Methods and systems for implementing shared disk array management functions
US6912668B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2201/85
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Multiple Array Management Functions (AMFs) are connected to multiple redundancy groups over a storage area network (SAN), such as a fiber-channel based SAN. The multiple AMFs share management responsibility of the redundancy groups, each of which typically includes multiple resources spread over multiple disks. The AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy groups for associated host systems. When a host requests an AMF to perform an operation on a resource, the AMF synchronizes with the other AMFs sharing control of the redundancy group that includes the resource to be operated on, so as to obtain a lock on the resource. While performing the operation, the AMF send replication data and state information associated with the resource such that if the AMF fails, any of the other AMFs are able to complete the operation and maintain data reliability and coherency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.