JP2006279501A - Mailbox system and device and journal transfer control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mailbox system that efficiently transfers a journal of a regular mailbox device to a backup mailbox device without deteriorating processing performance. <P>SOLUTION: The mailbox system is equipped with the regular mailbox device 30 which holds mail delivered from a mail server 20 and collects and holds a journal of mail processing results and the backup mailbox device 40 which holds for backup the journal that the regular mailbox device 30 holds. The backup mailbox device 40 connects with the regular mailbox device 30 by using a file transfer protocol and keeps seriality between a name of a untransferred file to be acquired and a transferred journal file name held by the backup mailbox device 40 without any overlap, and controls journal file transfer at a transfer rate at which the operation of the regular mailbox device 30 is not disturbed and so that a journal file is not transferred continuously in the busiest time zone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a backup of a journal collected by mail processing, and in particular, when transferring a journal file from a regular mailbox device of a mailbox system that collects and holds a journal to a backup mailbox device, the journal file transfer is performed in a predetermined manner. Mailbox system for controlling transfer speed by execution and suspension at a rate, control for preventing transfer of continuous journal files in the most busy time, and backup mailbox apparatus, apparatus and journal thereof The present invention relates to a transfer control method.

  An example of a conventional journal backup system is described in Patent Document 1. This conventional journal backup system includes a transfer source computer system that collects a journal and a remote computer system that backs up the journal. The conventional journal backup system having such a configuration operates as follows. Set the serial number for each journal in the transfer source computer system. The transfer source computer system outputs a journal to the buffer and the external storage device when a transaction occurs. The transfer source computer system has a transferred counter, reads the journal of the untransferred number from the buffer or the external storage device, and transfers it to the remote computer system.

  In this journal backup system, an extra load may be applied to the transfer source computer system. This is because the transfer source manages the journal. This is also because the journal transfer speed is not controlled.

  Furthermore, it is necessary to provide an extra journal-dedicated buffer in the memory in the transfer source computer system.

JP-A-9-152985 (columns 0016-0022)

  In the conventional mail journal backup method, the normal mailbox device that collects the journal for mail processing and the backup mailbox device that transfers and holds the journal from the regular mailbox device for backup are not transferred. Since the regular mailbox device performs synchronization information management to synchronize the journal and the transferred journal retained for backup so as not to be duplicated, the processing load is excessive on the regular mailbox device. There was a problem. In addition, if journal transfer is performed at high speed from the regular mailbox device to the backup mailbox device, the processing capability of the regular mailbox device may be excessively consumed, which may adversely affect the operation. . In addition, since a dedicated journal buffer is prepared in the regular mailbox device, a large amount of memory is required. Also, when a disk cache is provided and data is transferred from the cache, the processing performance is reduced due to the cache-out, and if the journal transfer is performed during the most busy time period when the load is highest, the cache-out is not performed. Seriously affects processing performance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mailbox system in which control is performed on the backup mailbox device side to efficiently transfer files to the backup mailbox device without degrading the processing performance of journals collected by the regular mailbox device in the mailbox system. provide.

  Therefore, in the mailbox system according to the present invention, in which a mail server holds mail sent and received via a network in the mail storage unit, and a journal collected when processing the mail is held in the journal storage unit, the mailbox system includes A mail server that performs transmission / reception of mail based on a predetermined protocol, a regular mailbox device that retains and collects journals related to the processing of the mail passed from the mail server, and the regular mailbox unit A backup mailbox device that obtains the journal and retains it for backup, and the backup mailbox device is connected to the regular mailbox device by a file transfer protocol, from the regular mailbox device. Obtain Create a journal file list to be transferred by making sure that the untransferred journal file name and the transferred journal file name held by the local device do not overlap, and this will not affect the processing performance of the regular mailbox device. The transfer control of the journal files in the list is performed such that transfer execution and transfer suspension are controlled by the transfer rate, and continuous journal files are not transferred during the most busy time period.

  Further, the regular mailbox device includes a mail storage unit for storing mail, and a journal relating to mail processing including processing for storing mail received from a mail server in the mail storage unit and processing for reading out and deleting from the mail storage unit. A mail service unit to collect, a journal cache out time storage unit to hold a journal cache out time indicating a time unit for dividing a journal collected in time series into a file, and a journal collected in time series by the mail service unit A journal storage unit that holds a journal file obtained by dividing the file in units of journal cache out time.

