger capacity.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 discloses a system for creating a configuration definition table used to access a physical disk in response to an input / output request given from a host computer, even if the model is of a different scale. A configuration definition setting method that can be used to create a configuration definition table having a memory size corresponding to the scale is described.

  Patent Document 3 describes a configuration setting method for simplifying the setting operation of the configuration of the physical device group and the logical device group performed by the administrator of the storage apparatus and suppressing setting mistakes and complicated work. Yes. However, none of Patent Documents 1 to 3 describes a downgrade determination method.

International Publication No. 01/040925 JP 2006-221371 A JP 2008-71104 A

  As described above, the downgrade of the disk array system satisfies the conditions such that the number of HDDs actually used before the downgrade is less than or equal to the maximum number of HDDs that can be installed in the target lower grade configuration. This is only possible if

  However, for example, when an HDD is added and started to be used by upgrade, data is also distributed and stored in the added HDD. For this reason, even if the total amount of data actually stored in the HDD in the disk array device before downgrading can be sufficiently stored even in the HDD group that can be mounted in the lower-grade disk array device, downgrading There was a problem that it was determined that it was not possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the possibility of downgrade is determined by determining the possibility of downgrade using the storage capacity actually used in an auxiliary storage device such as a disk array device. The purpose is to increase.

In order to achieve the above object, an auxiliary storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
In the auxiliary storage device in which the number of storage media that can be mounted and the storage capacity are limited according to the set grade, and the data given from the host computer is distributed and stored in a plurality of mounted storage media,
Based on the total storage capacity actually used among the plurality of installed storage media and the total storage capacity of the largest storage media that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade And determining means for determining whether or not a change to the lower grade is possible.

The downgrade determination method according to the second aspect of the present invention is:
The number of storage media that can be mounted and the storage capacity are limited according to the set grade, and the auxiliary storage device that stores the data provided from the host computer in a plurality of mounted storage media is stored. A downgrade determination method for determining the possibility of changing to a lower grade than the grade,
Based on the total storage capacity actually used among the plurality of installed storage media and the total storage capacity of the largest storage media that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade , And a determination process for determining whether or not a change to the lower grade is possible.

  In the present invention, the total storage capacity actually used in the plurality of installed storage media and the storage capacity of the maximum storage medium that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade It is determined whether or not it is possible to change to a lower grade based on the sum of the above. Thereby, the possibility of downgrade can be increased as compared with the case where it is determined whether or not the change to the lower grade is possible based only on the number of storage media actually used.

1 is a block diagram of a disk array device showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the structure information holding | maintenance part in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the lower grade maximum structure information holding | maintenance part in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the downgrade determination process in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the disk array device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention determines the possibility of downgrade in addition to the RAID control unit 11, the plurality of HDDs 12 as storage media, and the configuration information holding unit 13. Or a lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14, an apparatus restriction determination unit 15, a remapping determination unit 16, and a downgrade processing unit 17.

  Among these components, the RAID control unit 11, the plurality of HDDs 12, and the configuration information holding unit 13 are also included in a general disk array device.

  In other words, the RAID control unit 11 stores user data provided from the host computer 1 as a data processing device in a distributed manner on the plurality of HDDs 12 based on the applied RAID system, and responds to a user data read request. Control for reading data from the plurality of HDDs 12 and transferring the data to the host computer 1 is performed.

  The configuration information holding unit 13 holds configuration information of the currently operating disk array device 10, and the RAID control unit 11 controls a plurality of HDDs 12 using information stored in the configuration information holding unit 13. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration information holding unit 13 includes the number of installed HDDs 12 (the number of installed HDDs) and the disk port of the RAID control unit 11 as configuration information of the currently operating disk array device 10. Number (the number of disk ports), the number of HDDs 12 connected to each disk port (the number of HDDs connected to each disk port), the number of logical disks (the number of logical disks), the capacity of each logical disk, and the actual size of each logical disk Contains information such as the capacity used for data storage (actual capacity used for each logical disk), the physical capacity of each installed HDD 12, and the configuration of each configured storage pool 0, 1,. ing.

  The storage pool is a virtual storage that can use a plurality of storages (HDDs) as if they were a single storage, and is managed by HDD configuration information, logical disk configuration information, RAID configuration information, and the like.

  On the other hand, the downgrade means comprising the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14, the device restriction determination unit 15, the remapping determination unit 16, and the downgrade processing unit 17 is newly provided in the disk array device 10 of the present invention. is there.

