JP2004151824A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system suitable for backing up large amounts of data stored in a storage device to be used as a file server by applying this network system to a small and middle-sized distributed processing type server system. <P>SOLUTION: This network system is configured by connecting an NAS device shared by a plurality of information terminal equipment through a network, and connecting a backup device for the NAS device to the network. Especially, the NAS device is integrated with a function for monitoring the traffic volume of the network and an exclusive program to be started in receiving a special command for executing backup processing only when the traffic volume is small. The information terminal equipment is provided with a special command generating function for starting the exclusive program through the network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network system connected to a network-attached storage (NAS) device shared by a plurality of information terminal devices via a predetermined network.
[0002]
[Related background art]
Recently, a network system in which a plurality of information terminal devices such as a personal computer (PC) and a workstation (WS) are connected to a predetermined network has become widespread. Also, a storage device as an external storage device is connected to a network, and the storage device is shared by a plurality of information terminal devices via the network and used as a directly accessible file device.
[0003]
Incidentally, the storage device includes, for example, a DAS (Direct Access Storage) device used by connecting to a distributed processing type server system, and a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device directly connected to a network and used as a file server. Incidentally, the NAS device usually includes a DAS device.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When a large amount of data stored in the storage device is to be protected by using a backup device connected to a network, traffic on the network increases at the time of the backup, and data communication between information terminal devices is hindered. However, there is a problem that access to the storage device is hindered. In order to cope with such a problem, it has been proposed to construct a storage network (SAN; Storage Area Network) independent of a network for information transmission in a large-scale system. However, building a SAN system requires software development or the like in accordance with the system specifications, and there are many problems in terms of cost when applied (introduced) to a small- to medium-sized distributed processing server system.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to apply it to a small- and medium-sized distributed processing server system to back up a large amount of data stored in a storage device used as a file server. Another object of the present invention is to provide a suitable network system.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a network system according to the present invention connects a network-attached storage (NAS) device shared by a plurality of information terminal devices via a network, and a backup device for the network-attached storage device. Is connected to the network, in particular, the network-attached storage device has a function of monitoring the traffic volume of the network, and the network is activated only when a predetermined command is received and the traffic volume is small. A dedicated program for executing data transfer between the attached storage device and the backup device is incorporated,
On the other hand, the information terminal device is provided with a function of generating a special command for activating the dedicated program via the network.
[0007]
Incidentally, the function of generating the special command is incorporated (installed) in the information terminal device as a control program for the network-connected storage device.
Further, the function of monitoring the traffic amount of the network is realized, for example, as a part of the dedicated program. The dedicated program executes data transfer when the traffic amount of the network is smaller than a first set value indicating the idle state of the network, and the traffic amount of the network during execution of the data transfer becomes congestion of the network. When the number is larger than the second set value indicating the state, the data transfer is interrupted.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the network system includes a plurality of information terminal devices 2 such as PCs and WSs connected to a predetermined network 1 such as a LAN (local area network), for example. It is configured to include the connected NAS device 3. The NAS device 3 includes a DAS device 4 (for example, RAID: Redundant array of indexive disks) as a data storage function, and functions as a file server. Further, a backup device 5 for storing a large amount of data stored in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) is connected to the network 1.
[0009]
Incidentally, each information terminal device 2 executes predetermined information processing using various software running on an OS (operating system) such as Windows (registered trademark) and Linux (registered trademark). These information terminal devices 2 are constructed such that the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) can be directly accessed on a Web basis. In other words, the DAS device 4 is used as a file device of the information terminal device 2 under the management of the NAS device 3.
[0010]
A feature of the present invention in a network system basically configured as described above is that the NAS device 3 is activated upon receiving a predetermined command, and is connected to the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) and the backup device. 5, a dedicated program 3a for transferring data via the network 1 and backing up a large amount of data stored in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4). In particular, the dedicated program 3a has a traffic monitoring function 3b for monitoring the traffic volume of the network 1 and a control function for controlling the execution of the backup process according to the monitored traffic volume. This control function is to proceed with the backup processing in accordance with a processing procedure shown in FIG. 2 which will be described later, and is activated by giving a preset special command.
[0011]
On the other hand, the information terminal device 2 is provided with a special command generation function 2a for activating the above-described dedicated program 3a in the NAS device 3 as a part of the processing function. The special command generation function 2a is composed of, for example, a control program for the NAS device 3, and is added as a function possessed by the information terminal device 2 by being installed in the information terminal device 2. The special command generation function (control program) 2a is activated by a keyboard operation of the information terminal device 2, a click operation on a predetermined icon, or the like. The special command generated by the special command generation function 2a is given to the NAS device 3 via the network 1.
[0012]
Here, the processing operation in the NAS device 3 to which the special command is given will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In the NSA device 3, information (control commands, data, etc.) provided via the network 1 is constantly monitored. I have. Then, it is determined whether or not the information given from the information terminal device 2 is a special command for prompting the above-described backup process to be started (step S1). When it is confirmed that the information given from the information terminal device 2 is not the above-mentioned special command by this determination processing, the normal processing operation as the NAS device 3 is executed (step S2).
