Storage apparatus and method of managing data using the storage apparatus
Provided is a storage apparatus operable to prevent incomplete backup and perform efficient backup even in systems characterized by a relatively small backup window and high degrees of utilization by users. This storage apparatus performs a snapshot of a volume storing data, using a logoff or login request at a certain point in time within in the backup window as a trigger, and creates a replication volume of the volume based on the acquired snapshot. To achieve the data consistency, when a login request is made, the storage apparatus temporarily suspends processing for establishing a session until the snapshot is created, and resumes such processing for establishing the session based on a login request after the snapshot is created. In one implementation, the replication volume is created in the background.
1. A storage apparatus, which is operatively connected to a host apparatus and a management apparatus, comprising:
a disk device comprising one or more volumes; and
a controller unit configured to control the disk device,
wherein, when the controller unit receives a session login request corresponding to a session associated with a volume, the session login request being sent from the host apparatus, the controller unit performs a snapshot operation on the volume to acquire a snapshot image before performing a login process on the volume according to the session login request, and
wherein the controller unit creates a replication volume based on the acquired snapshot image, and
wherein, when the controller unit receives the session login request during the creation of the replication of the volume, the controller deletes the replication of the volume.
2. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the login session request is a login request in accordance with an iSCSI standard.
3. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the controller unit receives a session logout request corresponding to the session associated with the volume, the session logout request being sent from the host apparatus, the controller unit performs a snapshot operation on the volume to acquire a snapshot image after performing a logout process on the volume according to the session logout request.
4. The storage apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the session logout request is a logoff request in accordance with an iSCSI standard.
5. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the management apparatus has backup management information for managing the status of backup processing of the one or more volumes; wherein the controller unit comprises session management information for managing a status of the session between the host apparatus and the one or more volumes, and wherein the management apparatus is operable to issues a command to the controller unit, the command causing backup processing to be performed with respect to the one or more volumes based on the backup processing status indicated in the backup management information and the session status indicated in the session management information.
6. The storage apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the management apparatus is operable to issue a command to the controller unit, the command causing either the snapshot to be performed or the replication volume to be created depending on the backup processing status indicated in the backup management information.
7. The storage apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the management apparatus is operable to identify volumes with respect to which a session has not been established with the host apparatus based on the session status indicated in the session management information, and issue a command to the controller unit, the command causing the snapshot to be performed with respect to at least one volume with respect to which the snapshot has not been performed among the specified volumes based on the backup processing status indicated in the backup management information.
8. The storage apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the management apparatus is operable to specify volumes with respect to which a session has not been established with the host apparatus based on the session status indicated in the session management information, and issue a command to the controller unit, the command causing the replication to be performed with respect to at least one volume with respect to which the snapshot has been performed but the replication volume has not been created among the specified volumes based on the backup processing status indicated in the backup management information.
9. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller unit is operable to delete the acquired snapshot image after performing the replication.
10. A method for managing data in a storage apparatus, which is operatively connected to a host apparatus and a management apparatus, comprising:
receiving from the host apparatus a session logon request corresponding to a session associated with a volume hosted by a disk device of the storage apparatus;
prior to performing a logon process in response to the logon request, performing a snapshot operation acquiring a snapshot image by performing a snapshot of a volume based on the session logon request; and
creating a replication volume based on the acquired snapshot image,
wherein, when the session login request is received during the creation of the replication of the volume, the replication of the volume is deleted.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the session request is a login request in accordance with an iSCSI standard.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein when the session logout request corresponding to the session associated with the volume is received, the session logout request being sent from the host apparatus, performing a snapshot operation on the volume to acquire a snapshot image after performing a logout process on the volume according to the session logout request.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the session logout request is a logoff request in accordance with an iSCSI standard.
14. The data backup method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
monitoring the backup status of the one or more volumes; and
monitoring the session status of the one or more volumes;
wherein backup processing of the one or more volumes is performed based on the backup status and the session status.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein either the snapshot is performed or the replication volume is created depending on the backup processing status.
16. The data backup method according to claim 15 , further comprising specifying volumes in which a session has not been established with the host apparatus based on the session status; and
wherein the snapshot is performed to at least one volume in which the snapshot has not been performed among the specified volumes based on the backup processing status.
17. The data backup method according to claim 15 , further comprising specifying volumes in which a session has not been established with the host apparatus based on the session status; and
wherein the replication volume is created to at least one volume in which the snapshot has been performed but the replication volume has not been created among the specified volumes based on the backup processing status.
18. The data backup method according to claim 15 , wherein, upon receiving the session request during creating of the replication volume, the replication volume being created is destroyed.