Storage control apparatus

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a storage control device that stores and manages data transmitted from a higher-level processing device connected by communication, and particularly to a technique for optimizing an operation mode of the storage control device.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

As is well known, the processing performance of a computer system including a host computer or other host computer and a storage control device such as a disk array device connected to the host computer is higher than the storage control device. It probably depends on the processing speed of input / output processing for the device.

【0003】

Here, as a conventional typical technique for improving the processing speed of the storage control device, for example, there is the use of a cache memory, and various attempts have been made conventionally for an efficient use mode of the cache memory. (For example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-263380).

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, jobs executed by a high-level processing device in operation generally include jobs with high I / O processing priority and jobs with low priority, such as transaction processing and video data distribution. However, in such a case, it can be said that it is preferable in terms of the operation of the computer system that the I / O processing of the job having a higher priority is processed with priority.

【0005】

However, in the conventional computer system, the circumstances on the higher-level processing device side are often not always reflected in the processing form of the storage control device. For example, even if a conflict occurs between jobs in an attempt to secure cache memory resources, the data processing order is not determined according to the processing priority, and the job with the lower processing priority is the job with the higher processing priority. It may happen that the processing is prioritized.

【0006】

That is, an object of the present invention is to reflect the processing priority of each job grasped by the higher-level processing device side in the processing on the storage control device side, and to optimize the operation form of the storage control device.

【0007】

[Means for solving problems]

The main invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a storage control device for storing and managing data transmitted from a higher-level processing device connected to communication, and a plurality of storages for storing the data. For each of the devices, a means for storing and managing the response time required from receiving the input / output request sent from the higher-level processing device to transmitting the processing result to the higher-level processing device, and stored in the storage device. A means for storing and managing the upper limit value of the response time specified for each file is provided, and the upper limit value of the file to be stored is compared with the response time of each storage device, and the comparison is made. It is characterized by providing means for selecting a storage device as a storage destination of the file according to the result.

【0008】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of a storage control device 10 described as an embodiment of the present invention. The host processing device 20 is connected to the storage control device 10 via a communication means 50 such as LAN or SAN. The communication interface 100 is connected to the communication means 50 and controls communication with the host processing device 20. The control processor 101 controls communication with the host processing device 20 and a predetermined file management method (for example, FAT16 (File Allocation Table 16), FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32), NTFS (NT File System), HPFS ( Performs processing such as file management according to (High Performance File System) etc.).

【0009】

The microprocessor 102 mainly controls input / output of data to / from the cache memory 104, controls the magnetic disk device 107, and the like. The memory 103 is used by the control processor 101 and the micro processor 102 to manage data and tables. The drive I / F control unit 106 mainly controls the magnetic disk device 107 and the like according to the commands transmitted from the control processor 101 and the micro processor 102. In the following description, the storage device includes not only the magnetic disk device 107 but also the cache memory 104 unless otherwise specified.

【0010】

Various tables, queue 500, and the like are stored and managed in the memory 103. Figure 2 shows the response time information management table 200. In this table, the response time 202, the free space 203, the file name and the directory name of the stored file, etc. are stored and managed for each storage device mounted on the storage control device 10.

【0011】

In the response time 202, the maximum value of the time required from the time when the storage control device 10 receives some processing request from the higher-level processing device 20 to the time when the processing result is transmitted to the higher-level processing device 20 is set. The free space 203 describes the free space 203 of the storage device monitored by the storage control device 10 in real time.

【0012】

FIG. 3 shows a file management table 300 stored and managed in the memory 103. This table is generated corresponding to the files and directories stored in the storage device. The file name or directory name corresponding to the file management table is set in the file name 301. When the storage control device 10 receives a processing request for a file or directory corresponding to the table from the higher-level processing device 20, the response time upper limit value 302 of this table is the processing result from the time when the processing request is received. An upper limit value of 303 is set for the time required for the file to be transmitted to the host processing device 20. The storage device 303 is set with the identification name of the storage device in which the file corresponding to this table is actually stored.

【0013】

FIG. 4 shows the input / output request management table 400 stored and managed in the memory 103. This table is generated for each I / O request each time the storage control device 10 receives an I / O request from the higher-level processing device 10. An input / output request identification number is set in the TAG number 401. The reception time 402 is set to the time when the storage control device 10 receives the input / output request. The processing start time 403 is set to the time when the storage control device 10 starts the I / O processing related to the input / output request. The input / output request information 404 is set with the contents of the input / output request received by the storage control device 10 from the host processing device 20 (for example, an I / O processing command such as a READ instruction or a WRITE instruction). In the response time upper limit value 405, the upper limit value of the response time requested by the higher-level processing device 20 for the input / output request is set. The storage area information 406 is set with information that specifies the storage area of the storage device to be accessed in the processing of the input / output request.

