IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,870,191
Granted Patent B2
US 7,870,191 · App. 12/200,409 · Granted Jan 11, 2011

Computing system and method of changing I/O configuration thereof

Assignee: Hitachi, Lts.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,870,191
App. No.
12/200,409
Granted
Jan 11, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computing system includes: first and second I/O interfaces that are associated with a server; and an I/O management unit that connects the server with the first and second I/O interfaces. The I/O management unit includes: an I/O buffer; an I/O mapping unit that stores an access request of the server to the first I/O interface in the I/O buffer in response to a change start request of the first I/O interface associated with the server to the second I/O interface; an I/O changing unit that associates the second I/O interface with the server; and an I/O synchronizing unit that converts the access request stored in the I/O buffer into an access request to the second I/O interface, in response to the completion of the association by the I/O changing unit, and executes the converted access request.

Claims (49)

1. A computing system comprising:

a first I/O interface associating with a server; and

an I/O management unit coupled with the server and the first I/O interface, the I/O management unit including:

an I/O buffer;

an I/O mapping unit storing an access request of the server to the first I/O interface in the I/O buffer in response to a change start request of the first I/O interface associated with the server to a second I/O interface;

an I/O changing unit associating the second I/O interface with the server; and

an I/O synchronizing unit that converting the access request stored in the I/O buffer into an access request to the second I/O interface, in response to the completion of the association by the I/O changing unit, and executing the converted access request.

2. The computing system according to claim 1 ,

wherein, if the I/O changing unit cannot associate the second I/O interface with the server, the I/O synchronizing unit executes the access request stored in the I/O buffer to the first I/O interface.

3. The computing system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the first and second I/O interfaces couple the server with the same type of target apparatuses.

4. The computing system according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a virtualization unit managing the server,

wherein the server is a virtual server.

5. The computing system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the I/O management unit is included in the virtualization unit.

6. The computing system according to claim 3 ,

wherein, if the first and second I/O interfaces are network interfaces, the I/O changing unit changes an ID of the first I/O interface to an ID of the second I/O interface.

7. The computing system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the ID is a WWN or a MAC address.

8. The computing system according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a management server issuing the change start request using information identifying the server and the first and second I/O interfaces as parameters.

9. The computing system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the management server issues the change start request on the basis of any one of an instruction from a user, the detection of a high load of the first I/O interface, and the detection of trouble of the first I/O interface or a sign of the trouble.

10. An I/O management device coupled with a server, comprising:

an I/O buffer;

an I/O mapping unit storing an access request of the server to a first I/O interface in the I/O buffer in response to a change start request of the first I/O interface associated with the server to a second I/O interface;

an I/O changing unit associating the second I/O interface with the server; and

an I/O synchronizing unit converting the access request stored in the I/O buffer into an access request to the second I/O interface, in response to the completion of the association by the I/O changing unit, and executing the converted access request.

11. The I/O management device according to claim 10 ,

wherein, if the I/O changing unit cannot associate the second I/O interface with the server, the I/O synchronizing unit executes the access request stored in the I/O buffer to the first I/O interface.

12. The I/O management device according to claim 11 ,

wherein the first and second I/O interfaces couple the server with the same type of target apparatuses.

13. The I/O management device according to claim 12 ,

wherein, if the first and second I/O interfaces are network interfaces, the I/O changing unit changes an ID of the first I/O interface to an ID of the second I/O interface.

14. The I/O management device according to claim 13 ,

wherein the ID is a WWN or a MAC address.

15. The I/O management device according to claim 11 ,

wherein the I/O management device receives from an external management server the change start request, using information identifying the server and the first and second I/O interfaces as parameters.

16. A method of changing the I/O configuration of a computing system using an I/O management unit that has an I/O buffer and changes a first I/O interface associated with a server to a second I/O interface, the method comprising:

storing an access request of the server to the first I/O interface in the I/O buffer in response to a change start request of the first I/O interface associated with the server to the second I/O interface;

associating the second I/O interface with the server;

converting the access request stored in the I/O buffer into an access request to the second I/O interface, in response to the completion of the association; and

executing the converted access request.

17. The method of changing the I/O configuration of a computing system according to claim 16 ,

wherein, if the association between the server and the second I/O interface is unavailable, the access request to the first I/O interface, which is stored in the I/O buffer, is executed.

18. The method of changing the I/O configuration of a computing system according to claim 17 ,

wherein the server is a virtual server, and

the I/O management unit manages the execution of the access request from the virtual server to the first and second I/O interfaces.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2008
From: HATASAKI, KEISUKE; TAKAMOTO, YOSHIFUMI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 021628/0393 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-160459 · Jun 19, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090319604A1 · Dec 24, 2009