  Further, the journal storage unit has a cache area for writing and reading journals, and the cache area has a size capable of storing at least one journal file collected within the journal cache out time at the most busy time. It is characterized by providing.

  Further, the backup mailbox device includes a journal cache-out time storage unit that holds a time interval for transferring journals from the regular mailbox device, and a batch activation control unit that generates a signal for starting journal transfer at each time interval. A transfer rate storage unit for holding a transfer rate indicating a time to stop the transfer after transferring a journal file of a predetermined size, and a most busy time zone storage unit for holding the most busy time zone in operation of the regular mailbox device A synchronization information storage unit that holds a transferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device, a transferred journal storage unit that holds a journal file transferred from the journal storage unit of the regular mailbox device, The regular mail is started from the batch start control means. The journal file to be transferred based on the untransferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device and the transferred journal file name held by the self device A journal file created by creating a list, stopping transfer of journal files of the list at the transfer rate, and not performing continuous file transfer when there are a plurality of journal files in the file transfer in the busy hour Journal transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the data.

  Furthermore, in the journal transfer control method of the mailbox system in which the mail server holds the mail sent and received via the network in the mail storage unit and the journal collected when processing the mail is stored in the journal storage unit, the backup mail The journal transfer control means of the box device determines whether the current time is in the most busy time zone, and if it is in the most busy time zone, determines whether there are multiple journal files to be transferred. If there are multiple journal files to be transferred in the most busy time zone and the transfer target, a step not to transfer continuous journal files and a non-busy time zone or the most busy time zone If there are no multiple journal files to be transferred, the oldest journal file to be transferred A name acquisition step, a step of connecting to a regular mailbox device for file transfer protocol (FTP) for journal transfer, and a temporary file for transfer from the transfer target list of the backup mailbox device after the connection. A step of creating, a step of determining whether or not the transfer target journal file has been transferred, a step of transferring a journal file of a predetermined size when the transfer is not completed, and a journal of the predetermined size After the file transfer, a step of pausing the transfer for a time set by the transfer rate, a step of checking whether or not the journal file has been transferred after the pause, and a step of continuing the transfer when the transfer is not completed When the journal file has been transferred, A step of determining whether or not the transfer has succeeded; and, if the transfer is successful, a step of renaming the temporary file for transfer to the oldest journal file name obtained from the transfer target list; Storing the name in the synchronization information as having been transferred.

  Further, in a mailbox system in which a mail server holds mail sent and received via a network in a mail storage unit, and a journal collected when processing the mail is held in a journal storage unit, transmission / reception of mail through the network is predetermined. A mail server that is executed based on the protocol of the above, and retention of the mail received from the mail server and collection of journals related to the processing, and the journal is retained in a mail storage unit composed of a plurality of volumes that are classified and stored in correspondence with the mail The backup mailbox device, and a backup mailbox device that reads journals from each of the plurality of volumes of the regular mailbox unit and holds them in the corresponding backup volume. The regular mailbox device is connected by a file transfer protocol, and an untransferred file name from the regular mailbox device and a transferred journal file name held by the own device are arranged so as not to be duplicated, so as to correspond to the volume. Create a journal file list to be transferred, control transfer execution and transfer suspension at a predetermined rate so as not to hinder the processing performance of the regular mailbox device, The journal files in the list are controlled so as not to be transferred.

  Further, the regular mailbox device includes a mail storage unit composed of a plurality of volumes for storing mails corresponding to mail, a process for storing mails passed from the mail server in the volume corresponding to the mails, and reading mails from the mail storage unit A mail service unit that collects journals related to mail processing including processing to be deleted; a journal cache out time storage unit that holds a journal cache out time indicating a time unit for dividing a journal collected in time series into files; and the mail Corresponding to each of the storage units, a journal storage unit composed of a plurality of volumes holding a journal file obtained by dividing a time-series journal into files by the journal cache out time, a mail storage unit composed of a plurality of volumes, and a plurality of volumes Become And having a volume information storage unit for holding a volume information associating null storage unit, and the.

  Further, the journal storage unit has a cache area for writing and reading journals, and the cache area has a size capable of storing at least one journal file collected within the journal cache out time at the most busy time. It is characterized by that.

