JP2000137579A - Storage device and method for management and maintenance of storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time required for medium replacing work in a storage device constituted of plural storage media and to reduce labor for the work. SOLUTION: In a storage device constituting a disk array by arranging plural storage media 300 in plural rows ROW0 to ROW5 and plural ports PORT0 to PORT4, new recording media 300b corresponding to the number of old storage media 300a are packaged on the areas of ROW3 to ROW5 and PORT0 to PORT4 on which old storage media 300a are not packaged yet, and after copying data from the old storage media 300a to the new storage media 300b, the old storage media 300a are removed, so that replacing work from the old storage media 300a to the new storage media 300b can be collectively executed in a non-stop state without executing copying-back or media movement. Changes in physical packaging positions between the old storage media 300a and the new storage media 300b before and after the replacement are absorbed by monitoring change in copied position and by the logical conversion of address information in respective storage media 300 and consistent accesses can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage device maintenance management technique and a storage device, and more particularly, to a RAID (Redundant Arrays) in which a storage device having a redundant configuration is constituted by a plurality of storage media such as small disk devices.
The present invention relates to a technology effective when applied to maintenance management of an Inexpensive Disks system or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the information society in recent years, the amount of data processed by computers is increasing steadily, and low cost, large capacity, high performance storage devices are used for data storage. There is a demand for realizing high reliability and high availability. For this reason, a RAID system that realizes a large-capacity storage device having high reliability and performance by using a large number of inexpensive small disk devices having a redundant configuration as storage media instead of expensive large disk devices, etc., has become popular. Have been doing. In the RAID system, since a large number of storage media are used, the efficiency of maintenance management work such as medium replacement is also an important technical problem in system operation.

[0003] By the way, in such a RAID system, it is assumed that the medium can be exchanged without stopping the system for sporadic failure of each storage medium. That is, a spare storage medium is prepared in the storage device in advance, and when the occurrence of a failure in one storage medium is detected, the data of the failed storage medium is automatically replaced with the redundant data without stopping the system. After the restoration is completed, a new storage medium is installed at the position of the failed storage medium, and the repair data of the spare storage medium is automatically copied to the new storage medium (copy back).
Is what you do.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-152495 discloses a storage device having no spare storage medium.
It describes data recovery when a failure occurs in one storage medium. In other words, the data recovery or replacement of the failed disk device pointed out by the
This is performed under the instruction of the failed disk recovery control means. In this case, by not using a spare storage medium,
Although the data reliability from the occurrence of the failure to the completion of the replacement is reduced, only one data restoration copy is required.

[0005]

Since a plurality of storage media used for constructing a RAID system are usually manufactured at the same time and placed in the same operation state in the system,
At about the same time, the life of the storage media will expire all at once, and there will be a risk of data loss due to the frequent occurrence of faulty media beyond the level of redundancy at which data can be guaranteed. Required.

[0006] Failure using the above spare storage medium (old)
In the medium exchange, replacing one storage medium requires a data repair copy from a failed (old) medium to a spare storage medium,
In order to copy back the restoration data on the spare storage medium to the new storage medium, the data copy operation is performed twice, and the time required for replacing the storage medium becomes longer, and the medium replacement work is performed on a unit basis. There is a technical problem that such simultaneous replacement for preventive maintenance requires a great deal of labor and time.

In the case of the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-152495, the data recovery copy is performed once and the time required for replacement is shortened by the absence of the copy back. No consideration has been given to improving the efficiency of preventive maintenance work such as simultaneous replacement.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of exchanging a plurality of storage media constituting a storage device in a short time without stopping operation without requiring a redundant data copy operation. It is to provide the maintenance management technology.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of performing efficient and short-term preventive maintenance by simultaneous replacement of all storage media constituting the storage device without stopping the operation of the storage device, and its maintenance management. To provide technology.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in a storage device including a plurality of medium mounting means and a plurality of first storage media individually mounted on each of the medium mounting means, an empty medium mounting means is provided. Means for installing a new second storage medium, executing data copy from the existing first storage medium to the second storage medium, and removing the first storage medium after the copy is completed; The operation of creating an empty medium mounting means is repeated a required number of times, thereby performing an operation of replacing the existing first storage medium with a new second storage medium without copyback.

