JPH07262067A - Network type file back-up device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the delay of communication by backing up a file when the communication value that monitors the network communication value is less than the threshold value, i.e., a standard to judge whether the file should be backed up or not and then discontinuing the back-up of the file when the communication value exceeds the threshold value. CONSTITUTION:A setting part 8 decides the threshold value to judge whether the back-up of a file should be carried out based on the set data received from a console 3, and the part 8 sets a back-up subject machine on a network, and also sets a time zone in which the back-up operation is carried out again, when the back-up operation is not completed in a fixed time. A comparison part 11 compares the set threshold value with the monitor value received from a monitor part 10b, and the part 11 sends a back-up operation execution signal to a data control part 9 and an SCSI controller 6 when the monitor value is less than the threshold value. Meanwhile, a back-up operation discontinuation signal is sent to the part 9 and the controller 6 when the monitor value exceeds the threshold value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network type file backup device for backing up files to a terminal device on a network via the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to effectively use resources such as information data and programs, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of distributed host machines 51 ... A distributed processing environment is constructed in which a local area network is formed and host machines 51 on the network can operate in cooperation with each other.

In such a network communication system, each host machine 5 on the network has conventionally been used.
A network type file backup device 52 for backing up one file through a network is used.

The conventional file backup device 52 is
When the preset backup work time (for example, a certain night time) is reached, the host machine 5 on the network
For 1, the backup work is performed regularly.

[0005]

When there are a plurality of terminal devices on the network as shown in FIG. 5, while communication is being performed between two certain terminal devices, the other terminal devices are not communicating. You will have to wait.

Generally, backup work is considered to be communication with low priority (priority), and in order to prevent delay in communication with high priority due to backup work, backup work is usually performed with a relatively small amount of network communication such as midnight. It will be executed at the expected time.

However, depending on the operating mode of the system, the amount of network communication does not necessarily decrease during the set backup work time. For example, depending on the progress of work using the network communication system as described above, backup work may be performed. The network traffic may decrease during the daytime when the time is not set, and conversely, the network traffic may increase during the midnight when the backup work time is set.

[0008] When the network communication volume is high, if the set backup work time is reached and communication for backup is further added, the network communication volume is increased by that amount, and a delay occurs in high priority communication. The problem arises.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to cause a situation in which a communication having a higher priority than the backup work is delayed due to an increase in the network communication amount due to the backup work. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network type file backup device capable of reducing the number of backups as compared with the conventional one.

[0010]

A network type file backup device of the present invention is to perform a file backup for a backup target machine on a network via a network. In order to solve the above problems, It is characterized in that means are taken.

That is, the above-mentioned network type file backup device has a communication amount monitoring means for monitoring the network communication amount (for example, the number of packets per unit time) and a threshold value as a criterion for judging whether or not to perform the file backup. And a comparing means for comparing the network traffic monitored by the traffic monitoring means with the threshold set by the threshold setting means. When is less than or equal to the threshold value, the file backup to the backup target machine is performed, and when the monitored amount exceeds the threshold value, the file backup is stopped.

[0012]

According to the above construction, the communication amount monitoring means constantly monitors the network communication amount, and the monitor amount and the threshold value set by the threshold value setting means are compared by the comparing means. Have been compared. Then, the file backup device performs file backup for the backup target machine when the monitored amount is equal to or less than the threshold value. And, even if the backup work is not completed, if the monitored amount exceeds the threshold value,
The backup operation is stopped, and when the monitored amount becomes equal to or less than the threshold value again, the backup operation is restarted.

As described above, the file backup apparatus of the present invention does not perform the backup work at a predetermined time as in the conventional case, but executes the backup work during a time period when the network communication amount is low. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of delays in communication with higher priority than backup work due to the increase in network communication volume due to backup work, and guarantee high priority communication. .

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following will describe one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS.

The network type file backup apparatus according to the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG.
P (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protoco
l) is connected to a local area network of Ethernet (registered trademark, Xerox Co., Ltd.) configured to support communication protocols, and a plurality of host machines (backup target machines) 2 on the network are connected via the network. File backup to.

As shown in FIG. 2, this file backup device basically stores a console 3 for inputting various data, a main controller 4 having a communication control function such as network connection, and a backup file. Hard disk 5, hard disk 5
(Small Computer System Interfac
e) It is composed of a controller 6 and a tape streamer 7 used for backing up the data stored in the hard disk 5.

The main controller 4 constantly monitors the network communication amount and executes a backup operation when the network communication amount is equal to or less than a preset threshold value. It has a function to stop the backup work when it exceeds.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main controller 4 has a setting unit (threshold value setting unit) 8, a data management unit 9, a network control unit 10, and a comparison unit (comparison unit) 11. The above functions are realized by the respective units 8 to 11. The main controller 4
Is basically composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory, and each of the units 8 to 11 of the main controller 4 has a function of the CPU that executes a predetermined program stored in the memory. It is a module.