  Further, the backup mailbox device has a journal cache-out time storage unit that holds a time interval for transferring journals from the regular mailbox device, and a signal for starting journal transfer from the regular mailbox device at each recording interval. The generated batch activation control means, the transfer rate storage unit for holding the transfer rate indicating the time to stop the transfer after transferring the journal file of a predetermined size, and the most busy time zone for holding the busy time zone of the regular mailbox device. A busy time zone storage unit, a volume information storage unit that holds the volume information of its own device corresponding to the volume storage information of the regular mailbox device, and a plurality of file-ready files that are transferred from the regular mailbox device A synchronization information storage unit stored in the volume; The journal file transferred from the journal storage unit consisting of multiple volumes of the box device, and the transferred journal storage unit that stores the journal file in the corresponding volume and the batch activation control means, and the file transfer to the mail service unit of the regular mailbox device A list of journal files to be transferred is created corresponding to the volume based on the untransferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device and the transferred journal file held by the own device, connected by the protocol, and the list If there are more than one journal file in the transfer suspension at the transfer rate and the file transfer in the busy time period, there are multiple journal files. A journal transfer control means for controlling the transfer of Airu, characterized in that it comprises a.

  Furthermore, in the journal transfer control method of the mailbox system in which the mail server holds the mail sent and received via the network in the mail storage unit and the journal collected when processing the mail is stored in the journal storage unit, the backup mail The journal transfer control means of the box device determines whether the current time is in the most busy time zone, and if it is in the most busy time zone, determines whether there are multiple journal files to be transferred. If there are multiple journal files to be transferred in the most busy time zone and the transfer target, a step of ending the journal file transfer so as not to transfer continuous journal files, and a non-busy time zone, Or, if there are no journal files to be transferred in the most busy time, A step of obtaining the oldest journal file name to be sent, a step of connecting to a regular mailbox device for file transfer protocol (FTP) for journal transfer, and a transfer target possessed by the backup mailbox device after the connection Creating a temporary transfer file from the list; determining whether or not the transfer target journal file has been transferred; and transferring a journal file of a predetermined size when the transfer is not completed; After the transfer of the journal file of the predetermined size, the step of pausing the transfer for a time set by the transfer rate, and after the pausing, confirming whether the transfer of the journal file is finished or not. When the transfer continues with the journal file A step of determining whether or not the transfer is successful when the transfer is completed; and if the transfer is successful, the temporary file for transfer is renamed to the oldest journal file name acquired from the transfer target list Checking whether journal file transfer has been completed for all volumes in the journal storage unit of the regular mailbox device. The journal transfer is stopped when it is finished, and the journal file transfer is continued for all the volumes when it is not finished.

  The first effect of the present invention is that a load can be suppressed so that the regular mailbox device does not cause a decrease in processing performance in order to transfer a journal file for backup. The reason is that the backup mailbox device manages the journal files that are transferred from the regular mailbox device to the backup mailbox device, and further, during the journal file transfer, the journal file is transferred continuously in the busy hours. A mechanism that prevents backup mailbox devices from affecting the operation of the regular mailbox device by controlling the transmission rate and setting the transfer rate to set the transfer and pause of journal file transfer at the transfer rate. It is for having.

  Furthermore, the second effect is that there is no buffer memory to be prepared in the regular mailbox device for journal transfer. This is because the time interval for journal transfer is controlled while the journal to be transferred remains in the disk cache.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, the mailbox system 10 of the first embodiment includes a mail server 20, a regular mailbox device 30, a backup mailbox device 40, and a bus 50.

  The mail server 20 executes a mail transmission / reception protocol such as SMTP or POP, sends / receives mail to / from the outside, and sends mail processing, mail holding, mail processing journal collection and holding to the regular mailbox device 30; Let

  The regular mailbox device 30 includes a mail service unit 31 that performs mail processing, a journal cache out time 32, a mail storage unit 33, and a journal storage unit 34.

  The backup mailbox device 40 includes a batch activation control unit 41, a journal transfer control unit 42, a synchronization information storage unit 43, a transferred journal storage unit 44, a journal cache out time 45, a transfer rate storage unit 46, And the most busy time zone storage unit 47.

  Each of these devices and means generally functions as follows. The mail service unit 31 includes a mailbox creation / deletion unit, a mail storage unit, and a mail reading unit (not shown), and performs mail processing such as mailbox creation / deletion, mail retention, mail reference / deletion. Therefore, the mail storage unit 33 is updated. Further, a journal related to mail processing for the mail storage unit 33 is stored in the journal storage unit 34. The journals are grouped into files in the time series of occurrence (in order of date and time), and the files are divided in units of time set by the journal cache out time 32. The file name has a format that represents the date and time.