In a storage device in which a plurality of first storage media are fully mounted on all of a plurality of first medium mounting means,
A spare second medium mounting means is used to mount a new second storage medium to copy data from the existing first storage medium to the second storage medium, and to perform the first copy operation after the copy is completed. The operation of removing the storage medium to form an empty first medium mounting means and the operation of moving the copied second storage medium from the spare second medium mounting means to the empty first medium mounting means. By repeating the required number of times, the existing primary
Is replaced with a new second storage medium.

More specifically, in a storage device such as a RAID system, a maintenance function from an operation panel is provided with an all-storage-medium exchange control function (used by a maintenance worker), and is further stored in order to recognize a storage-medium exchange status. A medium exchange information table is provided.

There are two types of all storage medium exchange control functions.
Which method is used depends on the instructions of the maintenance personnel. One is when there is free space in the medium mounting means (ROW unit) in the storage device.
This is a method in which a new medium is placed in this free area (ROW unit) and exchanged. The other is to use a spare medium mounting means when there is no free space in the medium mounting means in the storage device (at maximum configuration). This is a method of exchanging all the storage media.

When a storage medium exchange instruction (exchange method) is received from the operation panel from the maintenance staff, the exchange method is reflected on the exchange method setting means in the storage medium exchange information table. The storage medium exchange is performed according to this information. The storage medium exchange information table further includes a storage medium unit management area for managing the state of each storage medium, a copy pointer, and an exchange in progress flag. The storage medium unit management area of the storage medium exchange information table differs depending on the exchange method (ROW unit, storage medium unit). However, where the data is being copied from the old storage medium to the new storage medium, (Operation panel status display), and also refers to an area that temporarily suppresses access from the host (access from the host is kept in a cache in the controller). . The copy pointer is an area (capacity management) for recognizing how far the copy from the old storage medium to the new storage medium is progressing in the area currently being replaced. In cooperation with the storage medium unit management area, the maintenance pointer Is made to recognize the end of data copy (operation panel display), and prompts the user to replace the storage medium. The exchange-in-progress flag is a flag indicating whether or not the storage medium is being exchanged, and is used to determine whether the medium area being exchanged can be accessed by the flag.

By using this control function, in a storage device, data can be copied to a new storage medium by using spare medium mounting means or free medium mounting means without stopping the system for all storage media configured in RAID. It is possible to replace the storage medium only by using only (no need for copy back), and it is possible to reduce maintenance work in preventive maintenance such as simultaneous replacement of all storage media performed during the storage medium lifetime.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of a storage device for implementing a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The storage device 110 is connected to the host device 100 and includes a plurality of storage media 300 for storing data;
A control unit 120 that intervenes between the higher-level device 100 and the storage medium 300 to perform overall control, and instructs various means, information, and the like for the maintenance staff to perform the maintenance management work of the present embodiment as described later. And a spare storage medium area 400 which is a substitute medium for the storage medium 300. During normal operation other than the maintenance management work described later, the spare storage medium area 400 is used as a work area for, for example, a dynamic sparing function and data recovery at the time of degeneration.

The control unit 120 includes a disk array control unit 140 for controlling the entire device, a cache memory 150 used for data transfer with the host device 100, and the host device 1
Upper transfer control unit 13 for controlling data transfer with 00
0, a lower transfer control unit 160 for controlling data transfer to and from the storage medium 300 in the storage device 110.

Each storage medium 300 is constituted by, for example, a small disk device or the like, and is detachably attached to the storage device 110 via a connector 301. Similarly, a spare connector 401 is also provided in the spare storage medium area 400 so that the spare storage medium can be detachably mounted. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the spare storage medium area 400 is provided for convenience of illustration, a configuration without the spare storage medium area 400 (spare connector 401) is also included in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the storage medium 300
Are arranged in the horizontal direction and ROW (310 to 31)
6), the vertical direction is PORT (320-325), and each R
OWs (310 to 316) have LUs (330 to 3) of a logical volume configuration that is made redundant by the RAID5 method.
36) will be described taking as an example a case of management by assigning.

