JP5337899B2 - Network boot system, network boot method, network storage management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform operation management of a network boot system that manages a large number of client terminals by using a plurality of network storage devices. <P>SOLUTION: A client terminal maintains a program included in a volume read from a network storage device, and makes a modified maintenance volume be stored in a maintenance volume of the network storage device corresponding to itself. The network storage device storing the maintained maintenance volume transmits its own maintenance volume to other network storage devices. The other network storage device switches the received maintenance volume into an operation volume. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network boot system, a network boot method, and a network storage management apparatus in which a client terminal reads a program for operating itself from a network storage apparatus and starts it.

Conventionally, information such as an OS (Operating System) operating on a client terminal such as a PC (personal computer) is stored in a network storage device, and when the client terminal is activated, the network storage device is connected via the network. A thin client system using a network boot that starts by reading information such as an OS from the Internet is used.
In such network boot, all information necessary for the operation of the client terminal including the OS and other programs such as applications used in the client terminal and all information created in the client terminal are networked in units of volumes. It can be stored in a storage device, and each client terminal does not need to store a program such as an OS or an application. As a result, storage such as a hard disk is not required for each client terminal, and the client terminal can make maximum use of resources such as the CPU, memory, and graphic card installed in the client terminal, and information is transmitted to the client terminal. Is not stored, it is effective in preventing information leakage.

  As a technique for performing maintenance such as OS and program upgrades, security patch application, and the like read from the network storage device as described above, Patent Document 1 discloses backup, standby, and operation volumes in the network storage device. When performing maintenance, a technology is proposed to perform maintenance work efficiently without stopping processing by the client terminal by performing maintenance on the standby volume and switching the system later. Has been.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a system area in which information shared between a plurality of clients such as an OS and application data is stored, and a user in which information prepared for each user such as desktop settings and document files is stored. By separating the area and sharing the system area among multiple clients, the maintenance performed on one client terminal is reflected on other client terminals connected to the same network storage device. Therefore, techniques for improving the efficiency of operation management have been proposed.

International Publication No. 2006/095875 JP 2006-252112 A

  However, the technologies disclosed in Patent Technology 1 and Patent Literature 2 are technologies on the premise that maintenance is performed for each network storage device, and management of a plurality of network storage devices is not assumed. . Here, since there is a limit to the processing capacity and storage capacity of one network storage device itself, and the bandwidth capacity of a network connecting one network storage device and a plurality of client terminals, one network storage device The number of client terminals that can be managed with is limited. Therefore, in order to construct a large-scale network storage system that manages a large number of client terminals, it is necessary to install a plurality of network storage devices.

  When introducing a plurality of network storage devices, the technologies disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above are combined, and maintenance is performed even if a system area and a user area volume are prepared for each of the plurality of network storage apparatuses. In this case, it is necessary to perform maintenance for each network storage device. For example, if there are 20 network storage devices, maintenance work for 20 devices will be performed, and it will be cumbersome and time consuming for the administrator to perform maintenance work on all network storage devices. Is big. As a result, there is a possibility that the security patch may be delayed and exposed to a threat, or the application version may be delayed and the client terminal user may be inconvenient. In such a case, it is desirable to perform maintenance work efficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. In a network boot system that manages a large number of client terminals using a plurality of network storage devices, the maintenance cost of information read into the client terminals is reduced, and the efficiency is improved. Provided are a network boot system, a network boot method, and a network storage management apparatus that can be well managed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of client terminals connected to each other via a network are started by causing a client terminal corresponding to the client terminal to read and activate a volume corresponding to the client terminal. Network storage device and a network storage management device connected to the network storage device, wherein the network storage device includes a client terminal previously associated with itself among a plurality of client terminals. A storage unit that stores a volume including a program to be operated, and a program that transmits a volume to the client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal and that is maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from the client terminal are included. The network storage management device transmits a command to the network storage device, and stores the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit among the plurality of network storage devices. A network storage control unit is provided that is transmitted to another network storage device and stored in a storage unit included in the other network storage device.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, when the communication unit receives a command transmitted from the network storage management apparatus, the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit in response to the operation volume read request transmitted from the client terminal. Is read out as an operation volume and transmitted to the client terminal.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the storage unit includes a program that operates a client terminal that is associated with the storage unit in advance, and is input from an operation volume that is transmitted in response to an operation volume read request and the client terminal A program that is maintained in response to an operation instruction is included, a maintenance volume that is transmitted in response to a maintenance volume read request is stored, and the communication unit stores the maintenance volume in response to a maintenance volume read request from the client terminal. A maintenance volume including a program maintained according to an operation instruction input from the client terminal is stored in the storage unit, and the network storage management device transmits a command to the network storage device. Is copied maintenance volume in the storage device of the network storage device, the maintenance volume is copied as the operational volume, characterized in that to transmit in response to the operation volume read request transmitted from the client terminal.

