System and method for backup by splitting a copy pair and storing a snapshot

1. A backup system comprising:

a host computer comprising a first coordinator module as an upper layer which is a part of operating system of the host computer, and a first provider module as a lower layer which is provided by a storage vendor to manage a system configuration of the backup system;

a backup server comprising a second coordinator module as an upper layer which is a part of operating system of the backup server, and a second provider module as a lower layer which is provided by the storage vendor to manage the system configuration of the backup system;

a first storage system coupled to the host computer and having a primary volume that stores data input and output by the host computer; and

a second storage system coupled to the backup server and the first storage system and having a first secondary volume that forms a remote copy pair with the primary volume, and a second secondary volume that forms a cascade copy pair with the first secondary volume,

wherein the first provider module of the host computer checks whether it is possible to split the cascade copy pair of the first secondary volume and the second secondary volume in accordance with a backup request from the first coordinator module of the host computer,

wherein if the cascade copy pair can be split, the first provider module of the host computer registers the primary volume as a subject of backup process, the first coordinator module of the host computer ceases write processing to the primary volume and sends snapshot instruction to the first provider module of the host computer, and the first provider module of the host computer creates a first copy from the primary volume to the first secondary volume, and a second copy from the first secondary volume to the second secondary volume as a snapshot,

wherein when detecting completion of the first copy and the second copy, the first provider module of the host computer splits the cascade copy pair and transfers backup information to the first coordinator module of the host system, and

wherein if the second coordinator module of the backup server requires at least one backup volume to the second provider module of the backup server, the second provider module of the backup server recognizes the second secondary volume as a first backup volume corresponding to the primary volume, for storing the snapshot of the first secondary volume as of a certain point in time, and cancels a concealment of the first backup volume from the backup server, so that the second coordinator module of the backup server achieves the first backup volume, while the first backup volume is initially concealed from the operating system of the backup server.

2. The backup system according to claim 1 , wherein when the second coordinator module of the backup server requires a deletion of the first backup volume, the second provider module of the backup server conceals the first backup volume from the backup server, and deletes the first backup volume from the second storage system by starting re-synchronization of the remote copy pair of the first secondary volume and the second secondary volume.

3. The backup system according to claim 1 , wherein the first provider module of the host computer judges whether the first copy of the primary volume to the first secondary volume is complete or not, based on whether a sequence number for the data stored in the primary volume corresponds with a sequence number for the data stored in the first secondary volume or not.

4. A backup system according to claim 1 , wherein the second storage system further includes a third secondary volume, the second secondary volume and the third secondary volume store snapshots of different generations of the first secondary volume, the second secondary volume stores a snapshot of the first secondary volume as of a certain point in time and the third secondary volume stores a snapshot of the first secondary volume as of another point in time.

5. The backup system according to claim 1 , wherein the first storage system includes at least first and second primary volumes that store data input and output by the host computer, the backup system further comprising:

a third storage system coupled to the backup server and having a third secondary volume that forms a remote copy pair the second primary volume, and a fourth secondary volume that forms a cascade copy pair with the third secondary volume, wherein

the first provider module of the host computer creates a first copy from the first primary volume to the first secondary volume, and a second copy from the secondary primary volume to the third secondary volume, and

the second provider module of the backup server recognizes the fourth secondary volume as a second backup volume for storing a snapshot of the third secondary volume as of a certain point in time.

6. The backup system according to claim 5 , wherein the first and the second provider modules change the system configuration without changing functions by the first and the second coordinator modules, when the third storage system having the third secondary volume is newly added to the backup system.

7. The backup system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second provider modules change the system configuration without changing functions by the first and the second coordinator modules, when the cascade copy pair between the first and the second secondary volumes is changed.

8. A backup method for a backup system that includes a host computer; a backup server; a first storage system coupled to the host computer and having a primary volume that stores data input and output by the host computer; and a second storage system coupled to the backup server and the first storage system and having a first secondary volume that forms a copy pair with the primary volume, and a second secondary volume that forms a cascade copy pair with the first secondary volume,

wherein the host computer comprises a first coordinator module as an upper layer which is a part of operating system of the host computer, and a first provider module as a lower layer which is provided by a storage vendor to manage a system configuration of the backup system; and

wherein the backup server comprises a second coordinator module as an upper layer which is a part of operating system of the backup server, and a second provider module as a lower layer which is provided by the storage vendor to manage the system configuration of the backup system,

the backup method comprising the steps of:

checking by the first provider module of the host computer whether it is possible to split the cascade copy pair of the first secondary volume and the second secondary volume in accordance with a backup request from the first coordinator module of the host computer;

if the cascade copy pair can be split, registering by the first provider module of the host computer primary volume as a subject of backup process, ceasing by the first coordinator module of the host computer write processing by the host computer to the primary volume and sending by the first coordinator module snapshot instruction to the first provider module of the host computer, and creating by the first provider module of the host computer a first copy from the primary volume to the first secondary volume, and a second copy from the first secondary volume to the second secondary volume as a snapshot;

when detecting completion of the first copy and the second copy, splitting by the first provider module of the host computer the cascade copy pair and transferring backup information to the first coordinator module of the host system;

and if being required by the second coordinator module of the backup server at least one backup volume to the second provider module of the backup server recognizing by the second provider module of the backup server the second secondary volume as a first backup volume corresponding to the primary volume, for storing a snapshot of the first secondary volume as of a certain point in time, and canceling a concealment of the first backup volume from the backup server, so that the second coordinator module of the backup server achieves the first backup volume, while the first backup volume is initially concealed from the operating system of the backup server.

9. The backup method according to claim 8 , wherein the second storage system further comprises a plurality of secondary volumes that form a cascade copy pair with the first secondary volume, as a plurality of snapshots each corresponding to different certain point in time of the first secondary volume, and

wherein the backup method further comprises the steps of

making by the first provider module of the host computer an inquiry to the backup server about a number of second secondary volumes that can be split from copy pairs with first secondary volume.

10. The backup method according to claim 8 , wherein when being required by the second coordinator module of the backup server a deletion of the first backup volume, the backup method further comprises the step of: concealing by the second provider module of the backup server the first backup volume from the backup server; and deleting by the second provider module of the backup server the first backup volume from the second storage system by starting re-synchronization of the remote copy pair, of the first secondary volume and the second secondary volume.

11. The backup method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of judging by the first provider module of the host computer whether the first copy of the primary volume to the first secondary volume is complete or not, based on whether a sequence number for the data stored in the primary volume corresponds with a sequence number for the data stored in the first secondary volume or not.