FIG. 2 shows a storage medium exchange information table 500 used in the storage device maintenance management method of this embodiment.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of.

The storage medium exchange information table 500 is provided in the disk array control unit 140, and manages an area of the storage medium 300 being exchanged by the exchange means in response to a storage medium exchange request from the operation panel 200 by a maintenance person. This is a table, which includes an exchange method setting unit 510, a storage medium unit management area 520, and a copy pointer 530.

The replacement method setting means 510 recognizes the type of the medium replacement method designated by the maintenance staff from the operation panel 200, copies data in ROW units using the empty connector 301 in the normal mounting area in the apparatus, and stores the data. Replace the medium or replace the spare connector 4 for the spare storage medium area 400.
No. 01 is used to set information for determining whether to perform data copy in storage medium units and replace storage media.

The storage medium unit management area 520 stores each RO.
In order to manage the state of each of the plurality of storage media 300 belonging to W and PORT, a management flag 520 provided for each of the individual storage media 300
The management flag 520a manages four states of the individual storage medium 300, that is, not replaced, being replaced, being replaced, and not being mounted. It is to be noted that “not mounted” means that the device is not mounted in the device from the beginning and is not a replacement target (connector 301).
The empty state) or the state after the old storage medium is removed from the device after the replacement is completed (the state where the connector 301 is empty) corresponds to the unmounted state.

The exchange status of the management flag 520a indicates whether the storage medium 300 is being exchanged.
It is referred to to determine an access suppression area from the control unit 120.

The copy pointer 530 indicates the ROW being exchanged.
(310-316) or an area for managing the capacity of the storage medium 300 and recognizing the end of the data copy, and is used as information for displaying and notifying the maintenance staff on the operation panel 200 of the end of the data copy.

An example of the operation of the storage device maintenance management method according to the present embodiment will be described below.

First, the storage medium 300 in the storage device 110
There is a vacancy in the mounting connector 301, and the medium exchange using the vacant connector 301 will be described. In this case, there is no need for the spare connector 401 for the spare storage medium. That is, this case is the case of the storage device 110 in which there is a surplus free connector 301 of 1 ROW or more due to, for example, an option for expansion, and the presence or absence of the spare storage medium area 400 (spare connector 401). Applicable independently.

FIG. 3 shows an empty connector 301 in this device.
(ROW unit), there is a maximum of 6 ROs in the device
This figure shows a procedure for replacing the storage medium 300 in a case where three rows are mounted in the storage device 110 in which the W configuration can be assembled and there are empty connectors 301 for the remaining three rows.

The 3ROW configuration in the apparatus (ROW0 310-
In ROW2 312), a plurality of old storage media 300a for three ROWs (15 units) are installed, and L is stored in ROW0 310.
LU031, ROW1 to U0330, ROW1 311
LU2 332 is set in W2 312, respectively. In this configuration state, the maintenance staff issues an instruction to replace all storage media from the operation panel 200 (an instruction to replace the use of the empty connector 301).
If there is, ROW3 313 to R
In OW5 315, a plurality of exchanges (15 in FIG.
Is displayed on the operation panel 200 so as to install the new storage medium 300b.

After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff operates the LU0310 of the ROW0310 from the operation panel 200.
30 data to ROW3 313, ROW1 311
LU1 331 data to ROW4 314
The data of LU2 332 of W2 312 is stored in ROW5 3
15, a copy request is issued. Receiving this instruction, data copy is started. End display is sequentially performed on the operation panel 200 from the ROW where data copy is completed, and normal access from the host device 100 can be received (the physical arrangement of each LU is changed as described in FIG. 10). Described). Maintenance personnel are ROW0 310-
The end of the data copy up to ROW2 312 is recognized on the operation panel 200, and the 15
The old storage media 300a are extracted, and the operation of replacing all storage media is completed. In this case, the same number of empty connectors 301 as the number of the initially mounted connectors is present in the storage device 110, and the copy instruction by the maintenance person is completed once. The storage device 1
10 is in the 1ROW configuration and the 2ROW configuration, that is, the number of empty connectors 301 is the old storage medium 300 for the initial mounting.
When the number is larger than the number a, the replacement is performed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a device in which a maximum of 6 ROWs can be assembled in a device in a case where there is an empty connector 301 (in units of ROW) in the device.
An example of the exchange procedure when the OW has only 2 ROWs) is shown in order.