  In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, the network storage management device transmits a synchronization command to the network storage device, the maintenance volume stored in the storage unit of the network storage device by the communication unit, and the maintenance stored in the other network storage device A difference between the volume and the volume is extracted as difference information, and the extracted difference information is transmitted to another network storage apparatus.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, when the network storage device receives the difference information transmitted from another network storage device, the maintenance volume stored in its own storage unit is updated based on the received difference information. It is characterized by having a receiving part to memorize.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the network storage management device transmits a volume copy command to the network storage device, and the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit is transferred to another network storage device among the plurality of network storage devices. It is made to transmit.

  Another embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a volume that includes a program that operates a client terminal that is associated with the client terminal in advance among a plurality of client terminals, and is connected via a network. A network boot comprising a plurality of network storage devices that are activated by reading a volume corresponding to the client terminal to a client terminal corresponding to the client terminal among the plurality of client terminals, and a network storage management device connected to the network storage device A system network boot method in which a network storage device transmits a volume to a client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal, and a program maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from the client terminal Storing the volume to be stored in the storage unit, and the network storage management device transmits a command to the network storage device, and the volume stored in the storage unit of the network storage device is transferred to the other of the plurality of network storage devices. Transmitting to a network storage device and storing in a storage unit included in another network storage device.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a plurality of network storage devices that are activated by reading a volume corresponding to a client terminal to a client terminal corresponding to the client terminal among a plurality of client terminals connected via a network. A storage unit that stores a volume including a program for operating a client terminal that is associated with the client terminal in advance among the plurality of client terminals, and transmits the volume to the client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal. A network storage management device connected to a network storage device having a communication unit for storing a volume including a program maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from a terminal in a storage unit, the network storage device having a command A network storage control unit that transmits the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit to another network storage device among the plurality of network storage devices and stores the volume in a storage unit included in the other network storage device It is characterized by.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the client terminal maintains the program included in the volume read from the network storage device and stores the changed maintenance volume in the maintenance volume of the network storage device corresponding to itself. The network storage device in which the maintained maintenance volume is stored transmits its own maintenance volume to the other network storage device, and the other network storage device switches the received maintenance volume to the operation volume. Therefore, even in a network boot system including a plurality of network storage devices, a plurality of networks can be maintained by performing volume maintenance on one client terminal. It is possible to reflect the maintenance already of volume in all of the work storage. This eliminates the need to perform maintenance work on each of the plurality of network storage devices, for example, and reduces the work burden on the operator, reduces maintenance costs, and enables efficient operation management of the network boot system. Become.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network boot system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data memorize | stored in the client information storage part by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data memorize | stored in the network storage information storage part by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of the generation management of the volume by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the network boot system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network boot system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of the generation management of the volume by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data memorize | stored in the network storage information storage part by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the network boot system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the network boot system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment: Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a network boot system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The network boot system in the present embodiment includes a plurality of network storage devices 100 (network storage device 100-1, network storage device 100-2,...), Network storage management device 200, system management terminal 300, and a plurality of network storage devices 100-1. Client terminal 400 (client terminal 400-1, client terminal 400-2,...). In this embodiment, the terminal name of the client terminal 400-1 is “Client1”, the terminal name of the client terminal 400-2 is “Client2”, the terminal name of the client terminal 400-3 is “Client3”, and the client terminal 400 -4 is “Client4”. Further, the storage name of the network storage apparatus 100-1 is “Storage1”, and the storage name of the network storage apparatus 100-2 is “Storage2”. Here, the number of devices and terminals shown in FIG. 1 are not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1, and any number may be used depending on the network boot service provision environment, the network environment, and the like according to the present embodiment. .

  The network storage apparatus 100 is connected to a plurality of client terminals 400 associated with and associated with itself via a network, and has a storage unit 120 in which a program for operating the client terminal 400 belonging to itself is stored. A computer device. The network storage device 100 communicates with the client terminal 400 by, for example, iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface). The network storage device 100 includes a differential transmission / reception unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a client communication unit 140.

  The storage unit 120 is a storage unit that stores a volume that includes a program for operating the client terminal 400 belonging to itself, and stores volumes of the maintenance volume 121, the operation volume 122, and the old operation volume 123. ing. Here, the volume is a management unit of information such as an OS program and various application programs for operating the client terminal 400. The network storage apparatus 100 reads one of these volumes in response to a volume read request from the client terminal 400 and transmits it to the client terminal 400.