The setting unit 8 sets the above-mentioned threshold value, which serves as a criterion for determining whether or not to execute the backup work, based on the setting data from the console 3. The setting unit 8 also sets a backup target machine on the network based on the setting data from the console 3. Furthermore, the setting unit 8 exceeds the threshold time together with the threshold time serving as a reference for determining whether or not the backup work is completed within a certain time based on the setting data from the console 3. Also sets the time zone (designated zone) for backup work when the backup work is not completed.

The data management unit 9 manages file data transferred from each backup target machine set by the setting unit 8 via the network. The data management unit 9 instructs the network control unit 10 to transfer a file to a backup target machine that has not been backed up yet, based on a backup work execution signal, which will be described later, sent from the comparison unit 11. Also,
When the backup operation is not completed even if the threshold time is exceeded, the data management unit 9 instructs the network control unit 10 to transfer the file from the backup target machine if the backup operation is not completed.

In response to an instruction from the data management unit 9, the network control unit 10 establishes a network connection with the backup target machine and requests the backup target machine for file transfer. Then, the data input unit 10a of the network control unit 10 receives the transferred backup file and transfers it to the data management unit 9.

Further, the network control unit 10 is
It includes a monitor unit (communication amount monitoring means) 10b for detecting the network communication amount by monitoring the physical layer of the SI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model. The network communication volume is the number of transmission packets (or the number of bits or the number of messages) per unit time. Then, the monitoring unit 10b sends the monitoring result of the network communication amount to the comparing unit 11.

The comparing unit 11 compares the threshold value set by the setting unit 8 with the monitor amount from the monitor unit 10b, and when the monitor amount is less than or equal to the threshold value, a backup work execution signal is sent. Then, when the monitored amount exceeds the threshold value, a backup work stop signal is sent to the data management unit 9 and the SCSI controller 6, respectively.

The operation of the file backup device 1 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, as a preparatory step, the operator is shown in FIG.
Operate the keyboard of the console 3 to input data for setting the threshold, the machine to be backed up, the threshold time, and the designated zone. As a result, the setting unit 8 sets the threshold, the machine to be backed up, the threshold time, and the designated zone (S1 to S
4) The threshold value is sent to the comparison unit 11, and the backup target machine, the threshold time, and the data of the designated zone are sent to the data management unit 9.

On the side of each backup target machine, the backup target area is set (address setting), which storage area of the storage device (for example, hard disk) of each machine is to be backed up. Will be seen.

The operation of the file backup device 1 after the above preparatory operation is performed will be described with reference to FIG. The shaded area in FIG. 3 represents the execution time zone of the backup work.

Monitor unit 1 of file backup device 1
0b constantly monitors network traffic,
The monitor amount and the set threshold value are compared by the comparison unit 11 (S5 in FIG. 4). When the network traffic monitored at time t ₁ becomes less than or equal to the threshold value, the comparison unit 11 sends a backup work execution signal to the SCSI controller 6 and the data management unit 9. At this time, the data management unit 9 transfers the file to the set backup target machine by the network control unit 10.
Instruct. As a result, the network control unit 10
Request file transfer from the backup target machine.

After that, the data input unit 10a receives one block of data (backup file) transferred from the backup target machine via the network and passes it to the data management unit 9. The data management unit 9 sends the backup file to the SCSI controller 6, and the SCSI controller 6 stores the backup file in a predetermined area of the hard disk 5 in FIG. 2 (S6). Further, at this time, the data management unit 9 determines whether or not all the backup files have been received (S7), and if there is an unreceived file, the process returns to S5.

The above-mentioned backup work is performed during a period (from time t ₁ to time t _{2 in} FIG. 3) in which the monitored network traffic is below the threshold value. Time t
_{When the} network communication amount monitored in ₂ exceeds the threshold value, the comparison unit 11 sends a backup operation stop signal to the SCSI controller 6 and the data management unit 9. As a result, the SCSI controller 6 is turned off and the data management unit 9 instructs the network control unit 10 to release the current network connection. As a result, the network control unit 10 releases the network connection and the backup operation is stopped. In this case, even if the file backup for all the backup target machines set by the setting unit 8 is not completed, the backup work is temporarily stopped.

After that, if the network traffic monitored again at time t ₃ falls below the threshold value, the comparison unit 11
A backup operation execution signal is sent from the SCSI controller 6 and the data management unit 9 from the SCSI controller 6 to the network control unit 1. At this time, the data management unit 9 transfers the file transfer of the backup target machine which has not been backed up yet.
Then, the backup work is restarted.

In the same manner, the backup work is interrupted when the monitored network traffic exceeds the threshold, and the backup work is restarted when the network traffic falls below the threshold again. ,
It is repeated until the file backup of all the backup target machines is completed.

By the way, it is possible that the network traffic does not fall below the threshold value for a long time and the backup work is not carried out endlessly, or the backup work does not end endlessly because the time when it falls below the threshold value is short. Conceivable. Therefore, the data management unit 9 determines when the monitored network traffic exceeds the threshold (S
(NO in step 5), it is determined whether the current time is within the designated zone (S8), and if the current time is within the designated zone, it is further determined whether the current threshold time is exceeded. (S9) If the threshold time is exceeded, the process proceeds to S6 to start backup work.