  The journal storage device 34 includes a journal write / read cache. When the regular mailbox device 30 is operating in the most busy time zone, the cache has a size of a capacity capable of storing a journal generated within a predetermined cache out time.

  The backup mailbox device 40 includes a batch activation unit 41, a journal transfer control unit 42, a synchronization information storage unit 43, a transferred journal storage unit 44, a journal cache out time 45, a transfer rate storage unit 46, Including the most busy time storage unit 47 and functions as follows. The batch activation control unit 41 refers to the time set as the journal cache out time 45, and activates the journal transfer control unit 42 at intervals of the journal cache out time. The journal transfer control unit 42 refers to the synchronization information storage unit 43 having the synchronization information for maintaining the series without overlapping the untransferred journal file and the transferred journal file, and the division stored in the journal storage unit 34 Among the already-registered journal files, the untransferred journal file is transferred to the backup mailbox device 40 and stored in the transferred journal storage unit 44. During transfer, every time a journal file of a predetermined size is transferred, the transfer is paused for the time interval set in the transfer rate storage unit 46 to adjust the transfer speed. Further, during transfer, the most busy time zone storage unit 47 is referred to, and when the current time is within the most busy time zone, continuous journal file transfer is not performed. After the file transfer, the file name stored in the transferred journal storage unit 44 is stored in the synchronization information storage unit 43.

  The function of the backup mailbox device 40 will be described. Since the backup mailbox device 40 performs synchronization information management that maintains a series so that the journal files to be held do not overlap, the processing load of synchronization information management is reduced. The regular mailbox device 30 is not applied. Further, the journal transfer control means 42 pauses the transfer for the transfer rate set in the transfer rate storage unit 46 every time a certain size is read when performing journal transfer. By adjusting the transfer pause interval, it is possible to reduce the load on the regular mailbox device 30 while performing backup journal transfer.

  The batch activation control unit 41 activates the journal transfer control unit 42 at a time interval set as the journal cache out time 45. Further, the mail service unit 31 divides the time-sequential journal file output to the journal storage unit 34 at intervals set in the journal cache out time 32. As a result, the journal file to be transferred by the journal transfer control unit 42 in one activation by the batch activation control unit 41 is transferred before the cache of the journal storage unit 34 of the regular mailbox device 30 is journaled out. Thus, the input / output load on the journal storage unit 34 is reduced.

  When the journal transfer control means 42 is activated during the time set in the most busy time zone storage unit 47, the journal transfer control means 42 does not perform continuous transfer of journal files. During this time, the mail service unit 31 continues to output the journal to the journal storage unit 34, and the journal transfer control means 42 performs the transfer of the journal file after the most busy time period ends.

  Next, an operation for executing the journal transfer method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 with reference to FIG. First, the journal transfer control unit 42 refers to the synchronization information storage unit 43 in order to check how far the journal transfer control unit 42 has transferred the journal file of the regular mailbox device in the previous journal transfer. The transferred journal file name is acquired (step 71 in FIG. 2). The journal transfer means 42 is connected to the regular mailbox device 30 by the file transfer protocol (FTP), and acquires a list of journal file names by using a list (LIST) command (step 72). Next, the latest transferred journal file name acquired in step 71 is compared with the list of journal file names of the regular mailbox device 30 acquired in step 72, and a list of journals newer than the latest transferred journal file ( A transfer target list) is created and sorted in the order of file names (that is, in order of date and time), and the journal files to be transferred are arranged so that the untransferred portion and the transferred portion do not overlap (step 73).

  Referring to FIG. 4 for explaining the processing for preparing the journal file to be transferred in this step 73, YYYYMMDD directory lists 7301 and 7302 in the journal storage unit 34 are acquired and from the transferred final entry 7304 in the synchronization information storage unit 43. A transfer target list 7305 obtained by sorting the new directory list 7303 in time order is created and held in a memory as a temporary file for transfer.

  Next, it is determined whether the transfer target created in step 73 is empty. If it is empty, the process is completed (Y in step 74). When the transfer target is not empty (N in Step 74), the file name of the oldest file in the transfer target list is acquired, and the file transfer protocol (from the backup mailbox device 40 to the regular mailbox device 30 is acquired. An FTP (Receive) (RCPT) command is issued to receive a journal file transfer in the journal storage unit 34 (Step 75). Next, it is determined whether or not the transfer is successful. If the transfer is successful (Y in Step 76), the journal whose transfer has been completed is deleted from the transfer target list (Step 77). After step 77 is completed, step 76 is determined again. When the transfer fails (N in step 76), the processing is terminated and retried at the next startup in order to maintain the consistency of the journal transfer order.