  The maintenance volume 121 is a volume that is transmitted and read to the client terminal 400 in response to a maintenance volume read request transmitted from the client terminal 400 belonging to itself. The maintenance volume 121 is subjected to program maintenance by the client terminal 400 that has been read out, maintained, changed, and stored as the maintenance volume 121.

The operation volume 122 is a volume that is transmitted to and read from the client terminal 400 in response to an operation volume read request transmitted from the client terminal 400 belonging to itself.
The old operation volume 123 is handled as the operation volume 122 until the maintenance of the program is performed by the client terminal 400 and the maintained maintenance volume 121 shifts to the operation stage and is handled as the operation volume 122. It was the volume that had been.

  When the maintenance volume 121 of the storage unit 120 is maintained and updated and stored by the client terminal 400, the differential transmission / reception unit 110 responds to a synchronization command transmitted from the network storage management device 200 and has its own maintenance volume 121. And the maintenance volume 121 of the other network storage device 100 are extracted, and the extracted difference information is transmitted to the other network storage device 100. On the other hand, when the difference information is transmitted from the difference transmission / reception unit 110 of another network storage apparatus 100, the difference transmission / reception unit 110 receives the transmitted difference information, and the received difference information and its own maintenance volume 121 Based on the above, the maintenance volume 121 of its own storage unit 120 is updated and stored. As described above, the differential transmission / reception unit 110 communicates with the differential transmission / reception unit 110 of the other network storage apparatus 100 to perform synchronization processing of the volume stored in the maintenance volume 121 of the storage unit 120. Here, the difference information extracted by the difference transmitting / receiving unit 110 is extracted for each sector by LBA (Logical Block Addressing), for example.

  The client communication unit 140 receives the volume read request transmitted from the client terminal 400, reads the volume corresponding to the received volume read request from the operation volume 122 of the storage unit 120, and transmits the read volume to the client terminal 400. . The client communication unit 140 establishes a session with the client terminal 400 in response to the volume read request, and transmits / receives information such as programs included in the volume to / from the client terminal 400.

  The system management terminal 300 is a computer terminal that is connected to the network storage management apparatus 200 via a network and has an Internet browser function, a display, and the like, and is used by an administrator of the network boot system. The system management terminal 300 includes a communication unit 310 and an input unit 320. The input unit 320 is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and receives information input from an administrator. The communication unit 310 communicates with the network storage management apparatus 200 via a network according to information input to the input unit 320. In the present embodiment, the system management terminal 300 accesses the web service provided to the network storage management device 200 by the communication unit 310 according to information input from the input unit 320, and the system management terminal 300 uses an Internet browser. Information transmitted from the network storage management apparatus 200 is displayed on the display provided.

The network storage management device 200 is a computer device connected to the system management terminal 300, the client terminal 400, the network storage device 100 via a network, and includes a web service unit 210, an activation service unit 220, and a storage unit 230. And a network storage control unit 240.
The web service unit 210 performs information communication with the system management terminal 300 via a network, and provides services such as referring to and updating information stored in the storage unit 230.

The storage unit 230 is a storage unit that stores correspondence information indicating the belonging relationship between the client terminal 400 and the network storage device 100, and includes a network storage information storage unit 231, a client information storage unit 232, and an activation information storage unit. 233.
The client information storage unit 232 stores information on the client terminal 400 that performs network booting by the network boot system of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of client information data stored in the client information storage unit 232. As shown in FIG. 2, the client information includes information on a MAC address, an IP address, an OS area group name, a storage name, and a maintenance flag in association with the client terminal name.

  The client terminal name is a name given in advance to the plurality of client terminals 400 and identifies the client terminal 400. The MAC address is information indicating the MAC address assigned to the corresponding client terminal. The IP address is information indicating an IP address assigned to the corresponding client terminal. The OS area group name is a conceptual name composed of the maintenance volume 121, the operation volume 122, and the old operation volume 123 corresponding to the corresponding client terminal, and varies depending on, for example, the OS program, installed application, and the like. The storage name is the name of the network storage device 100 in which a volume including a program for operating the corresponding client terminal is stored. The maintenance flag is information stored in association with a client terminal corresponding to information designating a maintenance terminal transmitted from the system management terminal 300. When the maintenance flag is checked, the client terminal performs program maintenance. It is shown that the client terminal has been selected.

  The network storage information storage unit 231 stores information on the network storage device 100 in which the volume read into the client terminal 400 by the network boot system of this embodiment is stored. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of data of the network storage device 100 stored in the network storage information storage unit 231. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the network storage information, the parent master flag, the OS area group name, and the system name are associated with the storage name, and the maintenance volume, operation volume, and old operation volume 3 Information indicating each name of the system is included.