【0014】

FIG. 5 shows a bidirectional list format queue 500 generated by the control processor 101 when processing an I / O request, which is stored and managed in the memory 103. The I / O request management table 400 is set at the position indicated by data 503.

【0015】

FIG. 6 shows a file generation request 600 transmitted from the host processing device 20 to the storage control device 10. This data includes the file name 601 given to the file to be generated, the file attributes 602 such as write permission, and the response time upper limit 603 set for the file created by this file generation request 600. ..

【0016】

FIG. 7 is an input / output request notification table 700 stored and managed in the memory 103. The input / output request management table 400 to be processed is registered in this table. Further, in this table 700, an execution destination pointer 701 indicating an address in which the input / output request management table 400 for the input / output request to be processed next to the input / output request currently being processed is stored is newly added. The storage destination pointer 702 indicating the storage destination address of the I / O request management table 400 generated in is attached and stored.

【0017】

FIG. 8 is a data transfer request notification table 800 stored and managed in the memory 103. The data transfer request management table 900 to be processed is registered in this table. Further, in this table 800, an execution destination pointer 801 indicating an address in which the data transfer request management table 900 to be processed is stored next to the data transfer request management table 900 currently being processed, and a newly generated execution destination pointer 801 are newly generated. A storage destination pointer 802 indicating the storage destination address of the data transfer request management table 900 is attached.

【0018】

Next, various processes of the memory control device 10 will be described in detail. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed when the storage control device 10 receives the file generation request 600 from the host processing device 20.

【0019】

Upon receiving the file generation request 600, the control processor 101 newly generates a file management table 300 in the memory 103, and the file name 601 and the response time upper limit 603 are sent to this table along with the file generation request 600. To each (1000).

【0020】

Next, the control processor 101 compares the response time upper limit value 302 of this table with the response time 202 of each storage device of the response time information management table 200 in order (1002). If a storage device whose response time 202 is shorter than the response time upper limit 302 is found, it is further checked whether or not the storage device has a certain amount or more of free space 203 (1003). Then, when a certain amount or more of free area exists, the identification name of the storage device is set in the storage device 303 of the file management table 300 (1004).

【0021】

On the other hand, when there is no storage device whose response time 202 is shorter than the response time upper limit value 303, or when there is a storage device whose response time upper limit value is 303 or less, none of them has a free area of a certain amount or more. In this case, the control processor 101 notifies the host processing unit 20 via the communication means 50 that the file generation has failed (1006).

【0022】

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed when the storage control device 10 receives a data write request for a certain file from the host processing device 20. When the control processor 101 receives the write request, the control processor 101 searches the file management table 300 for the storage device in which the file is stored (1100), and stores the data according to the amount of data to be written sent together with the write request. Allocate space on the storage device (1101). Further, a command corresponding to the WRITE process, that is, the process of writing data to the storage device is set in the input / output request information 404 of the input / output request management table 400, and the TAG number 401, the reception time 402, and the storage area information 406 are set. Also, the response time upper limit value registered in the file management table 300 of the file is set to the response time upper limit value 405 (1102). Then, the control processor 101 connects the I / O request management table 400 to the queue 500 (1103).

【0023】

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the storage control device 10 receives a read request for a file from the host processing device 20. Upon receiving the read request, the control processor 101 generates an input / output request management table 400, and the storage area information 406 of the table 400 is set to the storage area of the storage device to be read requested, and the time when the read request is received. Is received at the reception time 402, the command corresponding to the READ process, that is, the process of reading the data from the storage device is sent to the input / output request information 404, and the response time upper limit value registered in the file management table 300 of the file is returned. Set the time limit to 405 (1200). Then, the I / O request management table 400 valued in this way is connected to the I / O request management queue 500 (1201).