The apparatus has a 4-row configuration (ROW0 310).
~ ROW3 313), 20 old storage media 300a
, ROW0 310, LU0 330, ROW1 3
11 is LU1 331, ROW2 312 is LU2 3
32 and ROW3 313 are set to LU3 333, respectively. Empty connector 301 is 10 for 2 ROW
It is a stand.

In this configuration state, the maintenance staff issues an operation panel 20
If there is an instruction to replace all storage media (free space use replacement instruction) from 0, first, ROW4 314 is sent to maintenance personnel.
Is displayed on the operation panel 200 so that a new storage medium 300b for replacement is installed in the ROW5 315. After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff ROWs the data of the LU0 330 of the ROW0 310 from the operation panel 200.
4 314, and instructs the first copy request of data of LU 1 331 of ROW 1 311 to ROW 5 315. First, the data copy for the first 2 ROWs is started (upper state in FIG. 4). End display is sequentially performed on the operation panel 200 from the ROW where data copy is completed, and normal access from the host device 100 can be received (the physical arrangement of each LU is changed as described in FIG. 10). Described).

The maintenance staffs ROW0 310 and ROW1
The end of data copy up to 311 is recognized on the operation panel 200, and the ten old storage media 300a mounted on the 2ROW are extracted, and an empty connector 301 is created.

Empty connector 301 after being removed
Then, in order to replace the remaining two ROWs, the maintenance staff is instructed on the operation panel 200 to install the new storage medium 300b for replacement in the ROW0 310 and the ROW1 311.

After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff operates the LU 2312 of the ROW 2312 from the operation panel 200.
32 data to ROW0 310, ROW3 313
A second copy request to the ROW1 311 is instructed. After receiving this instruction,
The data copy for the ROW is started (the lower state in FIG. 4). End display is sequentially performed on the operation panel 200 from the ROW where data copy is completed, and normal access from the host device 100 can be received (the physical arrangement of each LU is changed as described in FIG. 10). Described).

The maintenance staffs ROW0 310 and ROW2
The end of data copy up to 312 is recognized on the operation panel 200, and the old storage medium 300 mounted on the 2ROW is recognized.
Then, a is extracted and all storage medium replacement work is completed (the state of FIG. 5).

In this case, there is only 2 ROW of free space in the apparatus, and the copy instruction by the maintenance person is completed twice.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the replacement procedure in the order of steps when the number of unmounted empty connectors 301 is smaller than the number of old mounted storage media 300a in the initial stage. . In other words, the replacement procedure is shown for a storage device 110 capable of assembling a maximum of 6 ROWs in the device, in a 5 ROW configuration (when there is only one ROW available).

The apparatus has a 5-row configuration (ROW0 310).
~ ROW4 314), 25 old storage media 300a
For ROW0 310, LU0 330, ROW
LU1 331 at 1311 and LU2 at ROW2 312
332, ROW3 313 to LU3 333, ROW
The LU4 334 is set to the LU4 314, respectively.

In this configuration state, the maintenance staff issues an operation panel 20
When a storage medium exchange instruction (free area use exchange instruction) is issued from 0, ROW5 315 is first given to maintenance personnel.
Is displayed on the operation panel 200 so that a new storage medium 300b for replacement is set in the storage device. Maintenance staff is new storage medium 300b
After the installation of the ROW0 310 is completed,
The first copy request to the ROW5 315 is instructed. Upon receiving this instruction, the ROW
Is started (the upper state in FIG. 6). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and normal access from the host device 100 can be received (the change in the physical arrangement of each LU is described in the description of FIG. 10). The maintenance staff is ROW03
The end of the data copy of No. 10 is recognized on the operation panel 200, and the old storage medium mounted on the ROW is extracted.

