JPH03269719A - Back-up adaptor for disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To back up data in real time with no intervention of an operator by logging the write information and backing up the data at the idle time of an interface. CONSTITUTION:A back-up adaptor 3 monitors an interface 1 and logs the write information to be provided to a disk device 2 to be backed up and then stores the write information in a write information logging memory. The using write of an interface 1-1 is acquired at the idle time of the interface 1. Then the data read out of the device 2 are written into a disk device 4 set at the back-up destination side based on the write information taken out of the write informa tion logging memory. Thus the data can be backed up effectively and in real time with no intervention of an operator.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a backup adapter that performs backup of a disk device, the disk device to be backed up,
Connect the backup destination disk device and backup adapter at the same level as necessary, log the write information and back it up during the free time of the interface, and connect the backup target disk device and the backup destination disk device by adding it to the interface. The purpose of this system is to connect a backup adapter to back up data in real time without operator intervention, and to connect the disk device to be backed up to the computer system interface, and to connect the backup adapter to the computer system interface. Connect the backup destination disk device and backup adapter, and the backup adapter monitors the interface and logs write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) to the backup target disk device, and also checks if the interface is idle for a predetermined period of time or more. Based on the logging information, data is backed up from the backup target disk device to the backup destination disk device via the interface, and the backup is interrupted when an interface acquisition request is made. Configure it to do so.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a backup adapter that backs up a disk device. In recent years, development of disk devices (optical disk devices, hard disk devices) as auxiliary storage lids has progressed in the direction of large capacity and high-speed access, and due to their high data storage ability, they have been used as non-volatile memory devices from a cost/performance standpoint. It is currently used in large quantities. Regarding the data stored in this disk device, you can easily
It is desired to have a backup that is inexpensive and has good versatility.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, when backing up data written to a disk device connected to a small computer system, in most cases the disk is backed up, for example, once a day by an operator's manual operation. Data was evacuated and backed up to other disk devices during times when the device was less frequently used.

This requires a lot of time and effort, and the maximum backup interval is about 71 times a day, resulting in a relatively large amount of lost data that cannot be recovered in the event of a failure. . There is also a so-called mirror type disk device that drives two or more disk devices at the same time and writes the same data to both, but this has the problem of being unsuitable for small computer systems due to cost considerations. .

The present invention connects a backup target disk device, a backup destination disk device, and a backup adapter on the same level as needed on an interface, logs write information, backs it up during the interface's free time, and connects it to the interface. The purpose of this system is to connect a backup target disk device, a backup destination disk device, and a backup adapter to back up data in real time without operator intervention.

[Means to solve problems]

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a backup target disk device 2 is a backup target disk device connected to an interface 1 of a host computer (computer system) 4. As shown in FIG.

The backup destination disk device 4 is a backup destination disk device connected to the interface 1 of the combiator system.

The backup adapter 3 is an adapter that is connected to the interface 1 of the computer system and backs up data in the disk device 2 to be backed up to the disk device 4 as the backup destination (iJA evacuation).

[Effect]

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention connects a disk device 2 to be backed up to an interface 1 of a computer system, and also connects a disk device 4 to be backed up and a disk device to be backed up to the interface 1 when backup is to be performed. Adapter 3 is connected, and this backup adapter 3 monitors interface 1 and logs the write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) to the disk device 2 to be backed up, and also detects if the interface 1 has been idle for a predetermined period of time or more. When the usage right is acquired and data is backed up from the backup target disk device 2 to the backup destination disk device 4 via interface 1 based on the logging information, and when a request to acquire interface 1 is made, I am trying to interrupt the backup.

Therefore, the backup target disk device 2, the backup destination disk device 4, and the backup adapter 3 are connected to the interface 1 at the same level as necessary, and the write information is logged and backed up during the free time of the interface 1. According to interface 1
By connecting the disk unit W2 to be backed up, the disk IW4 to be backed up, and the backup adapter 3 to the computer, data can be backed up efficiently and in real time without operator intervention.

〔Example〕

Next, the configuration and operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail using FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 1, a host computer 4 performs various processes, and here issues an access request in a command format (for example, CCW (channel command word), etc.) to a disk device W2 to be backed up. .

In FIG. 2, the interface (SC3I) 1-1 is an external port (input/output port) of the host computer 4.
This is an interface for connecting the backup adapter 3 shown in the figure as well as the backup target disk device 2, the backup destination disk device 4, etc. shown in FIG. The host combiator 4 issues a ccwc channel command word to this interface 1-1 to write data to the disk device 2, etc., or to transfer data read from the disk device 2, etc. to the host combiator 4. etc.

The protocol controller (SC3I) 3-1 is for exchanging data and the like with the host computer 4 and the like via the interface 1-1.

The RAM 3-2 is a readable and writable memory that includes a write information logging memory, a data pant 1 that temporarily stores data, and the like.

The write information logging memory logs (collects) write information such as the write address (starting address of the block where data is written to the disk device 4) and the number of blocks in the CCW (channel command word) issued by the host combinator 4. > I try to remember it.

The ROM 3-3 is a read-only memory in which firmware (such as a control program for controlling the MPU 3-5) is written in advance.

The interrupt timer 3-4 is a timer for notifying the MPU 3-5 by interrupt after a set time has elapsed, and here it is an interface free time timer.

