TW201716977A - Routing method for cluster storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides a routing method for a cluster storage system. The cluster storage system includes a host and multiple storage devices, and each storage device has multiple input/output modules. The host and the storage devices form a network topology. In the network topology, the host is connected to all the input/output modules of at least one of the storage devices. Each input/output module of each storage device is connected to all the other input/output modules in that storage device, and is connected to one of the input/output modules of at least one of the other storage devices. The input/output module transmits the outside link information that records the connection relationship between the input/output module and the input/output modules of the other storage devices connected to it. However, the input/output module doesn't transmit the inside link information that records the connection relationship between the input/output module and all the other input/output modules in the same storage device. This method can avoid generating a loop when routing data.

Description

Routing method for clustered storage systems

The present invention relates to a routing method, and more particularly to a routing method for a clustered storage system.

An existing clustered storage system includes a host and a plurality of storage devices that form a network topology with the host. Each storage device is, for example, a just a bunch of disks (JBOD) disk server that can mount a plurality of hard disks, and the storage device includes a plurality of input/output modules (IOMs), one a storage module for storing data, and a processor electrically connected to the storage module and the input and output modules. The host connects the at least one storage device of the storage device with a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). The route for data transmission between the host and the storage device is established in the following manner: the host uses dynamic routing to transmit an inquiry frame to each input and output module of each storage device in a broadcast manner, and then each The processor of a storage device returns, according to the query frame, each of the input and output modules of each storage device to include the output into the module. The backhaul frame of the connection information between the group and other connected input and output modules is connected to the host, so that the host can establish a route for data transmission according to the return frames.

Existing clustered storage systems are in larger networks, and because of the dynamic routing mechanism, loops of data transmission are easy to occur. When the host transmits data, the data may be repeatedly and repeatedly forwarded on the loop, occupying the network bandwidth and the resources of the storage device, resulting in a decrease in performance.

For example, referring to FIG. 1, the cluster storage system includes a host 11, a storage device 12A, a storage device 12B, and a storage device 12C. The storage device 12A includes an input/output module 121A1 and an input/output module 121A2 connected to the input/output module 121A1. The storage device 12B includes an input/output module 121B1 and an input/output module 121B2 connected to the input/output module 121B1. The storage device 12C includes an input/output module 121C1 and an input/output module 121C2 connected to the input/output module 121C1. After the host 11 establishes a data transmission route according to all the return frames sent back and forth by the module, if the host 11 wants to send data to the input/output module 121C2 of the storage device 12C, because the input and output modules are The 121A2 is connected to the input/output module 121A1 of the storage device 12A. Therefore, after the host 11 transmits the data to the input/output module 121A2, the sent data may be sent by the input/output module 121A2 of the storage device 12A. The input/output module 121A1 is sent back to the host 11 by the input/output module 121A1, and a loop for data transmission is generated.

Several technologies have been tried to solve the loop problem of data transmission. For example, when there is a loop, the link of some data transmission on the loop is cut off to make the loop disappear. However, this method may cause data transmission to be concentrated in a few paths and cause data transmission to be blocked, or the data cannot be transmitted to some input/output modules after the path is deleted.

Therefore, how to develop a routing method that can avoid data transmission loops has become a direction for related companies to study hard.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a routing method for a clustered storage system.

Thus, the present invention is directed to a routing method for a clustered storage system, the clustered storage system comprising a host and a plurality of storage devices that together with the host form a network topology and respectively include a plurality of input and output modules, in the network topology The host is connected to each of the output modules of at least one of the storage devices, and each of the input and output modules of each storage device is connected to each of the other input and output modules of the storage device to which the input and output modules belong. And one of the input and output modules connected to at least one other storage device, and the host to any one of the input and output modules is composed of the host and one or more of the input and output modules belonging to different storage devices There is only one path, and the routing method for the cluster storage system includes a step (A), a step (B), and a step (C).