  Further, details of the step 75 of transferring the untransferred journal file in the oldest order will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the journal transfer control means 42 of the backup mailbox device 40 refers to the most busy time zone storage unit 47 and determines whether or not the current time is in the most busy time zone (step 7501). If it is the most busy time zone (Y in Step 7501), it is determined whether there are a plurality of journal files to be transferred in the transfer target list (Step 7502). When there are a plurality of journal files to be transferred in the most busy time zone (Y in Step 7502), the transfer of the continuous journal files is not performed (Step 7512), and the journal file transfer is terminated.

  If the above condition is not satisfied (N in Step 7501, N in Step 7502), the oldest journal file name in the transfer target list is acquired (Step 7503). The journal transfer means 42 of the backup mailbox device 40 connects to the mail service unit 31 of the regular mailbox device 30 using the file transfer protocol (FTP) (step 7504). After the FTP connection, a temporary file for transfer is created from the transfer target list 7305 (step 7505). The temporary transfer file is used to prevent the journal file being transferred from remaining in the backup mailbox device 40 with the original journal file name when the transfer fails.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the target journal file has been transferred (step 7506). When the transfer is not yet completed (N in Step 7506), the journal file is transferred by a predetermined size (Step 7507), and the transfer is suspended (sleep) for the time set in the transfer rate storage unit 46. Perform (step 7508). After the suspension, the process returns to step 7506 to check whether the transfer of the received data is completed. After the transfer is completed (Y in Step 7506), it is determined whether or not the transfer is successful (Step 7509). If it is successful (Y in step 7509), the oldest journal file name obtained from the transfer target list is renamed (step 7510). If the rename is successful, it is considered that the transfer has been completed for the journal, and the journal file name is output to the synchronization information storage unit 43 (step 7511). If it has failed, the process is terminated.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the backup mailbox device 40 has synchronization information for maintaining a series so that the journal files do not overlap, and the backup mailbox device 40 performs FTP connection. Since the transfer rate is limited at the transfer rate, the influence on the processing performance of the regular mailbox device 30 can be suppressed to only the FTP transfer at the file list acquisition / low transfer rate. . In addition, when there are multiple transfer targets during the busiest time period, that is, when there is a high possibility that the journal file has been cached out of the disk cache buffer, it operates so as not to transfer consecutive journal files. The processing load due to journal transfer that affects the original business is not applied to the regular mailbox device 30 during the busy hours.

  A second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 6, the configuration of the mailbox system 11 according to the second embodiment includes a mail server 20, a regular mailbox device 30, a backup mailbox device 40, and a bus 50. The regular mailbox device 30 includes a mail service unit 30, a journal cache out time 32, mail storage units 331 to 33n, journal storage units 341 to 34n, and a volume information storage unit 35.

  The backup mailbox device 40 includes a batch activation control unit 41, a journal cache out time 45, a journal transfer control unit 42, a transfer rate storage unit 46, a busy hour storage unit 47, and a synchronization information storage unit 431. Through 43n, transferred journal storage units 441 through 44n, and a volume information storage unit 48.

  Each of these devices and means generally functions as follows. The mail service unit 31 includes a mailbox creation / deletion unit (not shown), a mail storage unit, and a mail reading unit, and creates a mailbox, deletes a mailbox, stores a mail, refers to and deletes a mail. In order to perform such mail processing, the mail storage units 331 to 33n are updated. Further, journals for mail processing for updating the mail storage units 331 to 33n are stored in the journal storage units 341 to 34n. Journals are collected in time series, divided into files in units of time set by the journal cache out time 32, and output in a single file in time series. The file name is in a format that represents the date and time. In journal output, the volume information storage unit 35 indicating the correspondence between the mail volume and the journal volume for mail correspondence is referred to, and the journal file is stored in the journal storage units 341 to 34n corresponding to the mail storage units 331 to 33n. Output.

  Referring to FIG. 6 for explaining the volume information storage unit 35, when there is a mail storage request in the mail storage means 311, the volume information storage unit 35 is referred to and a mail volume 351 for storing mail corresponding to the mailbox or journal Volume 352 is selected and stored. For example, in the volume information storage unit 35, when the mail volume 351 corresponds to the journal volume 352, the mail volume 351 of the mail storage unit 332 is stored, and the journal volume 352 is stored in the journal storage unit 341.