【0024】

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the input / output request registered in the input / output request management queue 800 by the storage control device 10. The control processor 101 references the I / O requirements management queue 500 at regular time intervals (1300). If the I / O request management table 400 is connected to the queue 500, the remaining time of the response time upper limit 405 of the I / O request management table 400 is calculated by the following equation. Remaining time = upper limit of response time 405- (current time-reception time) [0025]

Then, the control processor 101 compares the remaining time and the response time 202 of the storage device to be processed examined from the response time information management table 200 by a certain ratio (for example, 1/2), and the rest. If the time is shorter (1301), that is, if there is not much time left, the processing start time of the I / O request management table 400 is started in order to start the processing corresponding to the I / O request management table 400. The current time is set in 403 (1302), and the input / output request management table 400 is posted to the area indicated by the storage destination pointer 702 of the input / output request notification table 700 of the communication memory 103. At this time, the storage destination pointer 702 is set to the storage destination pointer 702 of the I / O request notification table 700 to be processed next for the next processing (1303).

【0026】

On the other hand, as a result of the above comparison, if the remaining time is longer, that is, if there is still time to spare, it is further investigated whether the next I / O request management table 400 exists in the queue 500 (). 1304) If it exists, the input / output request management table 400 is processed from the above (1301).

【0027】

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the input / output request management table 400 registered in the input / output request notification table 700 performed by the microprocessor 102. The microprocessor 102 periodically refers to the execution destination pointer 701 and the storage destination pointer 702 of the I / O request notification table 700 (1400). Here, the case where the execution destination pointer and the storage destination pointer 702 match means that there is no unexecuted I / O request management table 400 (1407). On the other hand, when the executing pointer 701 and the storage destination pointer 702 do not match, there is an unexecuted I / O management table 400.

【0028】

If there is an unexecuted I / O management table 400, the I / O request information 404 of the I / O request management table 400 indicated by the execution destination pointer 701 is referred to, and the I / O request is READ processed for the storage device. That is, it is examined whether it is a process of reading data from a storage device or a process of writing data to a storage device (1401).

【0029】

If the I / O request is READ processing, it is checked whether the data of the storage area information 406 of the I / O request management table 400 exists on the cache memory 104 (1402). Here, if data exists in the cache memory 104, the data transfer request management table 900 is generated. Further, the TAG number 401 of the I / O request management table 400 is stored in the TAG number 901 of the data transfer request management table 900, and the input / output request information 404 of the input / output request management table 400 is stored in the input / output request information 903. Set the start address in memory to cache address 902, respectively (1405). Then, the data transfer request management table 900 generated in this way is stored in the area specified by the storage destination pointer 802 of the data transfer request notification table 800. At this time, the storage destination pointer 802 is set in the next area. In addition, the execution destination pointer 701 of the I / O request notification table 700 is set in the following area (1406).

【0030】

On the other hand, when there is no data on the cache memory 104, an empty area on the cache memory 104 is allocated for reading the data (1403), and the data is read from the magnetic disk device 110 on the cache memory 104 (1404). .. If the input / output request information 903 is WRITE processing instead of READ processing, the free area on the cache memory 104 is allocated for the data to be written (1407).

【0031】

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the microprocessor 102 regarding the data transfer request management table 900 set in the data transfer request notification table 800. The control processor 101 periodically refers to the execution destination pointer 801 and the storage destination pointer 802 of the data transfer request management table 900 (1500). Here, if the execution destination pointer 801 and the storage destination pointer 802 do not match, the input / output request content 903 of the data transfer request management table 900 indicated by the execution destination pointer 801 is referred to, and if this is a READ process, it is referred to. The data at the cache address 902 set in the data transfer request management table 900 is transferred to the higher-level processing device 20 (1502).

【0032】

On the other hand, in the case of WRITE processing, the data transferred from the host processing device 20 is written to the area on the cache memory 104 specified by the cache address 902 of the data transfer request management table 900 (1503), and the data is described. Transfer to a magnetic disk device. Also, reset the execution destination pointer 801 to the next area (1504). Here, the microprocessor 102 calculates the response time from the difference between the current time and the processing start time 403 of the input / output management table 400 (1505), and the calculated response time is obtained from the response time 202 of the response time management information table 200. If the response time is too long, the content of the response time 202 is reset to the response time calculated here (1506) (1507), and the file relocation process described below is executed.

【0033】

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a file rearrangement process when the response time 202 of the response time information management table 200 is updated. When the response time 202 is updated by the process of (1506), the control processor 101 searches the response time information management table 200 for a file having a storage area in the storage device (1600), and the response time upper limit of the file is searched. Check 302 from the file management table 300 of the file (1601) and compare the newly updated response time 202 with the response time upper limit 302 (1602). Then, as a result of this comparison, when the response time 202 of the storage device is longer, the response time 202 is shorter than the response time upper limit value 302, and the free space 203 is larger than the size of the file. Check (excluding cache memory 104) from response time information management table 200 (1603).