As described above, the network type file backup apparatus 1 of this embodiment performs file backup for the backup target machine (host machine 2 ... In FIG. 5) on the network via the network. As shown in FIG. 1, the monitor unit 10b as a communication amount monitoring means for monitoring the network communication amount.
And a setting unit 8 as a threshold value setting unit for setting a threshold value, and a comparison unit for comparing the network traffic monitored by the monitor unit 10b with the threshold value set by the setting unit 8. 11 is configured to perform file backup to the backup target machine when the monitor amount is less than or equal to the threshold value, and stop the file backup when the monitor amount exceeds the threshold value.

As described above, the file backup apparatus 1 of the present embodiment does not perform the backup work in the time zone determined as in the conventional case, but executes the backup work in the time zone in which the network communication amount is small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of delays in communication with higher priority than backup work due to an increase in network communication volume due to backup work, and it is possible to reduce the occurrence of high priority communication. Guarantee.

Further, the network type file backup device 1 of the present embodiment, in the above-mentioned configuration, serves as a backup end judging means for judging whether the backup work is completed within a preset time (threshold time). If the backup work is not completed within the threshold time and the backup work is not completed by the time when the pre-designated time zone (designated zone) comes, the above designation The configuration is such that file backup is performed during the specified time period. It should be noted that the designated zone is set at a time such as midnight when it is expected that the amount of network communication will be relatively small.

As a result, the amount of communication on the network does not fall below the threshold value for a long time, and the backup work is not carried out endlessly, or the time when the network traffic falls below the threshold value is short and the backup work does not end at all. Can be avoided.

If the backup work is not completed within the preset time (threshold time), the threshold value is automatically changed to the preset value so that the backup work is facilitated. May be. In this case, the setting unit 8 sets the threshold value in the normal state and the second threshold value higher than the threshold value (the network communication amount is large) in two steps, and within a preset time. If the backup work is not completed, the data management unit 9 sets the setting unit 8
The setting of may be changed from the threshold value at the normal time to the second threshold value. In this case, the threshold value is restored after the backup work is completed. Even if the two-step setting is not performed as described above, the threshold value can be changed by increasing the normal threshold value by a fixed rate or by increasing the normal threshold value by adding a fixed amount. You may.

Alternatively, the file backup apparatus 1 may start the backup work if the backup work is not completed within a preset time (threshold time). In this case, it is desirable to set the timing for determining whether or not the backup work is completed to a time at which the network communication amount is expected to be relatively small, such as midnight.

Alternatively, if the backup work is not completed within a preset time (threshold time), a message indicating that the backup work is not completed is displayed on the display section of the console 3, and an alarm lamp is lit (blinking). Alternatively, a warning operation may be performed by a warning device such as sounding of a warning device, and the operator may be informed that the backup work is not completed within the set time. In this case, the operator can respond by manually changing the threshold value to facilitate the backup work, or manually starting the backup work.

The above-mentioned embodiments are intended to clarify the technical contents of the present invention, and should not be construed in a narrow sense by limiting to such specific examples. Various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[0042]

As described above, the network type file backup apparatus of the present invention performs file backup for a backup target machine on the network via the network, and a communication amount monitoring means for monitoring the network communication amount. A threshold value setting means for setting a threshold value as a criterion for judging whether or not to perform file backup, and the network communication amount monitored by the communication amount monitoring means and the threshold value setting means. When the monitor amount is less than or equal to the threshold value, a file backup is performed to the backup target machine, while the monitor amount exceeds the threshold value. The configuration is such that file backup is canceled.

Therefore, since the backup work is executed during a time period when the network communication amount is low, a situation occurs in which communication having a higher priority than the backup work is delayed due to an increase in the network communication amount due to the backup work. The effect is that it can be done less than before.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional module configuration of a main controller of a network type file backup device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an overall configuration of the network type file backup device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the time change of the network communication amount monitored by the network type file backup device and the execution time zone of the backup work.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the network type file backup device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network communication system including a network file backup device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 network type file backup device 2 host machine (machine to be backed up) 3 console 4 main controller 5 hard disk 6 SCSI controller 8 setting section (threshold setting means) 9 data management section 10 network control section 10b monitoring section (communication amount monitoring means) ) 11 comparison unit (comparison means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A network type file backup device for performing a file backup to a backup target machine on a network via the network, and a communication amount monitoring means for monitoring the network communication amount and a judgment as to whether or not to perform the file backup. Threshold setting means for setting a reference threshold, and comparing means for comparing the network traffic monitored by the traffic monitoring means with the threshold set by the threshold setting means. When the above monitor amount is less than or equal to the above threshold value, the file backup to the backup target machine is performed,
A network type file backup device characterized in that file backup is stopped when the monitored amount exceeds the threshold value.