TWM509381U - Apparatus for managing a storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for managing a storage system is provided where the storage system includes a plurality of subsystems. The apparatus may include: a main circuit; and a power supply, coupled to the main circuit. The main circuit is arranged for controlling operations of a subsystem of the plurality of subsystems. In addition, the power supply is arranged for providing the main circuit with power, wherein the subsystem includes the main circuit and the power supply. Additionally, when the subsystem boots up, the main circuit may send a command to another subsystem of the plurality of subsystems, to trigger the other subsystem to boot up. For example, the storage system may be established to be a high availability (HA) cluster.

Description

Device for managing a storage system

This creation is about High Availability Management (HA Management), especially a device for managing a storage system.

While network services have become a part of the daily lives of many people, problems such as component failures, human error, or system crashes can cause server malfunctions and/or service disruptions. As a result, the cost of business operations may increase.

According to related technologies, a traditional High Availability (HA) architecture may maintain some types of network services without interruption, wherein two traditional nodes in the traditional high availability architecture may be separately set to Active and Passive. However, additional problems may arise during actual use. For example, in a situation where a conventional node that is pre-set to active is not powered on and a conventional node that is pre-set to be passive is powered on, a conventional node that is pre-set to passive does not automatically become active; that is, the traditional high There is no active node in the booting architecture in the availability architecture, so the traditional high availability architecture does not work properly. For another example, the conventional high-availability architecture cannot operate normally when the conventional node that is pre-set to passive is not powered on and the legacy node that is pre-set to active is powered on. For another example, after the two conventional nodes are powered on, when the traditional node preset to be active is turned off first, and the conventional node preset to be passive is not turned off, the conventional node preset to be passive does not automatically become. Active; that is, there is no active node in the boot in the traditional high-availability architecture, so the traditional high-availability architecture does not function properly.

From the above, it is known that the related art cannot properly solve the existing problems without causing additional problems. Therefore, there is a need for a novel architecture to minimize side effects or not In the case of side effects, properly solve the existing problems.

One of the purposes of this creation is to provide a means for managing a storage system to solve the above problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for managing a storage system to reduce the chances of a malfunction of the storage system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for managing a storage system to properly control the normal operation of a High Availability Cluster (HA Cluster).

At least one preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for managing a storage system, the storage system comprising a plurality of subsystems, the apparatus comprising: a main circuit (Main Circuit); and a power supply coupled to To the main circuit. The main circuit is used to control the operation of one of the plurality of subsystems. Additionally, the power supply is for providing power to the main circuit, wherein the subsystem includes the main circuit and the power supply. Additionally, when the subsystem is powered on, the main circuit can transmit an instruction to another of the plurality of subsystems to trigger the other subsystem to power up. For example, the storage system can be established as a High Availability Cluster (HA Cluster).

One of the benefits of this creation is that the device of the present invention can properly solve the existing problems with fewer side effects or no side effects. In addition, the device of the present invention can reduce the chance of failure of the storage system. For example, this high-availability cluster ensures non-stop storage space services and maximizes system availability, reducing the risk of no-warning outages and resource-intensive downtime. With the device of this creation, the goal of uninterrupted usability can be easily achieved. As a result, additional maintenance costs and management time for the storage system are reduced.

50‧‧‧Network

100,200‧‧‧ devices

102-1, 102-2‧‧‧ control module

103-1, 103-2‧‧‧Power supply

104-1, 104-2‧‧‧Power cord

105-1, 105-2, 205-1, 205-2‧‧‧ main circuit

110-1, 110-2, 210-1, 210-2‧‧‧ processor

112-1, 112-2, 212-1, 212-2‧‧‧ Code

120-1, 120-2, 220-1, 220-2‧‧‧ control module

130-1,130-2,230-1,230-2‧‧‧ network module

CMD1, CMD2, CMD3, CMD4‧‧‧ instructions

1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for managing a storage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for managing a storage system in accordance with another embodiment of the present teaching Figure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control architecture involved in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control architecture involved in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in an embodiment.

1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 100 for managing a storage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the storage system can include a plurality of subsystems, and the apparatus 100 can include at least a portion of the plurality of subsystems (eg, a portion) Or all), and at least one of the plurality of subsystems (eg, one or more subsystems) can include at least one storage device (eg, one or more storage devices), such as a plurality of hard disk drives and/or Or an external storage device to provide an access service based on the at least one storage device. For example, device 100 can be one or more control circuits of some of the plurality of subsystems, such as one or more integrated circuits (ICs). For another example, the device 100 can be an entirety of one of the plurality of subsystems. As another example, device 100 can be at least two of the plurality of electronic devices. As another example, device 100 can be the entirety of the storage system. According to this embodiment, the storage system can be established as a High Availability Cluster (HA Cluster). Examples of the storage system may include, but are not limited to, a data storage system implemented by a server technology, and a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (Serial Attached SCSI, simply referred to as "SAS"). A data storage system implemented by technology and a data storage system implemented using SAS Expander technology. Examples of the plurality of subsystems may include, but are not limited to, a server, a management chassis implemented using SAS expander technology, along with its expansion enclosure (Enclosure).