The MPU 3-5 is a microprocessor that performs various processes (for example, the process shown in FIG. 3) according to a program.

The switch 3-6 is a switch for setting an interface idle time timer. This is for the backup adapter 3 to acquire the right to use the interface 1-1 and start backup processing when the interface 1-1 is continuously vacant for the time set by this switch 3-6. be.

The switch 3-7 is a switch for setting a backup destination disk device. The disk device corresponding to the address set using this switch 3-7 becomes the backup destination disk device W4.

The switch 3-8 is a switch for setting a disk device to be backed up. The disk device corresponding to the address set using this switch 3-8 becomes the disk device 2 to be backed up.

The alarm lamp 3-9 is an alarm lamp for write information overflow, and is a lamp that lights up when logged write information overflows from the write information logging memory to notify that fact.

Next, the operations of the configurations in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained in detail in accordance with the order shown in the flowchart in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, ■ monitors the disk device 2 to be backed up. This means that the backup adapter 3 monitors the interface 1-1 (interface 1) and logs write information to the backup target disk W[2 (write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) is used for write information logging). (save in memory)
.

@ determines whether the interface idle time timer has timed out. In the case of YES (when the interface l-1 has been vacant continuously for the time set by the switch 36 for setting the interface free time timer in FIG. 2)
To do this, do ■.

In the case of No, repeat ①.

■ Performs backup processing. This writes the data read from the backup target disk device 2 to the backup destination disk device 4. That is, after acquiring the right to use interface l-1, based on the write information (write address, number of blocks) retrieved from the memory for write information logging, data for the number of blocks from the write address of the disk device 2 to be backed up is obtained. is temporarily stored in the data buffer in the backup adapter 3, and written to a position corresponding to the number of blocks from the write address of the disk device 4 as the backup destination.

Alternatively, a copy command is issued to the disk device 2 to be backed up, and the disk device 2 directly writes data corresponding to the number of blocks from the write address to the corresponding position of the disk device 4 via the interface 1-1.

This backup process is repeated as many times as the write information is stored in the write information logging memory.

[Stock] resets each timer and pointer since the backup process (■) has been completed. Since the backup process has been completed, the interface free time timer is reset, and the pointer pointing to the unprocessed write information in the write information logging memory is reset to the beginning. Then, repeat ■.

(2) determines whether the write information is an overflow.

This is because the disk device 2 to be backed up is monitored in (2), that is, the interface 1-l in Figure 2 is monitored, and the write information to the disk device to be backed up is captured and sequentially stored in the write information logging memory. Determine whether the write information logging memory is full and overflowed. If YES, an alarm notification is given to the operator in [phase], that is, the alarm lamp 3-9 for write information overflow shown in FIG. 2 is turned on to notify the operator of this fact. On the other hand, in the case of No, repeat the step (2).

(2) determines whether there is an interface acquisition request. If YES (if there is a request to acquire the right to use interface 1.1-1 from the host computer 4, etc.), the backup process is interrupted, the backup pointer is set in [phase], and the write information to be interrupted is sent. Remember location. Then, the host computer 4 or the like acquires the right to use the interface 1.1-1 and performs processing.

As described above, this corresponds to specifying the backup target disk device 2 with the switch 3-8, specifying the backup destination disk device 4 with the switch 3-7, and specifying the value of the interface free time timer with the switch 3-6. Then, when the backup adapter 3 is 0 and the write information to the disk device 4 to be backed up is logged, and the interface free time timer specified by @YES times out, the backup target is logged based on the write information in the backup process of ■. By backing up data from the disk device N4 to the backup destination disk device 2, it becomes possible to efficiently back up only the data written during the idle time of the interface 1, 1).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the backup target disk device 2, the backup destination disk device 4, and the backup adapter 3 are displayed on the ink face l.
(L) The external boat of the computer system is connected as necessary at the same level, and the write information to the backup destination disk unit W4 is logged and backed up during the free time of the interface L. The backup target disk unit 2, the backup destination disk unit W4, and the backup adapter 3 can be easily connected as needed on the interface l connected to the , (2) without operator intervention, and (3) in real time. It is possible to back up only the data written to the interface 1 efficiently and with minimal reduction in throughput by monitoring the idle time of the interface 1.

Shows a low chart.

In the figure, 1 and 1-1 are interfaces, 2 is a disk device to be backed up, 3 is a backup adapter, and 3-
2 is RAM, 3-4 is an interrupt timer, 3-6 or 3-
8 represents a switch, 3-9 an alarm lamp, 4 a backup destination disk device, and 5 a host computer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A backup adapter for backing up a disk device, which connects a disk device (2) to be backed up to an interface (1) of a computer system, and
When attempting to perform a backup, the backup destination disk device (4) and backup adapter (3) are connected to the interface (1), and the backup adapter (3) monitors the interface (1) to check the backup target. Write information to disk device (2) (
write address, number of blocks, etc.), and when the interface (1) is idle for a predetermined period of time or more, the usage right is acquired and the interface (2) from the disk device to be backed up is logged based on the logging information.
A backup adapter for a disk device, characterized in that it is configured to back up data to a backup destination disk device (4) via the interface (1) and interrupt the backup when there is a request to acquire the interface (1). .