【0034】

Here, if a storage device satisfying this condition exists, the file is posted to the storage device (1604), and the contents of the storage device 303 in the file management table 300 of the file are transferred to the storage device of the transfer destination. Update to the distinguished name of (1605). On the other hand, when there is no storage device satisfying the above conditions, "impossible" is set in the upper limit value setting information 304 of the file management table 300 (1606). The file relocation process is performed as described above.

【0035】

By the way, by providing the above mechanism, the storage control device 10 of the present invention can execute the file processing according to the response time upper limit value specified by the higher-level processing device 20 when processing the input / output request. File input / output processing that reflects the processing priority grasped by the higher-level processing device 20 is possible.

【0036】

Further, a plurality of higher-level processing devices 20 may be connected to the storage control device 10. In this case, the upper limit of the response time of the file is stored and managed for each higher-level processing device, and the storage device to be the storage destination is selected for each higher-level processing device 20. Also, for a file from the higher-level processing device 20 When there is an I / O request, the upper limit of the file is compared with the response time of each storage device, and the processing priority for the I / O request is determined according to the result of the comparison. To do.

【0037】

In this embodiment, the response time is used as a parameter for determining the selection of the existing device and the processing priority, but instead, the average disk service rate (ADSR) or the data transfer amount (throughput) is used. May be good. Further, instead of setting a specific value, a rank corresponding to the priority may be used.

【0038】

Various embodiments of the present invention can be considered in addition to the examples described above. For example, the storage medium may be a semiconductor memory or the like in addition to the magnetic disk device 110. Further, the storage medium does not necessarily have to be mounted on the storage control device 10, and a storage medium operated by another device connected to the storage control device 10 by an appropriate communication means such as a fiber channel may be used. ..

【0039】

Further, in the above embodiment, the upper limit of the response time is stored and managed for each file or directory, but for each group consisting of a plurality of files, for each group consisting of a plurality of directories, or The upper limit of the response time is stored and managed for each group including at least one of both a file and a directory, and the upper limit of the group to be stored and the response time of each storage device are stored. By comparing, the storage device to be the storage destination of the group may be selected according to the result of the comparison.

【0040】

One file does not necessarily have to be stored in one storage device, and one file may be stored across a plurality of storage devices. The response time information management table 200 may be configured as a list-structured table in which storage devices are grouped for each response time. A plurality of I / O request management queues 500 may be created for each response time upper limit value. The response time upper limit may be changed at any time other than when the file is generated.

【0041】

The file relocation process does not necessarily have to be performed immediately when the response time upper limit is exceeded, and may be performed during a time period when the load is low by referring to the load information of the storage device. Further, when the file is transferred, it may be copied to another magnetic disk device in advance at the time of writing the file, and the copied data may be indirectly transferred to the final transfer destination.

【0042】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the memory control device of the present invention, it is possible to optimize the operation mode of the memory control device.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the storage control device by one Example of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure which shows the response time information management table by one Example of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a figure which shows the file management table by one Example of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a figure which shows the input / output requirement management table by one Example of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a figure which shows the input / output requirement management queue by one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

It is a figure which shows the file generation request by one Example of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

It is a figure which shows the input / output request notification table by one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 8]

It is a figure which shows the data transfer request notification table by one Example of this invention.

[Fig. 9]

It is a figure which shows the data transfer request notification table by one Example of this invention.

[Fig. 10]

It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the process which is performed when the storage control apparatus receives a file generation request from the higher-level processing apparatus according to one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 11]

It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the process to perform when the storage control apparatus receives the data write request to a certain file from the higher-order processing apparatus according to one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 12]

It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the processing when the storage control apparatus receives the read request for a certain file from the higher-order processing apparatus according to one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 13]

It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the processing of the input / output request registered in the input / output request management queue by the storage control apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 14]

It is a flowchart explaining the processing of the input / output request management table registered in the input / output request notification table performed by the microprocessor according to one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 15]

It is a flowchart explaining the process about the data transfer request table set in the data transfer request notification table performed by the microprocessor according to one Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 16]

It is a flowchart explaining the file rearrangement processing by one Example of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Memory controller 20 High-level processing equipment 101 control processor 102 Micro processor 103 memory 104 cache memory 106 Drive I / F control unit 200 Response time information management table 300 file management table 400 I / O requirements management table 500 I / O request management queue 600 file generation request 700 I / O request notification table 800 Data transfer request notification table 900 Data transfer request notification table