  The parent master flag is information indicating that the storage is to be maintained by the client terminal 400, and is checked as a target to be maintained by the client terminal 400 belonging to the network storage device. It is information indicating that it has been selected. The OS area group name is a conceptual name composed of the maintenance volume 121, the operation volume 122, and the old operation volume 123 corresponding to the corresponding client terminal, and varies depending on, for example, the OS program, installed application, and the like. The storage name is a name given in advance to each of the plurality of network storage devices 100 and identifies the network storage device 100. The system name includes three system names, that is, a maintenance volume, an operation volume, and an old operation volume. Here, the maintenance volume is the name of a volume that is maintained and changed when the program is maintained by the client terminal 400. The operation volume is a name of a volume transmitted in response to a volume read request transmitted from the client terminal 400 belonging to itself. The old operational volume is maintained by the client terminal 400, and when the maintained volume is shifted to the operational stage and becomes the operational volume, the volume that was the operational volume until then is saved as generation management. The name of the existing volume.

The activation information storage unit 233 stores activation information associated with each client terminal 400. The activation information storage unit 233 stores activation information to be transmitted in response to an activation information request transmitted from the client terminal 400. The activation information includes information such as a boot file, for example.
The network storage control unit 240 is a control unit that performs processing such as transmitting a synchronization command to the network storage apparatus 100 according to information transmitted from the system management terminal 300 to the web service unit 210.

  The activation service unit 220 receives the activation information request transmitted from the client terminal 400, reads the activation information corresponding to the client terminal 400 that transmitted the activation information request from the activation information storage unit 233 of the storage unit 230, and reads the activation information. The startup information is transmitted to the client terminal 400. Further, when the activation service unit 220 transmits activation information to the client terminal 400, the client information corresponding to the client terminal 400 is read from the client information storage unit 232, and the maintenance flag included in the read client information is checked. It is determined whether or not it has been done. When the maintenance flag is checked, the activation service unit 220 reads the volume name of the maintenance volume 121 corresponding to the OS area group name included in the client information from the network storage information storage unit 231 and reads the read maintenance Activation information with the volume name of the volume 121 as the access destination is transmitted to the client terminal 400. On the other hand, when the maintenance flag is not checked, the activation service unit 220 reads the volume name of the operation volume 122 corresponding to the OS area group name included in the client information from the network storage information storage unit 231 and reads it. The activation information whose access destination is the volume name of the operational volume 122 is transmitted to the client terminal 400.

  The client terminal 400 is a computer terminal used by a user, and is a diskless PC having no storage. At startup, the client terminal 400 acquires startup information from the network storage management device 200, accesses the storage of the network storage device 100 corresponding to the client terminal 400 based on the acquired startup information, and transmits a volume read request. It is activated based on a program read from the network storage device 100 in response to a read request. Here, the activation information includes the volume name of either the maintenance volume 121 or the operation volume 122 as an access destination, and the client terminal 400 transmits a volume read request to the access destination. The client terminal 400 transmits a maintenance volume read request when the access destination is the maintenance volume 121, and transmits an operation volume read request when the access destination is the operation volume 122.

  When the client terminal 400 transmits a maintenance volume read request and reads the maintenance volume read request from the maintenance volume 121, the client terminal 400 performs maintenance of the OS program, application program, and the like that operate the client terminal 400 in accordance with an operation from the user. The maintenance volume 121 including the maintained program is updated and stored as the maintenance volume 121 in the storage unit 120 of the network storage device 100. Here, the maintenance includes information update such as version upgrade of each program read by the client terminal 400 and application of a security patch. In the present embodiment, the client terminal 400-1 and the client terminal 400-2 are associated with and belong to the network storage apparatus 100-1, and the client terminal 400-1 and the client terminal 400-2 are network storage apparatuses. It belongs to 100-1 in association with it.

Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the concept of the generation transition of each area included in the storage unit 120 of the network storage apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. “Storage1” has a maintenance volume “AA”, an operation volume “AB”, and an old operation volume “AC”, and “Storage2” has a maintenance volume “BA” and an operation volume “BB”. ”And the old operation volume“ BC ”exist. Here, when the information included in the volume stored in the maintenance volume “AA” is maintained and changed by the client terminal 400 belonging to “Storage1”, the maintenance volume including the changed information of “Storage1” is included. Difference information between “AA” and the maintenance volume “BA” of “Storage2” is extracted by the difference transmission / reception unit 110. The extracted difference information is transmitted to “Storage 2”, and the maintenance volume “BA” is updated and stored using the transmitted difference information. Then, when a system switching command is transmitted from the network storage control unit 240, the old operation volume “AC” of “Storage1” and the old operation volume “BC” of “Storage2” are deleted. Thereafter, the maintenance volume “AA” maintained in “Storage 1” is copied to generate “AD”, and similarly, the maintenance volume “BA” maintained in “Storage 1” is copied to generate “BD”. The
Thereafter, by updating the table of the network storage information storage unit 231, the operation volumes “AB” and “BB” are switched to the old operation volume, and the maintenance volumes “AD” and “BD” are switched to the operation volume.