After the extraction, the operation panel 20 is instructed by a maintenance person to install a new storage medium 300b for replacement in ROW0 310 in order to replace the remaining four ROWs.
Display on 0. After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff operates the LU1 311 of the ROW1 311 from the operation panel 200.
A second copy request for the data 331 to the ROW0 310 is instructed. In response to this instruction, the data copy of the ROW is started (the lower state in FIG. 6). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and it becomes possible to receive the normal access from the higher-level device 100 (the physical arrangement of each LU is changed as shown in FIG. 1).
0). The maintenance person recognizes the end of the data copy of the ROW 1311 on the operation panel 200, and removes the old storage medium 300a mounted on the ROW.

In the empty connector 301 after being extracted,
In order to replace the remaining 3 ROWs,
A message is displayed on the operation panel 200 so that the replacement new storage medium 300b is installed in the OW1 311. After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance personnel
The data of LU2 332 of OW2 312 is stored in ROW13
11 is instructed for the third copy request. Receiving this instruction, the data copy of the ROW is started (upper state in FIG. 7). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and normal access from the host device 100 can be received (the change in the physical arrangement of each LU is described in the description of FIG. 10). The maintenance staff is R
The operation panel 200 notifies the end of the data copy of OW2 312.
The old storage medium 30 recognized above and mounted on the ROW
Extract 0a.

After the extraction, the operator replaces the remaining 2 ROWs with the operation panel 20 so as to install a new storage medium 300 b for replacement in ROW 2312.
Display on 0. After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff operates the LU3 of the ROW3 313 from the operation panel 200.
A fourth copy request for the data 333 to the ROW2 312 is instructed. Receiving this instruction, the data copy of the ROW is started (the lower state in FIG. 7). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and it becomes possible to receive the normal access from the higher-level device 100 (the physical arrangement of each LU is changed as shown in FIG. 1).
0). The maintenance person recognizes the end of the data copy of the ROW 3313 on the operation panel 200, and removes the old storage medium 300a mounted on the ROW.

After the removal, the operation panel 20 is instructed by the maintenance staff to install a new storage medium 300b for replacement in ROW3 313 in order to replace the last one ROW.
Display on 0. After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff operates the ROW4 314 LU4 from the operation panel 200.
A fifth copy request to the ROW3 313 is instructed. In response to this instruction, data copy of the ROW is started (upper state in FIG. 8). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and it becomes possible to receive a normal access from a higher order (each LU).
The change in the physical arrangement of is described in the description of FIG. 10). The maintenance personnel recognizes the end of the data copy of the ROW 4 314 on the operation panel 200, removes the old storage medium mounted on the ROW, and ends the entire storage medium replacement work (the lower state in FIG. 8).

In this case, there is only one ROW of free space in the apparatus, and the copy instruction by the maintenance person ends five times.

Next, a case will be described in which the medium is exchanged using the spare connector 401 for the spare storage medium area 400 because there is no empty connector 301 because the old storage medium 300a is fully mounted.

FIG. 9 shows an empty connector 301 in this device.
In the case where there is no ROW, a medium exchange procedure when the apparatus can be assembled with a maximum of 6 ROW configuration and a 6 ROW configuration and a 2 spare storage medium configuration (when there is no empty ROW) is shown.

The apparatus has a 6ROW configuration (ROW0 310).
ROW4 314), the ROW0 310 uses the LU0 310 as the LU0
330, ROW1 311 to LU1 331, ROW2
LU3 332 and ROW3 313 at 312
333, ROW4 314 to LU4 334, ROW
LU 335 is set to 5 315.

In this state, the operation panel 20 is
If there is an instruction to replace all storage media from 0 (a media replacement instruction using the spare connector 401), first, the spare storage medium area 400 (in this case, two spare connectors 401 for two units) is provided to maintenance personnel. Is displayed on the operation panel 200 such that a new storage medium 300b for replacement is installed (two units). After the installation of the new storage medium 300b is completed, the maintenance staff issues a data copy request from the operation panel 200. Upon receiving this instruction, ROW0 310 / PORT032
Data copy from the storage medium 0 and ROW0 310 / PORT1 321 is started (upper state in FIG. 9). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and it becomes possible to receive a normal access from a higher order.

