Failover method through disk takeover and computer system having failover function
When a primary server executing a task fails in a computer system where a plurality of servers are connected to an external disk device via a network and the servers boot an operation system from the external disk device, task processing is taken over from the primary server to a server that is not executing a task in accordance with the following method. The method for taking over a task includes the steps of detecting that the primary server fails; searching the computer system for a server that has the same hardware configuration as that of the primary server and that is not running a task; enabling the server, searched for as a result of the search, to access the external disk device; and booting the server from the external disk device.
1. A method in a computer system including a plurality of servers which are connected to an external disk device via a network device and to an external network, wherein each of said servers can be started by booting an operating system from said external disk device, and a management server for managing said plurality of servers, and causing processing of a task of a primary server on some other server in said computer system, said method implemented by said management server comprising the steps of:
acquiring configuration information including hardware information and network information of said plurality of servers;
specifying a logical disk of said primary server, said logical disk being utilized by said primary server for booting;
determining a secondary server belonging to a same network that said primary server belongs to, from among said plurality of servers based on said configuration information of said primary server and said configuration information of the other servers of said plurality of servers;
shutting down said primary server;
enabling said secondary server to access the same logical disk for booting that has been utilized by said primary server; and
booting said secondary server from said same logical disk.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said network information includes a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of the network device connected to each of said plurality of servers and/or an identifier of a zone to which each of said plurality of servers belongs, and
wherein in the step of determining said secondary server, a server among said plurality of servers is chosen as said secondary server on a condition that the VLAN ID of the network device and the identifier of the zone of the network information of said primary server are same as those of said secondary server.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hardware information includes a number of Network Interface Card (NIC) ports and a number of Host Bus Adapter (HBA) ports in said primary server and said secondary server.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein when said number of NIC ports and said number of HBA ports of said primary server do not match with said number of NIC ports and said number of HBA ports of said secondary server, said task of said primary server is not taken over to said secondary server.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hardware information includes a number of said servers for configuring a logical server.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said management server has information about a priority of each task running in each of said servers,
wherein in the step of determining said secondary server, said secondary server is determined based on a condition that a priority of the task running in said secondary server is lower than a priority of the task running in said primary server,
said method further comprising a step of:
shutting down the task running in said secondary server.
7. A method implemented in a computer system including a plurality of servers which are connected to an external disk device via a network device and to an external network, wherein each of said servers can be started by booting an operating system from said external disk device, and a management server for managing said plurality of servers, and causing processing of a task of a primary server on some other server in said computer system, wherein said network device includes a controller which is capable of changing a network connected to said plurality of servers, said management server includes a network changing module which instructs said controller to change the network, said external disk device and said external network, said method implemented by said management server comprising the steps of:
acquiring configuration information including hardware information and network information of said plurality of servers;
specifying a logical disk of said primary server, said logical disk being utilized by said primary server for booting;
determining a secondary server having a same number of NIC ports and/or number of HBA ports as those of said primary server, from among said plurality of servers based on said configuration information of said primary server and said configuration information of the other servers of said plurality of servers;
shutting down said primary server;
in a case that the network connected to the primary server is different from the network connected to the secondary server, instructing said controller connected to the secondary server to change the network so that the primary server and the secondary server are connected to the same network;
enabling said secondary server to access the same logical disk for booting that has been utilized by said primary server; and
booting said secondary server from said same logical disk.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said network information includes a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of the network device connected to each of said plurality of servers and/or an identifier of a zone to which each of said plurality of servers belongs,
wherein the step of instructing said controller to change the network further comprises the step of:
making the VLAN ID and/or the identifier of the zone of the network device connected to the secondary server coincide with the VLAN ID and/or the identifier of the zone of the network device connected to the primary server.
9. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein said hardware information includes a number of Network Interface Card (NIC) ports and a number of Host Bus Adapter (HBA) ports in said primary server and said secondary server.
10. The computer system according to claim 9 , wherein when said number of NIC ports and said number of HBA ports of said primary server do not match with said number of NIC ports and said number of HBA ports of said secondary server, said task of said primary server is not taken over to said secondary server.
11. A computer system comprising:
a plurality of servers which are connected to an external disk device via a network device and to an external network,
wherein each of said servers can be started by booting an operating system from said external disk device; and
a management server for managing said plurality of servers, and causing processing of a task of a primary server on some other server in said computer system,
wherein said management server acquires configuration information including hardware information and network information of said plurality of servers, specifies a logical disk of said primary server, said logical disk being utilized by said primary server for booting, determines a secondary server belonging to a same network that said primary server belongs to, from among said plurality of servers based on said configuration information of said primary server and said configuration information of the other servers of said plurality of servers, and shuts down said primary server, and
wherein said secondary server accesses the same logical disk for booting that has been utilized by said primary server, and boots from said same logical disk.