<First Embodiment: Example of Operation>
Next, an operation example in which the volume stored in the network storage apparatus 100 in the network boot system according to the present embodiment is maintained by the client terminal 400 and synchronized with the other network storage apparatus 100 to perform system switching will be described. To do.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of the network boot system according to the present embodiment.
First, the communication unit 310 of the system management terminal 300 displays information indicating the name of the client terminal 400 that performs the maintenance of the program among the plurality of client terminals 400 in accordance with the operation information input to the 320 administrator. 200 (step S1). Here, the client terminal 400-1 (Client1) is designated as the maintenance terminal.

  When the web service unit 210 of the network storage management apparatus 200 receives the designation of the maintenance terminal transmitted from the system management terminal 300, it corresponds to “Client1” of the client information stored in the client information storage unit 232 of the storage unit 230. The maintenance flag to be checked is checked (step S2). Then, the administrator turns on the client terminal 400-1 (step S3). When the client terminal 400 transmits an activation information request to the network storage management apparatus 200 (step S4), the activation service unit 220 receives the transmitted activation information request, and obtains activation information corresponding to the client terminal 400-1. Read from the activation information storage unit 233 of the storage unit 230 (step S5). Here, when the activation service unit 220 reads the client information corresponding to the client terminal 400-1 stored in the client information storage unit 232 and determines that the maintenance flag is checked, the activation service unit 220 sets the maintenance volume 121-1 to the access destination. Generate startup information.

  The activation service unit 220 transmits activation information having the maintenance volume 121-1 as an access destination to the client terminal 400-1 (step S6). The client terminal 400-1 receives the activation information transmitted from the network storage management apparatus 200, and based on the received activation information, transmits a maintenance volume read request to the network storage apparatus 100-1 to which the client terminal 400-1 belongs. Network access to the storage apparatus 100-1 is started (step S7). Here, when the client communication unit 140-1 of the network storage apparatus 100-1 receives the maintenance volume read request transmitted from the client terminal 400-1, the maintenance volume including a program corresponding to the client terminal 400-1 is included. 121-1 is read from the storage unit 120-1, and the read maintenance volume 121-1 is transmitted to the client terminal 400.

  The client terminal 400-1 performs a maintenance process on the maintenance volume 121-1 corresponding to the client terminal 400-1 read from the network storage apparatus 100-1 (step S8). When the maintenance is completed and the client terminal 400-1 is shut down (step S9), the storage access from the client terminal 400-1 to the network storage device 100-1 is completed (step S10). At this time, the maintenance volume 121-1 of the storage unit 120-1 includes the program that has been maintained and changed by the client terminal 400 in step S8.

  Then, the system management terminal 300 transmits a synchronization command to the web service unit 210 (step S11). When receiving the synchronization command via the web service unit 210, the network storage control unit 240 of the network storage management device 200 transmits the synchronization command to the network storage device 100-1 and the network storage device 100-2 (step). S12). When the differential transmission / reception unit 110-1 of the network storage device 100-1 and the differential transmission / reception unit 110-2 of the network storage device 100-2 receive the synchronization command transmitted from the network storage management device 200 in step S12, they are synchronized. Processing is performed (step S13).

  The network storage management apparatus 200 transmits a synchronization processing result request to the network storage apparatus 100-1 and the network storage apparatus 100-2 (step S14). The network storage device 100-1 or the network storage device 100-2 receives the synchronization processing result request, and if the synchronization processing is normally completed, the synchronization result information indicating that the synchronization processing is normally completed, The data is transmitted to the network storage management device 200 (step S15). Here, the network storage management apparatus 200 receives the synchronization result information transmitted from the network storage apparatus 100-2.

  The network storage control unit 240 of the network storage management device 200 transfers the synchronization result information transmitted from the network storage device 100-1 to the system management terminal 300 (step S16). Here, when the system management terminal 300 receives the synchronization result information, the system management terminal 300 may display information indicating that the synchronization processing has been normally completed on a display included in the system management terminal 300. Then, the system management terminal 300 transmits a system switching command to the network storage management device 200 in accordance with the operation information input from the administrator to the input unit 320 (step S17).

