Storage controller and controlling method therefor

Abstract

A storage controller that performs user-friendly information display, simplifies updating of support information, has external storage controllers to provide sufficient input / output performance, and expands the range of external storage controllers to be supported; and a controlling method for that storage controller. The storage controller includes a code extract / convert unit for converting a first code indicating a vendor name and / or device name of an external storage controller, obtained based on inquiry data transmitted from the external storage controller, into a second code indicating a real vendor name and / or real device name of the external storage controller. The storage controller creates support information that compiles information of each model regarding whether or not it can be connected to the respective external storage controllers. Furthermore, a path control system and a timeout time can be set for the respective external storage controllers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-47478, filed on Feb. 23, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a storage controller and a controlling method therefor, particularly to a storage controller to which external storage controllers can be connected as externally-connected devices. [0003] In database systems at a data center or similar, where a huge amount of data is dealt with, data is managed using storage systems that are configured separately from a host computer. A storage system is composed of, for example, one or more storage controllers. A storage controller is structured by arranging plural storage devices in arrays and configured based on, for example, the Redundant Array of Independent Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system. In a physical storage area provided by a storage device...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Moreover, with a storage controller having the conventional external connection functions, a uniform timeout time for data input / output is set for the connected external storage controllers. This timeout time is set to be short, so as to be compatible with any new model storage controller, so that the responsiveness of the storage system can be enhanced. Accordingly, when an old-type storage controller requiring a long response time is connected to a current storage controller, timeout occurs frequently.

[0015] The present invention was made considering the above points and its first object is to propose a storage controller capable of user-friendly information display; and a controlling method for the same. Its second object is to simplify updating of the support information. A third object of the present invention is to execute appropriate path-control for each external storage controller connected to the storage controller, thereby having the external storage controller to provide sufficient input / output performance. Moreover, its fourth object is to expand the range of objects that can be supported by effectively preventing the occurrence of timeouts, even in external storage controllers requiring a long response time.

[0021] The present invention also provides a storage controller to which predetermined external storage controllers can be connected as externally-connected devices. The storage controller includes: a storage unit for storing a database that stores timeout threshold values previously set for the connectable external storage controllers; and a transmit / receive unit for transmitting a predetermined inquiry command to a connected external storage controller and receiving inquiry data transmitted from the external storage controller in response to the inquiry command. In this storage controller, based on the inquiry data transmitted from the connected external storage controller, the transmit / receive unit detects, by referring to the database, a timeout threshold value set for the external storage controller and sets the detected timeout threshold value as the timeout time for data input / output between the external storage controller and the storage controller. Accordingly, it is possible to set an appropriate timeout time for each external storage controller.

[0026] Moreover, the present invention provides a controlling method of a storage controller to which predetermined external storage controllers can be connected as externally-connected devices. In this method, the storage controller stores a database for storing timeout threshold values previously set for the respective connectable external storage controllers. The controlling method includes: (a) transmitting a predetermined inquiry command to a connected external storage controller; (b) detecting, based on inquiry data transmitted from the external storage controller in response to the inquiry command, the timeout threshold value set for the external storage controller by referring to the database; and (c) setting the detected timeout threshold value as the timeout time for data input / output between the external storage controller and the storage controller. Accordingly, it is possible to set an appropriate timeout time for each external storage controller.

[0027] The present invention allows the operator to recognize the vendor names and the device names of the external storage controllers immediately, thereby having a user-friendly information display. Moreover, it is possible to update the support information of the respective models in one operation, thereby simplifying updating of the support information. Furthermore, it is possible to employ an appropriate path control system for each external storage controller, thereby causing the external storage controllers to provide sufficient input / output performance. Yet, because an appropriate timeout time can be set for each external storage controller, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of timeouts, even in the external storage controllers requiring a long response time, thereby expanding the range of objects that can be supported.

Problems solved by technology

However, the codes for the vendor name and the device name in the inquiry data transmitted from the second storage controller to the first storage controller are in many cases arbitrarily determined by the manufacturer of the second storage controller and unknown to the public, for example, as developing codes.

Therefore, conventional storage systems have a problem in that an operator cannot immediately recognize the vendor name or the device name of the second storage controller even when he / she sees the codes for the vendor name and the device name displayed on the display of the host system.

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