  The batch activation control unit 41 refers to the time set as the journal cache out time 45 and activates the journal transfer control unit 42 at the time interval. The journal transfer control means 42 refers to the synchronization information storage unit 43 having synchronization information for maintaining a series so that the journal files do not overlap, and among the divided journal files stored in the journal storage units 341 to 34n. Then, the untransferred journal file is transferred to the backup mailbox device 40 in correspondence with the volume, and stored in the transferred journal storage units 441 to 44n. At the time of transfer, every time a file having a predetermined size is transferred, the transfer is paused at the transfer rate set in the transfer rate storage unit 46. Further, when the transfer is started, the most busy time zone storage unit 47 is referred to, and when the current time is within the most busy time zone, continuous journal file transfer is not performed. After the file transfer, the file name of the transferred journal file is stored in the synchronization information storage units 431 to 43n corresponding to the volume. The journal transfer control unit 42 refers to the volume information storage unit 48 at the time of activation, and transfers the journal of each volume of the journal storage units 341 to 34n by one batch activation. The synchronization information storage units 431 to 43n hold a list of journal files transferred for each volume in the format of journal / volume 431, 432 corresponding to the volume as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation for executing the journal transfer method of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the journal transfer control means 42 makes one entry from the volume information storage unit 48 in order to check how far the journal transfer control means 42 has transferred the journal file of the regular mailbox device 30 for each volume in the previous journal transfer. Is read (step 801 in FIG. 8). It is determined whether or not the entry is the last entry (step 802). If it is not the last entry (N in Step 802), the latest transferred journal file name of the volume corresponding to the entry obtained in Step 801 is obtained by referring to the synchronization information storage units 431 to 43n (Step 803).

  Next, the backup mailbox device 40 is connected to the regular mailbox device 30 by the file transfer protocol (FTP), and the journal file name of the volume corresponding to the entry obtained in step 801 is obtained by the list (LIST) command. A list is acquired (step 804). Next, the latest transferred journal file name acquired in step 803 is compared with the list of untransferred journal file names of the regular mailbox device 30 acquired in step 804, and a journal file that is newer than the latest transferred journal file. Are pushed and stored in the transfer target list 7305 (step 805).

  Next, the process returns to step 801 again, and the next volume information entry is processed. If the entry is the last entry in the determination in step 802 (Y in step 802), the transfer target list containing information for all volumes is sorted in order of date and time (step 806). Next, it is determined whether or not the transfer target sorted in step 806 is empty. If it is empty (Y in step 807), the process is completed. If the transfer target is not empty (N in Step 807), the file name of the oldest file in the transfer target list is acquired, and the file transfer protocol is transferred from the regular mailbox device 30 to the backup mailbox device 40. The journal file is transferred by a receive (RCPT) command (step 808). Next, it is determined whether or not the transfer is successful. If the transfer is successful (Y in Step 809), the journal whose transfer has been completed is deleted from the transfer target list (Step 810). When transfer fails (N in Step 809), all transfer target journals of the failed volume are deleted from the transfer target list 7305 (Step 811). After step 810 or step 811 is completed, the determination in step S807 is performed again.

  The detailed operation of the journal transfer control means 42 of the backup mailbox device 40 in step 807 is the same as that of FIG. 3 showing the detailed operation of step 75 of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, This is performed for each volume of the journal storage units 341 to 34n.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the volumes of the journal storage units 341 to 34n of the regular mailbox device 30 or the transferred journal storage units 441 to 44n of the backup mailbox device 40 are transferred due to a failure or the like. Even if it becomes impossible, backup can be continued for volumes other than the failed volume.

  It is obvious that the normal mailbox device 30 and the backup mailbox device 40 of the first and second embodiments are loaded into a processing device (not shown) and operate to execute processing.

  It can be used in fields that require a backup journal for collecting and holding journals in a mail server that sends and receives electronic mail.

