Method and apparatus for handling transfers of data volumes between controllers in a storage environment having multiple paths to the data volumes
US6675268B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0689
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a storage environment or storage area network having multiple host devices and at least one storage array, the host devices access logical data volumes stored on the storage array through array controllers disposed in the storage array. Multiple host devices can request access to shared ones of the logical data volumes through multiple paths to multiple array controllers, but each logical data volume is controlled or owned by only one array controller at a time. Thus, ownership of shared logical data volumes is transferred between the array controllers as necessary on behalf of the requesting host devices. To prevent ownership transfers from occurring too often, however, ownership of the logical data volumes is made exclusive, or “sticky,” for a period of time after each transfer. During the exclusive ownership period of time, the ownership cannot be transferred. After expiration of the exclusive ownership period of time, ownership of the affected logical data volume is transferred if the transfer does not cause another host device to lose access to the same logical data volume, unless priorities between competing host devices permit one host device to take access aw…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.