[0013]
On the other hand, if the information given from the information terminal device 2 is the above-mentioned special command, the above-mentioned dedicated program 3a is started, and first, the traffic amount T of the network 1 monitored by the traffic monitoring function 3b is started. Is smaller than a first set value Th1 indicating a vacant state of the network 1 set in advance (T <Th1) (step S3). Only when the traffic volume T is less than the first set value Th1, the backup process is executed and the transfer (backup) of the data accumulated in the DAS device 4 to the backup device 5 is started (step). S4>. If the traffic amount T exceeds the first set value Th1, the process waits until the traffic amount T falls below the first set value Th1.
[0014]
Then, when the transfer (backup) of the data accumulated in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) to the backup device 5 is started, the traffic amount T of the network 1 monitored by the traffic monitoring function 3b becomes It is determined whether or not a second set value Th2 indicating a congestion state of the network 1 set in advance is exceeded (step S5). Then, when the traffic amount T exceeds the second set value Th2, the above-described backup processing is interrupted at that time <Step S6> until the traffic amount T falls below the first set value Th1. stand by. Then, when the traffic volume T falls below the first set value Th1, the backup process is restarted (step S4).
[0015]
If the traffic volume T at that time does not exceed the second set value Th2 even if the data accumulated in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) is transferred to the backup device 5, a <step S5> While monitoring whether or not all the data stored in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) has been backed up (Step S7), the backup process is continued until the backup is completed.
[0016]
That is, the NAS device 3 monitors the traffic volume T on the network 1 as shown in the above-described processing procedure, and only when the traffic volume T is small, that is, only when the network 1 is relatively free. The backup processing of a large amount of data stored in the DAS device 4 via the network 1 is performed. If the traffic volume T of the network 1 is increasing due to the large-capacity data transfer (backup), the traffic volume T is compared with a second set value Th2 so that the backup process is performed by the information terminal. It is determined whether the access to the DAS device 4 by the device 2 is not hindered. When the network 1 is congested, the backup process is temporarily interrupted, thereby opening the network 1 to the information terminal equipment 2. Then, when the traffic volume T of the network 1 falls below the first set value Th1 and the congestion is alleviated, the above-described backup processing is restarted.
[0017]
Therefore, as described above, according to the network system that executes the backup processing of the large amount of data accumulated in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4), when the traffic of the network 1 becomes congested, the data transfer is interrupted, Only when the traffic volume is small, data is transferred from the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) to the backup device 5 via the network 1. Therefore, the network 1 is occupied by large-capacity data transfer for the purpose of backing up the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4), or the transmission load becomes heavy, and the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) This does not lead to problems such as hindering access. In other words, an environment in which a plurality of information terminal devices 2 can quickly access the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) regardless of whether the backup process of the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) is being executed is always established. It is possible to stably secure the data communication environment between the plurality of information terminal devices 2 via the network 1.
[0018]
In particular, while effectively utilizing the existing network 1 without building a SAN, and hindering data transmission between the plurality of information terminal devices 2 and the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) via the network 1. In addition, since a large amount of data stored in the NAS device 3 (DAS device 4) can be backed up, a great deal of practical effects can be obtained as an inexpensive and simple storage system.
[0019]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the first set value Th1 for the traffic amount for starting / restarting the backup process and the second set value Th2 for temporarily suspending the data transfer are determined based on the transmission capacity of the network 1 and the network 1 What is necessary is just to determine according to the number of the connected information terminal devices 2, etc. In the embodiment, the traffic monitoring function 3b is incorporated as a part of the dedicated program 3a. However, the traffic monitoring function 3b can be realized as a function provided as a standard in the NAS device 3 itself.
[0020]
The special command generation function (control program) 2a can be incorporated only in the information terminal device 2 specified in advance, but may be incorporated in the information terminal device 2 entirely. In this case, it is sufficient to use, as the special command, a command that can be clearly distinguished from a control command usually used in the plurality of information terminal devices 2. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a large amount of data accumulated in a DAS device as a file device connected via a network is transferred to a predetermined backup device without interrupting information communication via the network. Therefore, for example, it is very suitable for realizing an inexpensive and simple storage system by applying it to a small-to-medium-sized server system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a control procedure of a backup process in a NAS device in the network system shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 network 2 information terminal equipment 2a special command generation function (control program)
3 Network Attached Storage (NAS) Device 3a Dedicated Program for Backup Processing 3b Traffic Monitoring Function 4 Direct Access Storage (DAS) Device 5 Backup Device

Claims (3)

A network system in which a network-connected storage device shared by a plurality of information terminal devices is connected via a network, and a backup device for the network-connected storage device is connected to the network.
The network-attached storage device has a function of monitoring the amount of traffic on the network, and a function for starting up after receiving a predetermined command and allowing communication between the network-attached storage device and the backup device only when the traffic amount is small. A dedicated program for executing data transfer, wherein the information terminal device has a function of generating a special command for activating the dedicated program via the network. 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the function of generating the special command includes a control program for the network-connected storage device, which is incorporated in the information terminal device in advance. The function of monitoring the traffic amount of the network is realized as a part of the dedicated program,
The dedicated program executes data transfer when the traffic amount of the network is smaller than a first set value indicating the idle state of the network, and when the traffic amount of the network during execution of the data transfer is lower than the congestion state of the network. 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer is interrupted when the number is larger than a second set value indicating the value.

Images