  The network storage management device 200 transmits a system switching command to the network storage device 100-1 and the network storage device 100-2 (step S18). When the network storage apparatus 100 of the network storage apparatus 100-1 and the network storage apparatus 100-2 receives the system switching command transmitted from the network storage management apparatus 200, the network storage apparatus 100-1 performs system switching, and from then on to the client terminal 400 to which it belongs. When an operation volume read request is received, the volume that has been maintained in step S8, synchronized, updated and stored in step S13 is treated as the operation volume 122-1, and the volume read from the operation volume 122 is read. Will be sent.

  Further, the network storage management device 200 updates the system information of the network storage information stored in the network storage information storage unit 231 of the storage unit 230 (step S19). Here, the network storage control unit 240 converts the network storage information stored in the network storage information storage unit 231 into the system name “BB” of the operation area corresponding to “Storage2” as shown in FIG. "Is rewritten and stored in the system name" BD "in the maintenance area.

  When the network storage management apparatus 200 updates and stores the system information of the network storage information stored in the storage unit 230, the network storage management apparatus 200 transmits system switching result information indicating that the system switching has been completed to the system management terminal 300 ( Step S20). Here, when the system management terminal 300 receives the synchronization result information, the system management terminal 300 may display information indicating that the system switching has been completed on a display included in the system management terminal 300.

  Note that the synchronization command, the synchronization result request, the synchronization result transmission, the system switch command, the synchronization process performed in S13, and the like transmitted and received in the above-described steps S12, S14, S15, S18, etc. The two storage apparatuses 100-2 have been described as an example. However, the network storage apparatus 100 that receives volume difference information, performs synchronization processing, and performs system switchover includes a plurality of network storage apparatuses 100-2. May exist.

  In the description of the present embodiment, which client terminal 400 is the maintenance terminal and which network storage device 100 is the parent master is determined by the administrator inputting to the system management terminal 300 in step S1. For example, the network storage control unit 240 of the network storage management device 200, the client communication unit 140 of the network storage device 100, and the communication with other client terminals 400 are continuing and a session is established. An appropriate maintenance terminal or parent master may be determined based on whether or not there is. In this way, since it takes time to perform maintenance work on the network storage device 100 in which a large number of sessions are extended, it is possible to perform maintenance work while avoiding such network storage device 100. It is.

  Further, the network storage control unit 240 of the network storage management apparatus 200 may determine an appropriate maintenance terminal or parent master based on the number of client terminals 400 associated with the network storage apparatus 100. In this way, for example, maintenance work can be performed by the network storage apparatus 100 with a small number of associated client terminals, and the network load can be reduced. Such a maintenance terminal or parent master determination process may be performed by the maintenance unit 410 of the client terminal 400.

  Further, in the synchronization process of step S13, the difference transmission / reception unit 110-1 of the network storage apparatus 100-1 may transmit the difference information to a plurality of network storage apparatuses 100-2 at the same time, or sequentially transmit the difference information. The difference information may be transmitted at a predetermined time. In this way, it is possible to perform maintenance work by selecting a time and method with less load on the system depending on the network congestion status, the usage status of the network storage device 100 by the client terminal 400, and the like.

<Second Embodiment: Configuration>
Next, a network boot system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The network boot system according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the network boot system according to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations and processes as those in the first embodiment. The description is omitted.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network boot system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the network boot system according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the network storage device 100-3 includes a volume transmission unit 130-3, while the network storage device 100-4 includes a volume reception unit 130-4. The network storage apparatus 100-4 is different from the first embodiment in that the storage unit 120-4 does not include a maintenance volume.

  When the program maintenance is performed by the client terminal 400-1 and the maintenance volume 121-3 of the network storage apparatus 100-3 is maintained and changed, the volume transmission unit 130-3 issues a system switching command from the system management terminal 300. When received, the maintenance volume is transmitted to the network storage apparatus 100-4.

  When receiving the old operation deletion command transmitted from the network storage control unit 540 of the network storage management device 500, the volume receiving unit 130-4 deletes the old operation volume 123-4. Then, the maintenance volume transmitted from the network storage device 100-3 is stored in the free area of the storage unit 120-4, and the maintenance volume stored in the free area here is defined as the operation volume 122-4, and the operation volume until then. The area that was 122-4 is defined as the old operational volume 123-4.