  The lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14 holds information relating to the maximum configuration in the lower grade to be lowered from the current grade. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14 includes the maximum number of HDDs 12 that can be mounted (maximum number of HDDs installed), and the maximum number of HDDs 12 that can be connected to the disk port of the RAID control unit 11 (disk port number). Information such as the maximum number of HDDs connected), the number of disk ports, the maximum number of logical disks, and the capacities of the HDDs 12 supported by the lower-grade disk array device (capacities of supported HDDs).

  The device restriction determination unit 15 uses the maximum configuration information in the lower grade held in the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14 and the current configuration information of the disk array device 10 managed by the configuration information holding unit 13. Thus, it is determined whether or not there is a restriction on the device configuration regarding the downgrade. The device restriction determination unit 15 determines that downgrade is possible when there is no restriction on the device configuration.

  The remapping determination unit 16 determines whether or not the downgrade is possible by reassigning (remapping) the HDD 12 when the device restriction determination unit 15 determines that there is a restriction on the device configuration related to the downgrade. Is determined. For example, the remapping determination unit 16 performs the remapping when the amount of data stored in the HDD 12 of the current disk array device 10 can be stored in the downgraded HDD by simply reducing the HDD. It is determined that a downgrade is possible.

  Further, if the currently installed HDD 12 cannot be downgraded even by remapping, the remapping determination unit 16 determines whether or not the downgrading is possible by changing to a HDD having a large capacity, and the result is obtained. It is designed to output.

  The downgrade processing unit 17 actually performs a downgrade process when it is determined by the device restriction determination unit 15 or the remapping determination unit 16 that the downgrade can be performed.

  The RAID control unit 11 includes an interface circuit between the host computer 1 and the plurality of HDDs 12, a processor that performs control processing according to a program, a memory that stores a program for control processing, and the like. Further, the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14, the device restriction determination unit 15, the remapping determination unit 16, and the downgrade processing unit 17, which are downgrade means, are also configured by a processor and a memory storing a processing program. However, the processor, memory, etc. of the RAID control unit 11 can be used as this processor, memory, etc.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the downgrade determination process in FIG. The operation of the downgrade determination process in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  By starting the downgrade determination process, the device restriction determination unit 15 is activated, the configuration information holding unit 13 and the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14 are referred to, and the number of currently installed HDDs 12 and the maximum of the lower grade The number of installed HDDs is compared (step S11).

  If the number of HDDs 12 currently installed is less than or equal to the maximum number of HDDs of lower grades (step S11; YES), the device restriction determination unit 15 displays on the display unit (not shown) that downgrade is possible, and is possible Make a decision. Thereby, the determination process ends.

  If the number of HDDs 12 currently installed is not less than or equal to the maximum number of installed HDDs of the lower grade (step S11; NO), the device restriction determination unit 15 determines the number of current HDDs 12 that exceeds the maximum number of installed HDDs of the lower grade. Is calculated (step S13), and the remapping determination unit 16 is activated.

  The remapping determination unit 16 refers to the configuration information holding unit 13, selects the storage pool to be deleted in order from the storage pool with the smallest total capacity of the logical disk, and the number of HDDs 12 remaining after the deletion is the maximum installed of the lower grade The number of HDDs is set to be equal to or less than the number of HDDs (step S14).

  Next, the remapping determination unit 16 calculates the total A of the actual used capacity of the logical disks existing in the storage pool selected as the deletion target (Step S15). Further, the remapping determination unit 16 calculates the total free space B of the logical disks existing in the storage pool that is not to be deleted (step S16).

  Further, the remapping determination unit 16 compares the calculated total A and total B (step S17). When the total free space B of the storage pools not subject to deletion is larger than the total actual usage A of the storage pools to be deleted (step S17; YES), the remapping determination unit 16 performs downgrade by remapping. It is determined that it is possible, and the possibility is determined by displaying the HDD 12 to be deleted and the migration destination storage pool of the logical disk to be migrated (step S18). Thereby, the determination process ends.

  When the total free space B of the storage pools not subject to deletion is equal to or less than the total actual storage capacity A of the storage pools to be deleted (step S17; NO), the remapping determination unit 16 is not downgraded by remapping. It is determined that it is possible, and the shortage capacity (A-B) of the storage pool is calculated (step S19).

  Thereafter, the remapping determination unit 16 calculates a free capacity C when the storage pool to be deleted is replaced with a large capacity HDD (step S20), and this free capacity C is the shortage capacity (AB) of the storage pool. It is determined whether it is larger than (step S21).

  When the free capacity C is larger than the shortage capacity (A-B) of the storage pool (step S21; YES), the remapping determination unit 16 displays the capacity of the replacement target HDD 12 and the HDD necessary for replacement (step S21). S22), impossible determination is performed. Thereby, the determination process ends. However, in this case, if the HDD 12 is replaced according to the displayed contents, the downgrade is possible by remapping.