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 may include: main circuits 105-1 and 105-2; and power supplies 103-1 and 103-2, respectively coupled through power lines 104-1 and 104-2. Connected to main circuits 105-1 and 105-2. The main circuit 105-1 is used to control the operation of one of the plurality of subsystems, and the main circuit 105-2 is used to control another of the plurality of subsystems. The operation of the system. In addition, the power supply 103-1 is used to supply power to the main circuit 105-1, and the power supply 103-2 is used to supply power to the main circuit 105-2, wherein the subsystem includes the main circuit 105-1 and The power supply 103-1, and the other subsystem includes a main circuit 105-2 and a power supply 103-2. In practice, the control module 102-1 can turn on or off the output power of the power supply 103-1 according to the control signal received by the control module 102-1, and the control module 102-2 can respond to the control signal received by the control module 102-2. The output power of the power supply 103-2 is turned on or off, wherein the control modules 102-1 and 102-2 can be implemented according to the existing power supply technology.

In accordance with the present embodiment, when the subsystem is powered on, the main circuit 105-1 can transmit an instruction (such as one of the commands {CMD1}) to the other subsystem to trigger the other subsystem to power up. In particular, the command and the triggering operation can be implemented using Wake On LAN (WOL) technology. For example, the main circuit 105-1 may pre-record one of the other subsystems, a Media Access Control Address (MAC Address), and issue a packet carrying the media access control address, such as A broadcast frame and use the packet as the instruction to trigger the other subsystem to boot. Additionally, when the main circuit 105-1 triggers the subsystem to shut down, the main circuit 105-1 can transmit another instruction (such as the other of the commands {CMD1}) to the other subsystem to trigger the other sub The system is shut down.

The other subsystem can perform similar operations when needed. For example, when the other subsystem is powered on, the main circuit 105-2 can transmit one of the commands {CMD2} to the subsystem to trigger the subsystem to power on. For another example, when the main circuit 105-2 triggers the other subsystem to shut down, the main circuit 105-2 can transmit the other of the commands {CMD2} to the subsystem to trigger the subsystem to shut down.

2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 200 for managing a storage system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the foregoing control architecture for transmitting the command {CMD1} or {CMD2} through the network 50, the present embodiment provides a command to transmit a command {CMD3} or {CMD4} through a Direct Connection Wiring between two subsystems. The control architecture avoids any impact on the network 50. In response to the adjustment of the architecture, the above device 100, main circuits 105-1 and 105-2 In the present embodiment, the device 200 and the main circuits 205-1 and 205-2 are respectively referred to.

FIG. 3 illustrates a control architecture involved in the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 in one embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the above device 100 is referred to as device 100-1 in this embodiment. For example, the main circuits 105-1 and 105-2 in the device 100-1 can be implemented as a motherboard of the server, respectively. The main circuit 105-1 can include a processor 110-1, a control module 120-1, and a network module 130-1, and the network module 130-1 is used to couple the subsystem to the network 50. The processor 110-1 executing the code 112-1 can control the operation of the main circuit 105-1. Similarly, the main circuit 105-2 can include the processor 110-2, the control module 120-2, and the network module 130-2, and the network module 130-2 is used to couple the other subsystem. To the network 50, the processor 110-2 executing the code 112-2 can control the operation of the main circuit 105-2. In practice, when the subsystem is in standby, the control module 120-1 and the network module 130-1 can obtain standby power through at least one of the power lines 104-1 for triggering the wakeup. System use. In addition, when the other subsystem is in standby, the control module 120-2 and the network module 130-2 can obtain standby power through at least one of the power lines 104-2 for triggering the wakeup. Used by a subsystem.

For example, when the subsystem is powered on, the main circuit 105-1 can transmit one of the commands {CMD1} to the other subsystem through the network module 130-1 and the network 50 to trigger the other. The subsystem is powered on. For another example, when the other subsystem is powered on, the main circuit 105-2 can transmit the above one of the commands {CMD2} to the subsystem through the network module 130-2 and the network 50 to trigger the sub-module. The system is powered on. For another example, when the main circuit 105-2 triggers the shutdown of the other subsystem, the main circuit 150-2 can transmit the other of the commands {CMD2} through the network 50 and the network modules 130-1 and 130-2. To the subsystem to trigger the subsystem to shut down. For another example, when the main circuit 105-1 triggers the shutdown of the subsystem, the main circuit 150-1 can transmit the other of the commands {CMD1} to the other through the network 50 and the network modules 130-1 and 130-2. The other subsystem triggers the shutdown of the other subsystem. The description of the embodiment that is similar to the foregoing embodiment/variation will not be repeated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control architecture involved in the apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 2 in an embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the above device 200 is referred to as the device 200-1 in this embodiment. Similar to In the description of FIG. 2, in response to the adjustment of the architecture, the processors 110-1 and 110-2, the codes 112-1 and 112-2, the control modules 120-1 and 120-2, and the network module 130-1 In the present embodiment, 130-2 is renamed as processors 210-1 and 210-2, codes 212-1 and 212-2, control modules 220-1 and 220-2, and network module 230-, respectively. 1 and 230-2. For example, the main circuits 205-1 and 205-2 in the device 200-1 can be implemented as a motherboard for managing the chassis, respectively.