In the step (A), the host sends an inquiry frame to the input and output modules of the storage devices by using the network topology.

In step (B), each input/output module of each storage device returns a communication frame to the host after receiving the inquiry frame, wherein the return frame includes the input/output module connected thereto The external connection information between the input and output modules of each of the other storage devices does not include the internal connection information between the input/output module and any other input/output modules of the storage device to which it belongs.

In the step (C), the host generates a route for data transmission between the host and the input and output modules according to the return frames sent back by the input and output modules.

The effect of the present invention is that the backhaul frames returned by the input and output modules do not include external connection information between the input and output modules and any other input and output modules of the storage device to which they belong. To avoid the loop of data transmission when establishing the route of data transmission.

11‧‧‧Host

12A‧‧‧Storage equipment

121A1‧‧‧Output module

121A2‧‧‧Output module

12B‧‧‧Storage equipment

121B1‧‧‧Output module

121B2‧‧‧Output module

12C‧‧‧Storage equipment

121C1‧‧‧Output module

121C2‧‧‧Output module

2‧‧‧Host

3‧‧‧Storage equipment

3A‧‧‧Storage equipment

31‧‧‧Output module

31A1‧‧‧Output module

31A2‧‧‧Output module

3B‧‧‧Storage equipment

31B1‧‧‧Output module

31B2‧‧‧Output module

3C‧‧‧Storage equipment

31C1‧‧‧Output module

31C2‧‧‧Output module

401~403‧‧‧Steps

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments of the present invention, wherein: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional cluster storage system; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating execution A cluster storage system for an embodiment of a routing method for a clustered storage system of the present invention; 3 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a routing method for a clustered storage system of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an inquiry of the embodiment of the routing method for a clustered storage system of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission of most of the back frames of the embodiment of the routing method of the cluster storage system of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the present invention for cluster storage Routing of data transmission between a host of the clustered storage system and each of the input and output modules of the plurality of storage devices of the embodiment of the system; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the present invention for cluster storage The host of the clustered storage system of the embodiment of the system forms a tree network topology together with the storage devices; and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the routing method of the present invention for a cluster storage system. The host of the clustered storage system of this embodiment, together with the storage devices, forms a star network topology.

Referring to Figure 2, one embodiment of the routing method of the present invention for a clustered storage system is performed by a clustered storage system. The clustered storage system includes a host 2 and a plurality of storage devices 3 that together with the host 2 form a network topology. Each storage The device 3 includes a plurality of input and output modules 31, a storage module for storing data (not shown), and a processor (not shown) electrically connected to the storage module and the input and output modules. The host 2 is connected to each of the input and output modules 31 of at least one of the storage devices 3. Each of the input and output modules 31 of each storage device 3 has a SAS address, and is connected to each of the other input and output modules 31 of the storage device 3 to which the input and output module 31 belongs, and is connected to at least one other storage device 3 One of the input and output modules 31, and the path of the host 2 to any one of the input and output modules 31 consisting of the host 2 and one or more of the input and output modules 31 belonging to different storage devices 3 is only One. For example, the path from the host 2 to the input/output module 31C2 is composed of the host 2 and the input/output module 31A2, the input/output module 31B2, and the input/output module 31C2 belonging to different storage devices 3; For example, the path from the host 2 to the input/output module 31B1 is composed of the host 2 and the input/output module 31A1 and the input/output module 31B1 belonging to different storage devices 3. In this embodiment, the cluster storage system includes three storage devices 3, and each storage device 3 includes two input and output modules 31 as an example, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the storage device 3 is, for example, a JBOD disk server, and the host device 2 is, for example, a server host, and the host device 2 and the storage devices 3 respectively have two ports and are transmitted through the host. The bus bus adapter (HBA) is connected to form a SAS network topology, but not limited to this.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the various steps of this embodiment are described below.