The maintenance staff is ROW0 310 / PORT0
The operation panel 200 recognizes the end of data copy of the storage media 320 and ROW0 310 / PORT1 321 and removes the two old storage media 300a, and the data copied new data in the spare connector 401 for the spare storage media area 400. The storage medium 300b is returned to the original mounting position of the old storage medium 300a.

After returning, the maintenance panel is displayed again on the operation panel 200 so that the replacement storage medium 300b is installed (two units) in the spare storage medium area 400 again to replace the remaining storage medium. . Maintenance staff is new storage medium 300b
After completing the installation, a data copy request is instructed from the operation panel 200. Upon receiving this instruction, ROW0 310 / POR
T2 322 and ROW0 310 / PORT3 323
The data copy is started from the storage medium described above (the lower state in FIG. 9). When the data copy is completed, an end display is displayed on the operation panel 200, and it becomes possible to receive a normal access from a higher order. The maintenance staff is ROW0 310 / PORT
The operation panel 200 recognizes the end of the data copy of the storage medium of the storage mediums 2 322 and ROW0 310 / PORT3 323, removes the storage medium, and sets the spare storage medium area 40.
The data-copied new storage medium 300b at 0 is returned to its original position. After that, the above operation is repeated, and when the exchange of the storage medium of the last ROW5 315 / PORT4 324 is completed, the entire storage medium exchange work is completed.

In any of the exchange methods shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, a conventional method of exchanging a medium by one copy and one copy back is used. As compared with the above, the time required for medium exchange can be shortened as much as the copy back is unnecessary.

When the medium exchange is performed collectively in units of ROW as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the preventive maintenance of the storage medium life period is performed. It is possible to reduce the required time and the number of man-hours when all the storage media are replaced by one maintenance operation.

Next, the LU information table 600 used in the present embodiment for the purpose of accepting access from the higher-level device 100 during the above-described medium exchange work, etc.
Will be described with reference to FIG.

The LU information table 600 is a table for recognizing where the LUs set in the device are physically set, and the LU start RO is assigned to each LU.
W number 610, LU start PORT number 620, LU end ROW number 630, LU end PORT number 640, LU
It comprises a start LBA (logical block address) 650 and an LU end LBA 660. 3, 4, 5, 6,
In the ROW unit replacement method described in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the physical arrangement of each LU is changed after data copy, the ROW number and PORT number of the corresponding LU are changed. Because there is information in this LU information table 600,
Even if the physical arrangement of the storage medium 300 constituting each LU is changed by medium exchange, the new storage medium 300 of the copy destination is changed.
A normal access request can be received without returning b to the original location of the old storage medium 300a.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an outline of the storage medium exchange method according to the present embodiment.

First, when instructing a request for replacing all the storage media from the operation panel 200, the maintenance staff selects either the ROW unit replacement means using the empty connector 301 or the replacement method using the spare storage medium area 400 ( Step 700). When selected, the disk array controller 140
Sets the type of the selected exchange means in the exchange method setting means 510 of the storage medium exchange information table 500, and initializes the storage medium unit management area 520. The initialization is performed as the management flag 520a as the storage medium 30 mounted.
The value of “unchanged” is set to 0, and the value of “unmounted” is set to an area that is not originally mounted so as to be excluded from the replacement target (step 710).

After setting the storage medium exchange information table 500, the disk array control unit 140 displays a new medium installation request on the operation panel 200 for the maintenance staff (step 7).
20). After confirming the new medium installation request, the maintenance person installs the new storage medium 300b (step 730), and after the installation is completed,
A data copy start instruction is issued from the operation panel 200 (step 740). After receiving the data copy start instruction,
The disk array control unit 140 includes the lower transfer control unit 16
0, and starts data copy (step 75).
0). Immediately before the start, the storage medium exchange information table 50
Management flag 5 in storage medium unit management area 520 of 0
20a is set to "exchanging".