  On the other hand, when the free capacity C is smaller than the shortage capacity (A-B) of the storage pool (step S21; NO), the remapping determination unit 16 displays the total capacity of the excess logical disk (step S23) and cannot be performed. Make a decision. Thereby, the determination process ends. In this case, since the total capacity of the logical disks actually used in the disk array device 10 exceeds the total capacity in the maximum configuration of the lower grade, the downgrade is impossible.

  If it is determined in step S12 or step S18 that the downgrade is possible, the downgrade processing unit 17 is activated, and if necessary, the data in the HDD 12 to be deleted is moved to the HDD 12 that is not to be deleted, the data Downgrade is executed by performing processing such as disconnecting unnecessary HDD 12 after the movement.

As described above in detail, the disk array device 10 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not a downgrade is possible based on the actual usage of the currently installed HDD and the maximum configuration information in the lower grade. I am doing so. As a result, even after upgrading by adding HDDs, there is an advantage that if the total amount of use of the HDD does not exceed the maximum scale of the lower grade, it can be restored (downgraded) to the original grade again.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the possibility of downgrade can be increased by determining the possibility of downgrade using the storage capacity actually used in the disk array device. Furthermore, when downgrade is impossible, the factor can be shown.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The following various deformation | transformation are possible.
(A) Although the disk array device 10 using the HDD 12 as a storage medium has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to an auxiliary storage device using a storage medium such as an optical disk or a flash memory.

(B) Instead of the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14, a grade-specific maximum configuration information holding unit that holds the maximum configuration information for each grade from the lowest level to the highest level is provided. You may comprise so that the maximum structure information in a grade may be obtained.
Conversely, it is necessary to provide an independent lower-grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14 by including, as data, the maximum configuration information of the HDD in the lower grade in the program constituting the device restriction determination unit 15 and the remapping determination unit 16. Will disappear.

(C) The configuration information held in the configuration information holding unit 13 or the lower grade maximum configuration information holding unit 14 is not limited to the exemplified one.
(D) The flow of the downgrade determination process of FIG. 4 is an example, and if the same process is possible, the procedure is arbitrary.

  A part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.

(Appendix 1)
In the auxiliary storage device in which the number of storage media that can be mounted and the storage capacity are limited according to the set grade, and the data given from the host computer is distributed and stored in a plurality of mounted storage media,
Based on the total storage capacity actually used among the plurality of installed storage media and the total storage capacity of the largest storage media that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade An auxiliary storage device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the lower grade can be changed.

(Appendix 2)
The determination means includes
A first determination unit that determines that the change to the lower grade is possible when the number of the installed storage media does not exceed the maximum number of storage media that can be installed in the lower grade;
If the first determination unit does not determine that the change to the lower grade is possible, the data stored in a part of the mounted storage medium is moved to another storage medium. A second determination unit that determines whether or not the number of storage media used for data storage can be reduced below the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade;
The auxiliary storage device according to appendix 1, characterized by comprising:

(Appendix 3)
The determination means includes
Data stored in some of the storage media when the second determination unit determines that the number of the storage media cannot be reduced below the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade By changing the storage capacity of the other storage medium that is the destination of the storage medium to the maximum storage capacity that can be mounted in the lower grade, the number of storage media used for storing the data is changed in the lower grade. The auxiliary storage device according to appendix 2, further comprising a third determination unit that determines whether or not the number of storage media that can be mounted can be reduced below the maximum number.

(Appendix 4)
The supplementary note 3 is characterized in that when the third determination unit determines that a change to a lower grade is possible due to a change in storage capacity of the storage medium, the third determination unit displays the storage medium to be changed. Auxiliary storage device.

(Appendix 5)
5. The apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, further comprising downgrade means for performing setting change to a lower grade when the judgment means determines that the change to the lower grade is possible. Auxiliary storage device.

(Appendix 6)
The auxiliary storage device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, wherein the storage medium is a magnetic disk device.

(Appendix 7)
The number of storage media that can be mounted and the storage capacity are limited according to the set grade, and the auxiliary storage device that stores the data provided from the host computer in a plurality of mounted storage media is stored. A downgrade determination method for determining the possibility of changing to a lower grade than the grade,
Based on the total storage capacity actually used among the plurality of installed storage media and the total storage capacity of the largest storage media that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade A downgrade determination method characterized by performing determination processing for determining whether or not a change to the lower grade is possible.