In step 401, the host 2 sends an inquiry frame to the input/output modules 31 of the storage devices 3 by using the network topology, wherein the query frame is a SAS frame. In detail, as shown in FIG. 4, the inquiry frame is transmitted to an input/output module 31A1 of a storage device 3A; and then the inquiry frame is sent to the connected device by the input/output module 31A1. An input/output module 31B1 of another storage device 3B; finally, the input/output module 31B1 sends the inquiry frame to an input/output module 31C1 of another storage device 3C to which it is connected. Similarly, the inquiry frame is also transmitted to an input/output module 31A2 of the storage device 3A; then, the inquiry frame is sent by the input/output module 31A2 to one of the storage devices 3B to which it is connected. The input and output module 31B2 is finally sent by the input/output module 31B2 to an input/output module 31C2 of the storage device 3C to which it is connected.

In step 402, after each input and output module 31 of each storage device 3 receives the inquiry frame, the processor of each storage device 3 according to the inquiry frame, by each of the storage devices 3 An input/output module 31 transmits a communication frame to the host 2, wherein the return frame includes external connection information between the input/output module 31 and the input/output module 31 of each other storage device 3 to which it is connected. That is, the SAS address of the input/output module 31 and the SAS address of the input/output module 31 of each other storage device 3 connected thereto are not included, and the input/output module 31 and the storage device 3 to which it belongs are not included. The internal connection information between any other input and output modules 31, that is, not included The SAS address of any other input/output module 31 of the storage device 3 to which the input/output module 31 belongs is included.

In the implementation, the processor of each storage device 3 for each input and output module 31 of the storage device 3, firstly generates all the input and output modules included in the storage device 3 by conventional techniques. The SAS address of 31 and the return frame of the SAS address of the input/output module 31 of each of the other storage devices 3 connected to the input/output module 31, and then executing a code to identify whether the return frame is apart from the The SAS address of the input/output module 31 further includes the SAS address of the other input/output module 31 of the storage device 3, and the SAS address of the other input/output module 31 of the storage device 3 is deleted from the back frame. The return frame only includes the SAS address of the input/output module 31 and the SAS address of the input/output module 31 of each other storage device 3 connected thereto, and does not include the storage to which the input/output module 31 belongs. Any other input or output of device 3 enters the SAS address of module 31.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the embodiment, the backhaul frame returned by the input/output module 31C1 includes a table data including a SAS address of its own and a SAS address of the input/output module 31B1 as shown in the following list. The host 2 determines that the input/output module 31C1 is connected to the input/output module 31B1. The backhaul frame returned by the input/output module 31B1 includes a SAS address including its own, a SAS address of the input/output module 31C1, and a table data of the SAS address of the input/output module 31A1. So that the host 2 determines that the input/output module 31B1 is connected to the input/output module. 31C1 and the input and output module 31A1. The backhaul frame returned by the input/output module 31A1 includes a table data including its own SAS address and the SAS address of the input/output module 31B1 as shown in the following Table 3, so that the host 2 can determine the output accordingly. The input module 31A1 is connected to the input/output module 31B1. Similarly, the input/output module 31A2, the input/output module 31B2, and the input/output module 31C2 have the same return mode.

In step 403, the host 2 generates a route for data transmission between the host 2 and the input/output modules 31 of the storage devices 3 according to the return frames transmitted by the input/output modules 31.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, since the back frames in step 403 do not include internal connection information between the input and output modules 31 belonging to the same storage device 3, the host 2 determines that they belong to the same There is no path connection between the input and output modules 31 of the storage device 3. Thus, the path between the host 2 and the input/output module 31C1 The path to the input/output module 31C1 through the input/output module 31A1 and the input/output module 31B1; the route between the host 2 and the input/output module 31B1 is through the output into the module The group 31A1 and the path to the input/output module 31B1; the route between the host 2 and the input/output module 31A1 is directly transmitted by the host 2 to the input/output module 31A1. Similarly, the route established between the host 2 and the input/output module 31A2, the input/output module 31B2, and the input/output module 31C2 is similar to the above. As can be seen from the above, since the host 2 determines that there is no path connection between the input/output modules 31 belonging to the same storage device 3, the host 2 and the input/output module 31 are generated by the dynamic routing of the host 2. The route of data transfer between the two does not cause a loop. In contrast, in the dynamic routing method of the conventional cluster storage system, since the back frame contains internal connection information between the input and output modules belonging to the same storage device, data transmission between the host and the input and output modules The route is easy to cause loops. In addition, in the embodiment, the routes between the input and output modules 31 of the same storage device 3 are established in a static routing manner to achieve data transmission between the input and output modules 31 of the same storage device 3. .