Next, it is determined whether or not the currently executed data copy has been completed (step 760). Step 7
The end of copying at 60 is recognized based on the difference between the capacity of each LU or storage medium 300 and the copy pointer 530 of the storage medium exchange information table 500. If there is no difference, it is recognized that the process is completed, and the process proceeds to the next step. However, if there is still a difference, data copy is continued because the process has not been completed (step 751). Next, when the copy is completed, it is always determined how far the exchange range of all storage media has been completed (step 770). This determination is made by setting the management flag 520a for each medium in the storage medium unit management area 520 of the storage medium exchange information table 500 to the old storage medium 3 in the “unreplaced” state.
This is done by searching for 00a. If the old storage medium 300a is still in the "unreplaced" state, a next replacement request is displayed on the operation panel 200 (step 790), and the maintenance person is prompted to remove the data after copying the data to the next new storage medium 300b. (Step 791). Conversely,
If there is no old storage medium 300a in the "unreplaced" state, a message indicating that all storage mediums have been replaced is displayed on the operation panel 200 to notify maintenance personnel of the completion (step 780).

In the replacement method in units of ROW described in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the position of the newly installed storage medium 300b needs to be moved by maintenance personnel. There is no concern about the erroneous replacement of old and new storage media by maintenance personnel.

On the other hand, in the replacement method using the spare storage medium area 400 (spare connector 401) as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of spare connectors 401 exist, and the medium replacement is performed in units of a plurality of new storage media 300b. Is executed, when the copied new storage media 300b is moved to the connector 301 after the removal of the old storage media 300a, erroneous mounting due to replacement may be a concern.

Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the predetermined identification information given to the old storage medium 300a is transcribed to the new storage medium 300b at the copy destination prior to the data copy, and At times, a method is used in which the correspondence between the old and new storage media is maintained.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of a medium exchange method using this method.

The flowchart of FIG. 12 is almost the same as that of FIG. 11, except that the old storage medium 300 is read before the copy is started.
The operation of transferring the identification information of “a” to the new storage medium 300b at the copy destination (step 841), and further, when the plurality of new storage media 300b after copying are mounted, the individual new storage media 300b The difference is that a process (steps 892 to 895) for judging whether or not the disk is mounted at the corresponding location of the old storage medium 300a and prompting the maintenance staff to correct the mounting position in the case of a wrong mounting is added. ing.

Thus, a plurality of spare storage medium areas 4
In the replacement method using 00 (spare connector 401), erroneous operation by the maintenance staff when the new storage medium 300b is moved to the position of the old storage medium 300a can be reliably prevented.

As described above, according to the storage device and the maintenance management method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, in a storage device constituting a RAID system, at least one of a plurality of storage media constituting a disk array is provided. Only copy data to a new storage medium using a free medium mounting area or spare storage medium mounting area without stopping the system (no need to copy back)
Thus, the exchange with a new storage medium is possible in a short time.

Further, in the preventive maintenance performed during the storage medium life period, all storage media can be simultaneously replaced by one maintenance management work, and the number of maintenance work for medium replacement can be reduced. .

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment, the invention is not limited to the embodiment and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention. Needless to say, there is.

For example, in the above description, an RA using a plurality of disks or the like as a storage medium as an example of a storage device is described.
Although the case where it was applied to the ID system was explained as an example,
The present invention can be widely applied to a storage device configured by a plurality of storage media that operate independently.

[0073]

According to the storage device maintenance management method of the present invention, a plurality of storage media constituting the storage device can be exchanged in a short time without a redundant data copy operation without stopping the operation. Can be obtained.

Further, according to the storage device maintenance management method of the present invention, preventive maintenance by simultaneous replacement of all the storage media constituting the storage device can be performed efficiently and in a short time without stopping the operation. Is obtained.

According to the storage device of the present invention, a plurality of storage media constituting the storage device can be exchanged in a short time without stopping the operation without requiring a redundant data copy operation. The effect is obtained.

