Storage system management method, storage system, switch, and storage medium having a program

Abstract

A storage system includes storage devices having connection ports and logical device groups connected to each connection port, and a switch having a plurality of switch ports to which the storage devices can be connected via their connection ports and, when a data frame is input to one of the switch ports, being capable of outputting that data frame from either one of the switch ports connected to one of the connection ports to which that data frame is to be sent according to a destination specified in that data frame. The switch stores a table that defines a correspondence between the destination and the connection port. In rearranging data stored in one logical device group to another logical device group, a management server connected to the switch sends an update request to the switch and makes it update the correspondence in the table.

1 . A method of managing a storage system that includes 
 at least one storage device having one or more connection ports and one or more storage volumes connected to said connection ports, and    a switch having at least two switch ports to which said storage device can be connected via said connection ports and, when a data frame is input to one of said switch ports, being capable of outputting that data frame from one of said switch ports connected to one of said connection ports according to a destination address specified in that data frame,    said method comprising: 
 storing information in said switch that defines a correspondence between said destination address that is designated in said data frame and a transfer-target port address that is different from said destination address and that indicates a switch port through which said data frame is to be transferred;  
 said switch receiving an update request that is input to said switch from outside; and  
 said switch updating said information based on said update request.  
   
   
   
       2 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said update request includes a message instructing to update said information to enable said switch, when said switch receives a data frame that designates, as its destination, one of said connection ports to which a certain one of said storage volumes is connected, to output that data frame from one of said switch ports that is connected to one of said connection ports to which a storage volume other than said certain storage volume is connected, and    said switch updates said information according to said message.    
   
   
       3 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 a management server for inputting said update request to said switch is connected to said switch,    said method further comprising: 
 said management server determining a transfer-source storage volume from which data is transferred and a transfer-target storage volume to which the data is transferred when performing an operational change to make data stored in one of said storage volumes be stored in another of said storage volumes;  
 said management server storing first information that defines a correspondence between said connection ports and said switch ports and second information that defines a correspondence between said connection ports and said storage volumes; and  
 said management server creating said update request based on information about said transfer-source storage volume and said transfer-target storage volume that has been determined, on said first information, and on said second information.  
   
   
   
       4 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said management server has a user interface,    said method further comprising: 
 said management server determining said transfer-source storage volume and said transfer-target storage volume based on an input from said user interface.  
   
   
   
       5 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said management server is connected to said storage device,    said method further comprising: 
 said storage device sending to said management server information about a usage state of each of said storage volumes provided in that storage device;  
 said management server receiving said information about the usage state; and  
 said management server determining said transfer-source storage volume and said transfer-target storage volume based on said information about the usage state.  
   
   
   
       6 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 5 , wherein said usage state is an input/output frequency of data being input/output to/from each of said storage volumes.  
   
   
       7 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 5 , wherein said usage state is a remaining capacity of each of said storage volumes.  
   
   
       8 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 5 , said method further comprising selecting, as said transfer-target storage volume, one of said storage volumes provided in the same storage device as the transfer-source storage volume in priority over a storage volume provided in a different storage device.  
   
   
       9 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 3 , wherein said transfer-source storage volume and said transfer-target storage volume are provided in different ones of said storage device.  
   
   
       10 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 3 , said method further comprising said management server transferring the data stored in said transfer-source storage volume to said transfer-target storage volume across said switch.  
   
   
       11 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said storage volumes is a logical storage region that is logically arranged on a physical storage region provided by at least one physical device provided in the storage device.  
   
   
       12 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein said switch is a Fibre Channel switch.  
   
   
       13 . A method of managing a storage system according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said switch is configured by connecting at least two switches in a cascade connection,    said method further comprising:    each of said switches 
 storing said information,  
 receiving said update request that is input to each of said switches from outside, and  
 updating said information that each of said switches stores based on said update request.  
   
   
   
       14 . A storage system comprising: 
 at least one storage device having 
 one or more connection ports, and  
 one or more storage volumes connected to each of said connection ports; and  
   a switch having 
 at least two switch ports to which said storage device can be connected via said connection ports,  
 an output unit outputting, when a data frame is input to one of said switch ports, the data frame from one of said switch ports connected to said connection ports according to a destination address specified in that data frame,  
 a memory storing information that defines a correspondence between said destination address that is designated in said data frame and a transfer target port address that is different from said destination address and that indicates a switch port through which said data frame is to be transferred, and  
 a processor receiving an update request that is input to said switch from outside and updating said information based on said update request.  
   
   
   
       15 . A switch comprising: 
 at least two switch ports to which at least one storage device having one or more connection ports can be connected via said connection ports;    an output unit outputting, when a data frame is input to one of said switch ports, the data frame from one of said switch ports connected to one of said connection ports according to a destination address specified in that data frame;    a memory storing information that defines a correspondence between said destination address that is designated in said data frame and a transfer target port address that is different from said destination address and that indicates a switch port through which said data frame is to be transferred and    a processor receiving an update request that is input to said switch from outside and updating said information based on said update request.    
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable storage medium having a program recorded thereon, said program causing a switch provided in a storage system that includes 
 at least one storage device having one or more connection ports and at least one storage volume connected to said connection ports, and    said switch having at least two switch ports to which said storage device can be connected via said connection ports and, when a data frame is input to one of said switch ports, being capable of outputting that data frame from one of said switch ports connected to one of said connection ports according to a destination address specified in that data frame    to execute: 
 storing information that defines a correspondence between said destination address that is designated in said data frame and a transfer target port address that is different from said destination address and that indicates a switch port through which said data frame is to be transferred;  
 receiving an update request that is input to said switch from outside; and  
 updating said information based on said update request.  
   
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable storage medium having a program recorded thereon, said program causing a management server provided in a storage system that includes 
 at least one storage device having one or more connection ports and one or more storage volumes connected to said connection ports,    a switch having at least two switch ports to which said storage device can be connected via said connection ports and, when a data frame is input to one of said switch ports, being capable of outputting that data frame from one of said switch ports connected to one of said connection ports according to a destination specified in that data frame, and    said management server connected to said switch for inputting an update request to said switch    to execute: 
 determining a transfer-source storage volume from which data is transferred and a transfer-target storage volume to which the data is transferred when performing an operational change to make data stored in one of said storage volumes be stored in another one of said storage volumes;  
 storing first information that defines a correspondence between said connection ports and said switch ports and second information that defines a correspondence between said connection ports and said storage volumes; and  
 creating said update request based on information about said transfer-source storage volume and said transfer-target storage volume that has been determined, on said first information, and on said second information.  
   
   
   
       18 . A method of managing a storage system comprising at least one switch and one or more storage devices, each storage device having one or more connection ports, each connection port being associated with one or more storage volumes, said switch having a plurality of switch ports to which said storage devices can be connected by way of said connection ports, the method comprising steps of: 
 receiving a data frame from a host, said data frame comprising a first destination identifier that corresponds to a first switch port of the plurality;    storing information comprising one or more correspondences, each correspondence comprising a destination identifier and an associated destination identifier;    if said first destination identifier has an associated destination identifier in said information, then communicating said data frame to second switch port of the plurality that corresponds to said associated destination identifier; and    if said first destination identifier does not have an associated destination identifier in said information, then communicating said data frame to said first switch port.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said switch is a Fibre Channel switch, said switch ports comprise one or more F_port type switch ports and one or more N_port type switch ports, said data frame being received from an F_port type switch port, said first switch port and said second switch port being N_port type switch ports.