12. The computer system according to claim 11 , wherein said network information includes a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of the network device connected to each of said plurality of servers and/or an identifier of a zone to which each of said plurality of servers belongs, and
wherein said management server upon determining said secondary server, a server among said plurality of servers is chosen as said secondary server on a condition that the VLAN ID of the network device and the identifier of the zone of the network information of said primary server are same as those of said secondary server.
13. The computer system according to claim 11 , wherein said hardware information includes a number of said servers for configuring a logical server.
14. The computer system according to claim 11 , wherein said management server has information about a priority of each task running in each of said servers,
wherein said management server upon determining said secondary server, said secondary server is determined based on a condition that a priority of the task running in said secondary server is lower than a priority of the task running in said primary server, and
wherein said management server shuts down the task running in said secondary server.
15. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein said network information includes a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of the network device connected to each of said plurality of servers and/or an identifier of a zone to which each of said plurality of servers belongs,
wherein said management server upon instructing said controller to change the network, makes the VLAN ID and/or the identifier of the zone of the network device connected to the secondary server coincide with the VLAN ID and/or the identifier of the zone of the network device connected to the primary server.
16. A computer system comprising:
a plurality of servers which are connected to an external disk device via a network device and to an external network,
wherein each of said servers can be started by booting an operating system from said external disk device; and
a management server for managing said plurality of servers, and causing processing of a task of a primary server on some other server in said computer system,
wherein said network device includes a controller which is capable of changing a network connected to said plurality of servers,
wherein said management server includes a network changing module which instructs said controller to change the network, said external disk device and said external network
wherein said management server acquires configuration information including hardware information and network information of said plurality of servers, specifies a logical disk of said primary server, said logical disk being utilized by said primary server for booting, determines a secondary server having a same number of NIC ports and/or number of HBA ports as those of said primary server, from among said plurality of servers based on said configuration information of said primary server and said configuration information of the other servers of said plurality of servers, shuts down said primary server, and in a case that the network connected to the primary server is different from the network connected to the secondary server, instructs said controller connected to the secondary server to change the network so that the primary server and the secondary server are connected to the same network,
wherein said secondary server accesses the same logical disk for booting that has been utilized by said primary server, and boots said from said same logical disk.
17. A management server in a computer system including a plurality of servers which are connected to an external disk device via a network device and to an external network, wherein each of said servers can be started by booting an operating system from said external disk device, said management server comprising:
a controller for causing the management server manage said plurality of servers, and cause processing of a task of a primary server on some other server in said computer system,
wherein said management server acquires configuration information including hardware information and network information of said plurality of servers, specifies a logical disk of said primary server, said logical disk being utilized by said primary server for booting, determines a secondary server belonging to a same network that said primary server belongs to, from among said plurality of servers based on said configuration information of said primary server and said configuration information of the other servers of said plurality of servers, and shuts down said primary server, and
wherein said secondary server accesses the same logical disk for booting that has been utilized by said primary server, and boots from said same logical disk.
18. The management server according to claim 17 , wherein said network information includes a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of the network device connected to each of said plurality of servers and/or an identifier of a zone to which each of said plurality of servers belongs, and
wherein said management server upon determining said secondary server, a server among said plurality of servers is chosen as said secondary server on a condition that the VLAN ID of the network device and the identifier of the zone of the network information of said primary server are same as those of said secondary server.
19. A management server in a computer system including a plurality of servers which are connected to an external disk device via a network device and to an external network, wherein each of said servers can be started by booting an operating system from said external disk device, said management server comprising:
a controller for causing the management server to manage said plurality of servers, and cause processing of a task of a primary server on some other server in said computer system,
wherein said network device includes a controller which is capable of changing a network connected to said plurality of servers,
wherein said management server includes a network changing module which instructs said controller to change the network, said external disk device and said external network
wherein said management server acquires configuration information including hardware information and network information of said plurality of servers, specifies a logical disk of said primary server, said logical disk being utilized by said primary server for booting, determines a secondary server having a same number of NIC ports and/or number of HBA ports as those of said primary server, from among said plurality of servers based on said configuration information of said primary server and said configuration information of the other servers of said plurality of servers, shuts down said primary server, and in a case that the network connected to the primary server is different from the network connected to the secondary server, instructs said controller connected to the secondary server to change the network so that the primary server and the secondary server are connected to the same network,
wherein said secondary server accesses the same logical disk for booting that has been utilized by said primary server, and boots said from said same logical disk.
20. The management server according to claim 19 , wherein said network information includes a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of the network device connected to each of said plurality of servers and/or an identifier of a zone to which each of said plurality of servers belongs,
wherein said management server upon instructing said controller to change the network, makes the VLAN ID and/or the identifier of the zone of the network device connected to the secondary server coincide with the VLAN ID and/or the identifier of the zone of the network device connected to the primary server.