It is a figure showing a 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which takes the journal backup in a 1st form. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the operation | movement which takes journal backup. It is a figure explaining the temporary file creation for transfer in FIG. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the volume correspondence by a volume information storage part. It is a figure which illustrates a synchronous information storage part. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mailbox system 11 Mailbox system 20 Mail server 30 Regular mailbox apparatus 31 Mail service part 32 Journal cache out time 33 Mail storage part 34 Journal storage part 35 Volume information storage part 40 Backup mailbox apparatus 41 Batch starting control means 42 Journal transfer means 43 Synchronization information storage unit 44 Transferred journal storage unit 45 Journal cache out time 46 Transfer rate storage unit 47 Most busy time zone storage unit 48 Volume information storage unit 50 Bus 331 to 33n Mail storage unit 341 to 34n Journal storage unit 431 to 43n Synchronization information storage unit 441 to 44n Transferred journal storage unit

Claims (10)

In a mailbox system in which a mail server holds mail sent and received via a network in a mail storage unit, and a journal collected when processing the mail is held in a journal storage unit,
A mail server that executes transmission / reception of mail via the network based on a predetermined protocol;
A regular mailbox device for holding and collecting journals related to holding and processing of mail passed from the mail server;
A backup mailbox device for obtaining the journal held by the regular mailbox unit and holding it for backup, and
The backup mailbox device is connected to the regular mailbox device by a file transfer protocol, and the untransferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device overlaps the transferred journal file name held by the own device. Create a journal file list to be transferred, control the transfer execution and transfer suspension with the transfer rate so as not to hinder the processing performance of the regular mailbox device, and continue the continuous busy hours The mailbox system is characterized in that the journal file in the list is controlled to be transferred so that the transferred journal file is not transferred. A mail storage unit for storing mail;
A mail service unit that collects a journal related to a mail process including a process of storing a mail passed from a mail server in the mail storage unit and a process of reading and deleting from the mail storage unit;
A journal cache out time storage unit for holding a journal cache out time indicating a unit of time for dividing a journal collected in time series into a file;
A journal storage unit that holds a journal file obtained by dividing the journal collected by the mail service unit in time series into units of the journal cache out time; and
An ordinary mailbox apparatus characterized by comprising: The journal storage unit
2. A journal area for writing and reading journals, wherein the cache area has a size capable of storing at least one journal file collected within the journal cache out time at the most busy time. The regular mailbox device according to 2. A journal cache out time storage unit that holds a time interval for transferring a journal from the regular mailbox device;
Batch activation control means for generating a signal for starting journal transfer at each time interval;
A transfer rate storage unit that holds a transfer rate indicating a time to pause the transfer after transferring a journal file of a predetermined size;
A busy hour storage unit that holds a busy hour in operation of the regular mailbox device;
A synchronization information storage unit that holds a transferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device;
A transferred journal storage unit for holding a journal file transferred from the journal storage unit of the regular mailbox device;
Activated from the batch activation control means, connected to the mail service unit of the regular mailbox device by a file transfer protocol, and the untransferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device and the transferred journal file held by the own device A list of journal files to be transferred is created based on the name, and when there are a plurality of journal files in the list of the journal files in the list, the transfer pauses at the transfer rate and the file transfer in the most busy time period. Journal transfer control means for controlling the transfer of journal files by not performing file transfer,
A backup mailbox apparatus characterized by comprising: In the journal transfer control method of a mailbox system in which a mail server holds a mail sent and received via a network in a mail storage unit, and a journal collected when processing the mail is held in a journal storage unit,
The journal transfer control means of the backup mailbox device
Determining whether the current time is in the most busy time; and
A step of determining whether there are a plurality of journal files to be transferred if it is the most busy time period;
When there are multiple journal files to be transferred in the most busy time period, the step of not transferring continuous journal files;
If the most busy time zone, or the most busy time zone, and there are no multiple journal files to be transferred, obtaining the oldest journal file name to be transferred; and
Making a connection to the regular mailbox device for file transfer protocol (FTP) for journal transfer;
After the connection, creating a temporary transfer file from the transfer target list of the backup mailbox device;
Determining whether or not the transfer target journal file has been transferred;
When the transfer is not over, transferring a journal file of a predetermined size;
Pausing the transfer for a time set by the transfer rate after transferring the journal file of the predetermined size;
After the pause, confirm whether or not the transfer of the journal file is finished, and if not, continue the transfer;
When the transfer of the journal file is finished, determining whether the transfer was successful;
If the transfer is successful, the temporary file for transfer is renamed to the oldest journal file name obtained from the transfer target list;
After renaming, storing the journal file name in the synchronization information as transferred,