(Appendix 8)
In the determination process,
A first determination process for determining that a change to a lower grade is possible when the number of the mounted storage media does not exceed the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade;
If it is not determined in the first determination process that the change to the lower grade is possible, data stored in a part of the mounted storage medium is moved to another storage medium A second determination process for determining whether or not the number of storage media used for data storage can be reduced below the maximum number of storage media mountable in the lower grade,
The downgrade determination method according to appendix 7, wherein:

(Appendix 9)
In the determination process,
Data stored in the part of the storage media when it is determined in the second determination process that the number of the storage media cannot be reduced below the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade By changing the storage capacity of the other storage medium that is the destination of the storage medium to the maximum storage capacity that can be mounted in the lower grade, the number of storage media used for storing the data is changed in the lower grade. The downgrade determination method according to appendix 8, further comprising a third determination process for determining whether or not the number of mountable storage media can be reduced below the maximum number.

(Appendix 10)
The supplementary note 9 is characterized in that, in the third determination process, when it is determined that a change to a lower grade is possible due to a change in the storage capacity of the storage medium, the storage medium to be changed is displayed. Downgrade judgment method.

(Appendix 11)
The downgrade process for changing the setting to the lower grade is performed when it is determined by the determination process that the change to the lower grade is possible. Downgrade judgment method.

(Appendix 12)
The downgrade determination method according to any one of appendices 7 to 11, wherein the storage medium is a magnetic disk device.

1 host computer 10 disk array device 11 RAID control unit 12 HDD (magnetic disk device)
13 Configuration Information Holding Unit 14 Lower Grade Maximum Configuration Information Holding Unit 15 Device Limit Determination Unit 16 Remapping Determination Unit 17 Downgrade Processing Unit

Claims (10)

In the auxiliary storage device in which the number of storage media that can be mounted and the storage capacity are limited according to the set grade, and the data given from the host computer is distributed and stored in a plurality of mounted storage media,
Based on the total storage capacity actually used among the plurality of installed storage media and the total storage capacity of the largest storage media that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade An auxiliary storage device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the lower grade can be changed. The determination means includes
A first determination unit that determines that the change to the lower grade is possible when the number of the installed storage media does not exceed the maximum number of storage media that can be installed in the lower grade;
If the first determination unit does not determine that the change to the lower grade is possible, the data stored in a part of the mounted storage medium is moved to another storage medium. A second determination unit that determines whether or not the number of storage media used for data storage can be reduced below the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade;
The auxiliary storage device according to claim 1, further comprising: The determination means includes
Data stored in some of the storage media when the second determination unit determines that the number of the storage media cannot be reduced below the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade By changing the storage capacity of the other storage medium that is the destination of the storage medium to the maximum storage capacity that can be mounted in the lower grade, the number of storage media used for storing the data is changed in the lower grade. The auxiliary storage device according to claim 2, further comprising a third determination unit that determines whether or not the number can be reduced to a number equal to or less than a maximum mountable storage medium.   The third determination unit, when it is determined that a change to a lower grade is possible due to a change in the storage capacity of the storage medium, the storage medium to be changed is displayed. The auxiliary storage device described.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising downgrade means for changing a setting to a lower grade when the determination means determines that the lower grade can be changed. Auxiliary storage device described in 1.   6. The auxiliary storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a magnetic disk device. The number of storage media that can be mounted and the storage capacity are limited according to the set grade, and the auxiliary storage device that stores the data provided from the host computer in a plurality of mounted storage media is stored. A downgrade determination method for determining the possibility of changing to a lower grade than the grade,
Based on the total storage capacity actually used among the plurality of installed storage media and the total storage capacity of the largest storage media that can be installed in a grade lower than the currently set grade A downgrade determination method characterized by performing determination processing for determining whether or not a change to the lower grade is possible. In the determination process,
A first determination process for determining that a change to a lower grade is possible when the number of the mounted storage media does not exceed the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade;
If it is not determined in the first determination process that the change to the lower grade is possible, data stored in a part of the mounted storage medium is moved to another storage medium A second determination process for determining whether or not the number of storage media used for data storage can be reduced below the maximum number of storage media mountable in the lower grade,
The downgrade determination method according to claim 7, wherein: In the determination process,
Data stored in the part of the storage media when it is determined in the second determination process that the number of the storage media cannot be reduced below the maximum number of storage media that can be mounted in the lower grade By changing the storage capacity of the other storage medium that is the destination of the storage medium to the maximum storage capacity that can be mounted in the lower grade, the number of storage media used for storing the data is changed in the lower grade. 9. The downgrade determination method according to claim 8, further comprising a third determination process for determining whether or not the number of mountable storage media can be reduced to a value equal to or less than the maximum number of mountable storage media.   10. In the third determination process, when it is determined that a change to a lower grade is possible due to a change in the storage capacity of the storage medium, the storage medium to be changed is displayed. The downgrade determination method described.

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