Here, referring to FIG. 7, the maintenance volume 121-3 included in the storage unit 120-3 of the network storage apparatus 100-3 according to the present embodiment is copied to the storage unit 120-4 of the network storage apparatus 100-4. Explain the concept. “Storage1” has a maintenance volume “AA”, an operation volume “AB”, and an old operation volume “AC”, and “Storage2” has no maintenance volume and the operation volume “BB”. ”And the old operation volume“ BC ”exist. Here, the volume stored in the maintenance volume “AA” is maintained and changed by the client terminal 400 belonging to “Storage1”. Thereafter, when the system switching command is transmitted, the old operation volume “AC” of “Storage1” and the old operation volume “BC” of “Storage2” are deleted. Thereafter, the maintenance volume “AA” of “Storage1” is copied to generate volume “AD”, and at the same time, the maintenance volume “AA” is transferred to “Storage1” to generate volume “BD”.
Thereafter, by updating the table of the network storage information storage unit 231, the operation volumes “AB” and “BB” are switched to the old operation volume, and the maintenance volumes “AD” and “BD” are switched to the operation volume.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a data example of network storage information stored in the network storage information storage unit 231 in the present embodiment. The items included in the network storage information are the same as in the first embodiment, but differ in that the system name of the maintenance volume “Storage2” does not exist (illustrated as “−” in FIG. 8). In the present embodiment, the network storage device 100-4 does not have a maintenance volume in the storage unit 120-4, and maintenance is performed on the network storage device 100-3, so that it is stored in the network storage information storage unit 231. The network storage information may not include the “parent master” item.

<Second Embodiment: Example of Operation>
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the network system according to the present embodiment. The process of step S1-step S10 is the same as that of 1st Embodiment.
In step S10, when storage access from the client terminal 400-1 to the network storage apparatus 100-3 is completed, the maintenance volume 121-3 of the storage unit 120-3 is maintained and changed by the client terminal 400-1 in the maintenance volume 121-3. The completed volume is stored.

  Then, the system management terminal 300 transmits a system switching command to the web service unit 210 (step S30). The network storage control unit 540 of the network storage management device 500 transmits a volume copy command and an old operation deletion command to the network storage device 100-3 and the network storage device 100-4 (step S31). When receiving the old operation deletion command transmitted from the network storage management device 500, the network storage device 100-3 deletes the volume stored in the old operation volume 123-3 of the storage unit 120-3 (step S32). At the same time, when receiving the old operation deletion command transmitted from the network storage management device 500, the network storage device 100-4 deletes the volume stored in the old operation volume 123-4 of the storage unit 120-4 (step S33). ).

  Then, the network storage apparatus 100-3 copies the volume stored in the maintenance volume 121-3 into its own storage unit 120-3 (step S34). Further, the volume transmission unit 130-3 of the network storage device 100-3 transmits the maintenance volume 121-3 to the network storage device 100-4 (step S35). The volume receiving unit 130-4 of the network storage device 100-4 receives the maintenance volume transmitted from the network storage device 100-3 and stores it in the free area of the storage unit 120-4.

  When the processing of the deletion of the old operation volume and the volume copy is completed, the network storage apparatus 100-3 transmits a copy end notification to the network storage management apparatus 500 (step S36). When the network storage management device 500 receives the copy end notification transmitted from the network storage device 100-3, the network storage control unit 540 includes a network storage information system stored in the network storage information storage unit 231 of the storage unit 230. Update the name. Here, as shown in FIG. 8B, the operation volumes “AB” and “BB” are switched to the old operation volume, and the system name of the operation volume “Storage1” is updated from “AB” to “AD”. Then, the system name of the operation volume “Storage2” is updated from “BB” to “BD” (step S37). Here, the entity of the operation volume “BD” of “Storage 2” is transmitted from the maintenance volume “AA” of the network storage apparatus 100-3 to the network storage apparatus 100-4 in step S35, and the free area of the storage unit 120-4 Is a volume copied and stored in In this way, system switching of the volumes stored in the storage unit 120-3 and the storage unit 120-4 is performed.

  When the network storage management apparatus 500 updates and stores the system name of the network storage information stored in the storage unit 230, the network storage management apparatus 500 transmits system switching result information indicating that system switching has been completed to the system management terminal 300 ( Step S38). Here, when the system management terminal 300 receives the system switching result information, the system management terminal 300 may display information indicating that the system switching has been completed on a display included in the system management terminal 300.

  In this embodiment, the old operation volume 123-3 is deleted and the maintenance volume 121-3 is copied in step S32, and then the maintenance volume 121-3 of “Storage1” is transferred to “Storage2”. As shown in FIG. 10, the maintenance volume 121-3 of “Storage 1” may be transferred to “Storage 2” in advance prior to the old operational volume deletion command.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the maintenance volume 121-3 only needs to exist in the storage unit 120-3 of the network storage apparatus 100-3, and the storage unit 120-4 of the other network storage apparatus 100-4 has Since it is not necessary to secure a maintenance volume, the storage resources of the network storage device 100-4 can be used effectively.
As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to perform maintenance work on each of a plurality of network storage devices, reducing the work burden on the operator, reducing the maintenance cost, and improving the efficiency of the network boot system. Operation management becomes possible.