In addition, although in this embodiment, the network topology is the linear topology shown in FIG. 2, the network topology may have other implementation manners, such as the tree topology shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. The star topology and the like, wherein the host 2 to any one of the input and output modules 31 has only one path composed of the host 2 and one or more of the input and output modules 31 belonging to different storage devices 3.

In summary, the routing method for the cluster storage system of the present invention, the back frame transmitted by each of the input and output modules 31 does not include the other components of the input and output module 31 and the storage device 3 to which it belongs. An internal connection information between the input and output modules 31 to prevent the data transmitted by the host 2 from being routed by the dynamic routing to the other input and output modules located in the same storage device 3 through one of the output modules 31 The loop is generated by 31, so that the object of the present invention can be achieved.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and all the equivalent equivalent changes and modifications according to the scope of the patent application and the patent specification of the present invention are still The scope of the invention is covered.

401~403‧‧‧Steps

Claims (7)

A routing method for a cluster storage system, the cluster storage system comprising a host and a plurality of storage devices that form a network topology together with the host and respectively include a plurality of input and output modules, wherein the network topology The host is connected to each of the input and output modules of at least one of the storage devices, and each of the input and output modules of each storage device is connected to each of the other input and output modules of the storage device to which the input and output modules belong, and Connecting one of the input and output modules of at least one other storage device, and the path of the host to any one of the input and output modules by the host and one or more of the input and output modules belonging to different storage devices is only The routing method for the cluster storage system includes: (A) the host sends an inquiry frame to the input and output modules of the storage devices by the network topology; (B) each storage Each input/output module of the device returns a communication frame to the host after receiving the inquiry frame, wherein the return frame includes the input and output modules and the input of each other storage device connected thereto. Entering external connection information between modules, and does not include internal connection information between the input/output module and any other input/output module of the storage device to which it belongs; and (C) the host enters the module according to the output The backhaul frames returned by the group generate a route for data transmission between the host and the input and output modules. The routing method for a cluster storage system according to claim 1, wherein in step (A), the host sends the inquiry frame to the connected The input and output modules are sent to the module, and each of the input and output modules sends the query frame to the input and output modules of other storage devices to which they are connected. The routing method for a cluster storage system according to claim 1, wherein in step (B), the back frame includes an address of the input/output module and an output of each other storage device connected thereto Enter the address of the module, and does not include the address of any other input and output module of the storage device to which the input and output modules belong. The routing method for a cluster storage system according to claim 3, wherein in the step (B), the storage device first generates, for the input and output modules, all the input and output modules in the storage device. The address frame of the address of the input/output module of each of the other storage devices connected to the input and output module, and the storage device except the address of the input and output module is deleted from the back frame The address of other input and output modules included. The routing method for a cluster storage system according to claim 4, wherein after the storage device executes a code in step (B), it is identified whether the return frame contains an address other than the input/output module. In addition to the address of the other input and output modules included in the storage device, the address of the other input and output modules of the storage device is deleted from the return frame. The routing method for a cluster storage system according to claims 3 to 5, wherein in the step (B), the address is a serial small computer system interface address. The routing method for a cluster storage system according to claim 1, wherein the query frame and the back frame are serial small computer system interface frames.