The device 200-1 includes a direct connection line (coupled between the control module 220-1 and the control module 102-2) for transmitting the command {CMD3}, and includes another direct connection line (which is coupled to The control module 220-2 is connected to the control module 102-1 for transmitting the command {CMD4}. For example, when the subsystem is powered on, the main circuit 205-1 can transmit one of the commands {CMD3} to the other subsystem through the direct connection line to trigger the other subsystem to power on. For another example, when the other subsystem is powered on, the main circuit 205-2 can transmit one of the commands {CMD4} to the subsystem through the other direct connection line to trigger the subsystem to power on. For another example, when the main circuit 205-2 triggers the other subsystem to shut down, the main circuit 205-2 may transmit the other of the commands {CMD4} to the subsystem to trigger the subsystem to shut down. For another example, when the main circuit 205-1 triggers the subsystem to shut down, the main circuit 205-1 may transmit the other of the commands {CMD3} to the other subsystem to trigger the other subsystem to shut down. The description of the embodiment that is similar to the foregoing embodiment/variation will not be repeated.

Please note that for ease of understanding, any of the devices 100, 200, 100-1, 200-1 can be depicted as including a plurality of subsystems. This is for illustrative purposes only and is not a limitation of this creation. In some examples, any of the devices 100, 200, 100-1, 200-1 can be depicted as including at least a portion (eg, a portion or all) of any of the subsystems.

50‧‧‧Network

100‧‧‧ device

102-1, 102-2‧‧‧ control module

103-1, 103-2‧‧‧Power supply

104-1, 104-2‧‧‧Power cord

105-1, 105-2‧‧‧ main circuit

CMD1, CMD2‧‧‧ directive

Claims (10)

A device for managing a storage system, the storage system comprising a plurality of subsystems, the device comprising: a main circuit for controlling operation of one of the plurality of subsystems, wherein the sub-system When the system is booted up, the main circuit transmits an instruction to another subsystem of the plurality of subsystems to trigger the other subsystem to be powered on; and a power supply coupled to the main circuit for Power is supplied to the main circuit, wherein the subsystem includes the main circuit and the power supply; wherein the storage system is established as a High Availability Cluster (HA Cluster). The device of claim 1, wherein the main circuit comprises a network module, and the network module is used to couple the subsystem to a network; and when the subsystem is powered on The main circuit transmits the command to the other subsystem through the network module and the network to trigger the other subsystem to boot. The device of claim 2, wherein when one of the other subsystems triggers the other subsystem to shut down, the main circuit in the other subsystem transmits the network to the network The road module transmits another command to the subsystem to trigger the subsystem to shut down. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the other subsystems is used to control the operation of the other subsystem, and one of the other subsystems is used by the power supply. Providing power to the main circuit in the other subsystem; and the device further includes: a direct connection line (Direct Connection Wiring) coupled to the main circuit in the subsystem and the other of the subsystems Between the power supplies, where when the subsystem is open When the machine is in operation, the main circuit transmits the command to the other subsystem through the direct connection line to trigger the other subsystem to be powered on. The device of claim 4, wherein when the main circuit in the other subsystem triggers the other subsystem to shut down, the main circuit in the other subsystem transmits another command to the sub-system System to trigger the subsystem to shut down. The device of claim 1, wherein when the primary circuit triggers the subsystem to shut down, the primary circuit transmits another command to the other subsystem to trigger the other subsystem to shut down. The device of claim 6, wherein the main circuit comprises a network module, and the network module is configured to couple the subsystem to a network; and when the main circuit triggers the When the subsystem is shut down, the main circuit transmits the other command to the other subsystem through the network module to trigger the other subsystem to shut down. The device of claim 6, wherein one of the other subsystems is used to control the operation of the other subsystem, and one of the other subsystems is used by the power supply. Providing power to the main circuit in the other subsystem; and the device further includes: a direct connection line (Direct Connection Wiring) coupled to the main circuit in the subsystem and the other of the subsystems Between the power supplies, wherein when the main circuit triggers the subsystem to shut down, the main circuit transmits the other command to the other subsystem through the direct connection line to trigger the other subsystem to shut down. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: another main circuit for controlling operation of another one of the plurality of subsystems; and another power supply coupled to the other Main circuit for supplying power to the other main power Road, wherein the other subsystem includes the other main circuit and the other power supply. The device of claim 1, wherein the subsystem and the at least one of the other subsystems comprise at least one storage device to provide an access service based on the at least one storage device.