Methods for Controlling Storage Devices Controlling Apparatuses

Abstract

A storage device controller including: channel control portions each including a circuit board on which a file access processing portion for receiving file-by-file data input/output requests sent from information processors and an I/O processor for outputting I/O requests corresponding to the data input/output requests to storage devices are formed, the channel control portions being classified into groups for the sake of fail-over; and a device for storing data updated by each of the channel control portions and handed over at the time of the fail-over in a shared volume which is a storage region logically set on physical storage regions provided by the storage devices and which can be accessed commonly by any other channel control portion belonging to the same group as the channel control portion updating the data.

1 . A control method for a storage device controller including a plurality of control portions each having an access processing portion for receiving data input/output requests sent from information processors and an I/O processing portion for outputting I/O requests corresponding to said data input/output requests to storage devices, said control portions being classified into groups for the sake of fail-over, said control method comprising; 
 setting a management information including synchronization type information and synchronization method information and a type of inherited data for fail over in a memory in said storage controller from a computer,    when a request to update inherited data for fail over is received, storing said updated inherited data into storage area based on said management information by the control portion received said request.    
     
     
         2 . The control method according to  claim 1 , said synchronization type information is a range in which inherited data is synchronized.  
     
     
         3 . The control method according to  claim 1 , said synchronization method information is a method for synchronizing inherited data.  
     
     
         4 . The control method according to  claim 1 , if said inherited data is not used in other control portions, storing said inherited data into a storage area to which said control portion received said request accesses.  
     
     
         5 . The control method according to  claim 1 , if said inherited data needs synchronization in the cluster, identifying other control portion belonging to the cluster to which said control portion received said request, storing said inherited data into a storage area to which said identified control portion access, sending a storage portion of said inherited data to said identified control portion.  
     
     
         6 . The control method according to  claim 1 , if said inherited data needs synchronization in the cluster, identifying other control portion belonging to the cluster to which said control portion received said request, send said inherited data to said identified control portion, storing said inherited data into each storage area to which said each identified control portion access.  
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 5 , further comprising if said other control portion received a request to read said inherited data, reading said inherited data from said storage area based on said storage portion.