A journal transfer control method for a mailbox system, characterized in that: In a mailbox system in which a mail server holds mail sent and received via a network in a mail storage unit, and a journal collected when processing the mail is held in a journal storage unit,
A mail server that performs transmission and reception of mail through the network based on a predetermined protocol;
Collecting journals related to holding and processing of mail received from the mail server, and storing the journal in a mail storage unit consisting of a plurality of volumes that are classified and stored in correspondence with the mail;
A backup mailbox device that reads a journal from each of the plurality of volumes of the regular mailbox unit and holds it in a corresponding backup volume, and
The backup mailbox device connects the regular mailbox device using a file transfer protocol, so that the file name not transferred from the regular mailbox device and the transferred journal file name held by the own device do not overlap. Prepare a journal file list to be transferred in correspondence with the volume, control transfer execution and transfer suspension at a predetermined rate so as not to hinder the processing performance of the regular mailbox device, and use the most busy time A mailbox system, wherein journal files in the list are controlled so as not to transfer journal files having continuous bands. A mail storage unit consisting of multiple volumes that hold mail for mail,
A mail service unit that collects a journal related to mail processing including processing to store the mail passed from the mail server in the volume corresponding to the mail and processing to read and delete the mail from the mail storage unit;
A journal cache out time storage unit for holding a journal cache out time indicating a unit of time for dividing a journal collected in time series into a file;
Corresponding to each of the mail storage units, a journal storage unit consisting of a plurality of volumes holding journal files obtained by dividing a time-series journal into files in the journal cache out time;
A volume information storage unit that holds volume information for associating a mail storage unit composed of a plurality of volumes and a journal storage unit composed of a plurality of volumes;
An ordinary mailbox apparatus characterized by comprising: The journal storage unit
8. A journal area having a cache area for writing and reading journals, wherein the cache area has a size capable of storing at least one journal file collected within the journal cache out time at the most busy time. The regular mailbox device as described. A journal cache out time storage unit that holds a time interval for transferring a journal from the regular mailbox device;
Batch activation control means for generating a signal for starting journal transfer from the regular mailbox device at each time interval;
A transfer rate storage unit that holds a transfer rate indicating a time to pause the transfer after transferring a journal file of a predetermined size;
A busy hour storage unit for holding a busy hour of the regular mailbox device;
A volume information storage unit that holds the volume information of its own device corresponding to the volume storage information of the regular mailbox device;
A synchronization information storage unit for storing the transferred file list obtained from the regular mailbox device in a plurality of mail-compatible volumes;
A transferred journal storage unit for storing a journal file transferred from a journal storage unit consisting of a plurality of volumes of the regular mailbox device in a corresponding volume;
Activated from the batch activation control means, connected to the mail service unit of the regular mailbox device by a file transfer protocol, and the untransferred journal file name obtained from the regular mailbox device and the transferred journal file held by the own device Based on the above, a list of journal files to be transferred is created in correspondence with the volume, and there are a plurality of journal files in the journal file in the list by the transfer suspension at the transfer rate and the file transfer in the busy time period. Journal transfer control means for controlling the transfer of journal files to all the volumes without transferring continuous journal files;
A backup mailbox apparatus comprising: In the journal transfer control method of a mailbox system in which a mail server holds a mail sent and received via a network in a mail storage unit, and a journal collected when processing the mail is held in a journal storage unit,
The journal transfer control means of the backup mailbox device
Determining whether the current time is in the most busy time; and
A step of determining whether there are a plurality of journal files to be transferred if it is the most busy time period;
When there are a plurality of journal files to be transferred in the most busy time period, the step of ending journal file transfer without transferring continuous journal files;
If the most busy time zone, or the most busy time zone, and there are no multiple journal files to be transferred, obtaining the oldest journal file name to be transferred; and
Making a connection to the regular mailbox device for file transfer protocol (FTP) for journal transfer;
After the connection, creating a temporary transfer file from the transfer target list of the backup mailbox device;
Determining whether or not the transfer target journal file has been transferred; transferring the journal file of a predetermined size when the transfer is not completed; and
Pausing the transfer for a time set by the transfer rate after transferring the journal file of the predetermined size;
After the pause, confirm whether or not the transfer of the journal file is finished, and if not, continue the transfer;
When the transfer of the journal file is finished, determining whether the transfer was successful;
If the transfer is successful, the temporary file for transfer is renamed to the oldest journal file name obtained from the transfer target list;
After renaming, storing the journal file name in the synchronization information as transferred,
Check whether the journal file transfer has been completed for all the volumes in the journal storage unit of the regular mailbox device, stop the journal transfer when it is completed, With the step of continuing the journal file transfer to the volume.
A journal transfer control method for a mailbox system, characterized in that:

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