IP Library Granted Patent US 11,726,691
Granted Patent B2
US 11,726,691 · App. 17/468,850 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Computer system and communication management method

Inventors: Sachie Tajima (Tokyo, JP); Takahiro Yamamoto (Tokyo, JP); Shintaro Ito (Tokyo, JP); Masakuni Agetsuma (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
G06F3/0646G06F3/0613G06F3/0683G06F13/102
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,726,691
App. No.
17/468,850
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a communication protocol is changed, the I/O function can be appropriately provided. In a computer system, a storage node includes a CPU and a storage control program that performs communication relating to data I/O. The storage control program has a first storage control program that is capable of using a first communication protocol, and a second storage control program that is capable of using the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol. The control node the control node causes, when any storage node of the plurality of storage nodes is capable of executing the first storage control program alone, all storage nodes to perform communication using the first communication protocol. The control node causes, after all storage nodes of the plurality of storage nodes are enabled to execute the second storage control program, the all storage nodes to perform communication using the second communication protocol.

Claims (52)

1. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of storage nodes constituting a storage that manages data;

a control node and

a secondary storage node,

wherein: the plurality of storage nodes includes

a processor, and

a storage control program executed by the processor, the storage control program performing communication relating to data I/O between a compute node and another storage node;

the storage control program has a first storage control program that is capable of using a first communication protocol, and

a second storage control program that is capable of using the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol;

the control node causes, when any storage node of the plurality of storage nodes is capable of executing the first storage control program alone, all storage nodes to perform communication using the first communication protocol; and

the control node causes, after all storage nodes of the plurality of storage nodes are enabled to execute the second storage control program, the all storage nodes to perform communication using the second communication protocol.

2. The computer system according to claim 1 ,

wherein:

a first storage node in the control node or the secondary storage node causes, after all storage nodes of the plurality of storage nodes are enabled to execute the second storage control program, the storage nodes to perform a communication test whether communication is feasible using the second communication protocol;

as a result of the communication test, when communication is feasible in all storage nodes using the second communication protocol, the first storage node causes the all storage nodes to perform communication using the second communication protocol; and

as a result of the communication test, when communication is not feasible in at least one storage node using the second communication protocol, the first storage node causes the all storage nodes to continue communication using the first communication protocol.

3. The computer system according to claim 2 ,

wherein as a result of the communication test, when communication is not feasible in at least one storage node using the second communication protocol, the first storage node in the control node or the secondary storage node notifies a user that the second communication protocol is not usable.

4. The computer system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control node is capable of performing processing targeted for at least one communication of communication relating to data I/O with the compute node or communication relating to data I/O with another storage node.

5. The computer system according to claim 1 ,

wherein: when a communication protocol of communication relating to data I/O with another storage node is changed from the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol, a first storage node in the control node or the secondary storage node requests all storage nodes to interrupt communication relating to data I/O;

after confirming that communication relating to data I/O is interrupted in the all storage nodes, the first storage node requests the all storage nodes to stop the first communication protocol;

after confirming that the first communication protocol is stopped in the all storage nodes, the first storage node requests the all storage nodes to activate the second communication protocol; and

after confirming that the second communication protocol is started in the all storage nodes, the first storage node requests the all storage nodes to resume communication relating to data I/O.

6. The computer system according to claim 1 ,

wherein: the control node determines whether communication interfaces of the storage nodes support the second communication protocol;

when the communication interfaces do not support the second communication protocol, the control node notifies that a communication interface has to be changed.

7. The computer system according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary storage node is a virtual node formed on a physical node.

8. The computer system according to claim 1 ,

wherein a first storage node in the control node or the secondary storage node creates, when a communication protocol for communication relating to data I/O between the secondary storage node and the compute node is changed from the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol, a path based on the second communication protocol between the compute node and the secondary storage node; and

the first storage node changes a path based on the first communication protocol to the path based on the second communication protocol, and changes to the second communication protocol.

9. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of storage nodes constituting a storage that manages data; and

a control node,

wherein: the plurality of storage nodes includes

a processor, and

a storage control program executed by the processor, the storage control program performing communication relating to data I/O between a compute node and another storage node;

the storage control program is a storage control program that is capable of using a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol; and

the control node causes, when an instruction to perform communication using the second communication protocol is issued to all storage nodes of the plurality of storage nodes, the all storage nodes to change communication using the second communication protocol;

wherein: a first storage node in the control node or a secondary storage node causes all storage nodes of the plurality of storage nodes to perform a communication test whether communication is feasible using the second communication protocol;

as a result of the communication test, when communication is feasible in the all storage nodes using the second communication protocol, the first storage node causes the all storage nodes to perform communication using the second communication protocol; and

as a result of the communication test, when communication is not feasible in at least one storage node using the second communication protocol, the first storage node causes the all storage nodes to continue communication using the first communication protocol.

10. A communication management method performed by a computer system including a plurality of storage nodes constituting a storage that manages data and a control node,

wherein: the plurality of storage nodes includes

a processor, and

a storage control program executed by the processor, the storage control program performing communication relating to data I/O between a compute node and another storage node;

the storage control program has

a first storage control program that is capable of using a first communication protocol, and

a second storage control program that is capable of using the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol;

the control node causes, when any storage node of the plurality of storage nodes is capable of executing the first storage control program alone, all storage nodes to perform communication using the first communication protocol; and

after all storage nodes of the plurality of storage nodes are enabled to execute the second storage control program, the control node causes the all storage nodes to perform communication using the second communication protocol.

Assignments (2)
COMPANY SPLIT Recorded Aug 20, 2024
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI VANTARA, LTD.
Reel/Frame 069518/0761 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2021
From: TAJIMA, SACHIE; YAMAMOTO, TAKAHIRO; ITO, SHINTARO; AGETSUMA, MASAKUNI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 057409/0689 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-016960 · Feb 4, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220244875A1 · Aug 4, 2022