Further, according to the storage device of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently and quickly perform preventive maintenance by simultaneous replacement of all storage media constituting the storage device without stopping the operation. can get.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a storage device that executes a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a storage medium exchange information table 500 used in a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention in combination with FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention in combination with FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in combination with FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in combination with FIGS. 6 and 9;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in combination with FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of information used in a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a storage device maintenance management method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

100: upper device, 110: storage device, 120: controller, 130: upper transfer controller, 140: disk array controller, 150: cache memory, 160: lower transfer controller, 200: operation panel, 300 Storage media,
300a ... old storage medium (first storage medium), 300b ...
New storage medium (second storage medium), 301: connector (medium mounting means, first medium mounting means), 400: spare storage medium area, 401: spare connector (second medium mounting means), 500: storage Media exchange information table, 510 ...
Exchange method setting means, 520: storage medium unit management area, 5
20a: management flag, 530: copy pointer, 600
... LU information table (definition information), 610 ... LU start R
OW number (address information), 620 ... LU start PORT
No. (address information), 630 ... LU end ROW number (address information), 640 ... LU end PORT number (address information), 650 ... LU start LBA (address information), 660 ... LU end LBA (address information).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor ▲ Taka ▼ Kenichi Moto 2880 Kozu, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa F-term in the Storage Systems Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (Reference) 5B065 BA01 CC01 EA12 EA33 ZA03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A maintenance management method for a storage device including a plurality of medium mounting means and a plurality of first storage media individually mounted on each of the medium mounting means, wherein the empty medium mounting means is provided. A first step of mounting a second storage medium on the second storage medium; a second step of copying data in the first storage medium to the second storage medium mounted in the first step; Removing the first storage medium for which copying has been completed from the medium mounting means to form an empty medium mounting means;
Performing the steps of at least once to obtain a plurality of the first
A maintenance method for a storage device, wherein at least a part of the storage medium is replaced with the second storage medium. 2. A plurality of first medium mounting means, a plurality of first storage media individually mounted on each of the first medium mounting means, at least one second medium mounting means,
A first step of mounting a second storage medium on the second medium mounting means, and the second storage mounted on the second medium mounting means. The first medium mounted on the medium by the first medium mounting means;
A second step of copying the data in the storage medium, and a third step of removing the copied first storage medium from the first medium mounting means to form an empty first medium mounting means. The second storage medium mounted on the second medium mounting means and having completed the copying in the second step is stored in the third medium.
And a fourth step of moving the first medium mounting means to the empty first medium mounting means created in the step. A maintenance method for a storage device, wherein at least a part of the storage medium is replaced with the second storage medium. 3. The maintenance management method for a storage device according to claim 1, wherein the address information assigned to each of the plurality of medium mounting units and each of the first storage units mounted on each of the medium mounting units. It has definition information that logically defines the correspondence with the data stored in the storage medium, and is used for copying and exchanging the data from the existing first storage medium to the new second storage medium. By dynamically changing the definition information according to the progress, it is possible to exchange the first storage medium to the second storage medium without stopping access to the storage device from outside. And a storage device maintenance management method. 4. A storage device comprising a plurality of medium mounting means and a plurality of first storage media individually mounted on each of the medium mounting means, wherein the number is larger than the number of the first storage media. A first step of mounting the second storage medium on the excess medium mounting means, comprising: the medium mounting means; and the first storage medium being mounted on the second storage medium mounted in the first step. A second step of copying the data in the third storage medium; and a third step of removing the first storage medium, the copy of which has been completed, from the medium mounting means to form a surplus medium mounting means.
Performing the steps of at least once to obtain a plurality of the first
A storage device comprising a control logic for performing a maintenance management operation of exchanging at least a part of the storage medium for the second storage medium. 5. A plurality of first medium mounting means, a plurality of first storage media individually mounted on each of the first medium mounting means, at least one second medium mounting means,
A first step of mounting a second storage medium on the second medium mounting means; and a second step of mounting the second storage medium on the second medium mounting means. The first medium mounted on the first medium mounting means;
A second step of copying the data in the storage medium, and a third step of removing the copied first storage medium from the first medium mounting means to form an empty first medium mounting means. The second storage medium mounted on the second medium mounting means and having completed the copying in the second step is stored in the third medium.
And a fourth step of moving the first medium mounting means to the empty first medium mounting means created in the step. A storage device comprising a control logic for performing a maintenance management operation of exchanging at least a part of the storage medium for the second storage medium.