  Note that a program for realizing the function of the processing unit in the present invention is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed to perform network booting. May be. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” includes a WWW system having a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Network storage apparatus 110 Differential transmission / reception part 120 Storage part 121 Maintenance volume 122 Operation volume 123 Old operation volume 130-3 Volume transmission part 130-4 Volume reception part 140 Client communication part 200 Network storage management apparatus 210 Web service part 220 Starting service part 230 Storage Unit 231 Network Storage Information Storage Unit 232 Client Information Storage Unit 233 Startup Information Storage Unit 240 Network Storage Control Unit 300 System Management Terminal 310 Communication Unit 320 Input Unit 400 Client Terminal 410 Maintenance Unit 500 Network Storage Management Device 540 Network Storage Control Unit

Claims (8)

A plurality of network storage devices that are activated by reading the volume corresponding to the client terminal to the client terminal corresponding to the client terminal among the plurality of client terminals connected via the network, and connected to the network storage device A network boot system comprising a network storage management device,
The network storage device
A storage unit for storing the volume including a program for operating the client terminal associated with the client terminal in advance among the plurality of client terminals;
Communication for transmitting the volume to the client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal and storing the volume including the program maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from the client terminal in the storage unit And comprising
The network storage management device includes:
An instruction is transmitted to the network storage device, and the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit is transmitted to another network storage device among the plurality of network storage devices, and the other network storage device is provided. A network boot system comprising: a network storage control unit for storing in the storage unit. When the communication unit receives a command transmitted from the network storage management device, the communication unit stores the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit in response to an operation volume read request transmitted from the client terminal. The network boot system according to claim 1, wherein the network boot system is read as and transmitted to the client terminal. The storage unit includes a program for operating the client terminal associated with itself in advance, an operation volume to be transmitted in response to the operation volume read request, and an operation instruction input from the client terminal The program to be maintained is included, and a maintenance volume to be transmitted in response to a maintenance volume read request is stored.
The communication unit transmits the maintenance volume to the client terminal in response to a maintenance volume read request from the client terminal, and the maintenance includes the program maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from the client terminal Store the volume in the storage unit,
The network storage management device includes:
Sending a command to the network storage device, causing the maintenance volume to be copied to a storage device of the network storage device, and using the copied maintenance volume as an operation volume in response to an operation volume read request sent from the client terminal network boot system according to 請 Motomeko 2 you, characterized in that to transmit. The network storage management device includes:
A synchronization command is transmitted to the network storage device, and the difference between the maintenance volume stored in the storage unit of the network storage device and the maintenance volume stored in another network storage device is extracted as difference information. The network boot system according to claim 3, wherein the extracted difference information is transmitted to the other network storage device. The network storage device
A receiving unit that receives the difference information transmitted from the other network storage device and updates and stores the maintenance volume stored in the storage unit based on the received difference information. The network boot system according to claim 4, wherein: The network storage management device includes:
The volume copy command is transmitted to the network storage device, and the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit is transmitted to another network storage device among the plurality of network storage devices. The network boot system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Among the plurality of client terminals, the storage unit stores a volume including a program for operating the client terminal associated with the client terminal in advance, and the plurality of client terminals connected via the network Network boot of a network boot system comprising: a plurality of network storage devices that are activated by reading a volume corresponding to the client terminal to the client terminal corresponding to the network terminal; and a network storage management device connected to the network storage device A method,
The network storage device is
Transmitting the volume to the client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal, and storing the volume including the program maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from the client terminal in the storage unit When,
The network storage management device is
An instruction is transmitted to the network storage device, the volume stored in the storage unit of the network storage device is transmitted to another network storage device among the plurality of network storage devices, and the other network storage device Storing in the storage unit comprising:
A network boot method comprising: Among a plurality of client terminals connected via a network, a plurality of network storage devices for causing the client terminal corresponding to itself to read and activate a volume corresponding to the client terminal, wherein the plurality of client terminals Among them, a storage unit that stores the volume that includes a program that operates the client terminal that is associated with the client terminal in advance, the volume is transmitted to the client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal, and the client A network storage management device connected to the network storage device comprising a communication unit for storing the volume including the program maintained in accordance with an operation instruction input from a terminal;
An instruction is transmitted to the network storage device, and the volume stored in the storage unit by the communication unit is transmitted to another network storage device among the plurality of network storage devices, and the other network storage device is provided. A network storage management device comprising a network storage control unit for storing in the storage unit.

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