JPH0534694B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a backup adapter that performs backup to a disk device, the disk device to be backed up, the disk device to be backed up, and the backup adapter are connected on the same level as necessary on the interface. Then, the write information is logged and backed up during the idle time of the interface, and the disk device to be backed up is added to the interface.
The purpose is to connect the backup destination disk device and backup adapter to back up data in real time without operator intervention. When attempting to perform backup, connect the backup destination disk device and backup adapter to the relevant interface, and this backup adapter monitors the interface and records write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) to the backup target disk device. At the same time, when the interface is vacant for a predetermined period of time, the system acquires usage rights and backs up data from the backup target disk device to the backup destination disk device via the interface based on the logging information. The configuration is such that backup is interrupted when an interface acquisition request is received.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a backup adapter for backing up a disk device. In recent years, development of disk devices (optical disk devices, hard disk devices) as auxiliary storage devices has progressed in the direction of large capacity and high-speed access. Most commonly used. It is desired to back up the data stored in this disk device in a simple, inexpensive, and versatile manner.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

Conventionally, when backing up data written on a disk device connected to a small computer system, it is often done manually by an operator, for example, once a day during a time when the disk device is not used frequently. Data was evacuated and backed up to other disk devices.
This requires a lot of effort and the backup interval is at most 1.
The problem was that the amount of lost data that could not be recovered in the event of a failure was relatively large. There is also a so-called mirror type disk device that drives two or more disk devices at the same time and writes the same data to both devices, but this has the problem of being unsuitable for small computer systems due to cost considerations. .

The present invention connects a backup target disk device, a backup destination disk device, and a backup adapter on the interface as necessary at the same level, logs write information, and backs up the data during free time of the interface. The purpose is to backup data in real time without operator intervention by connecting a backup target disk device, a backup destination disk device, and a backup adapter to the interface in an expansion format.

[Means to solve problems]

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a disk device 2 to be backed up is a disk device to be backed up connected to an interface 1 of a host computer (computer system) 4. In FIG.

The backup destination disk device 4 is a backup destination disk device connected to the interface 1 of the computer system.

The backup adapter 3 is an adapter that is connected to the interface 1 of the computer system and backs up (saved) data in the disk device 2 to be backed up to the disk device 4 as the backup destination.

[Effect]

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention connects a disk device 2 to be backed up to an interface 1 of a computer system, and connects a disk device 2 to be backed up to an interface 1 of a computer system.
A backup destination disk device 4 and a backup adapter 3 are connected to the top, and this backup adapter 3 monitors the interface 1 and logs write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) to the backup target disk device 2. At the same time, when the interface 1 is vacant for a predetermined period of time or more, the usage right is acquired and data is backed up from the disk device 2 to be backed up to the disk device 4 to be backed up via the interface 1 based on the logging information. , and the backup is interrupted when a request to acquire interface 1 is received.

Therefore, the backup target disk device 2, the backup destination disk device 4, and the backup adapter 3 are connected to the interface 1 at the same level as necessary, and write information is logged to monitor the idle time of the interface 1. By backing up data to the interface 1, the disk device 2 to be backed up, the disk device 4 to be backed up, and the backup adapter 3 can be connected to the interface 1 in an expansion format, and data can be backed up efficiently and in real time without operator intervention. It becomes possible to do so.

〔Example〕

Next, the configuration and operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail using FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 1, a host computer 4 performs various processes, and here issues an access request in a command format (for example, CCW (channel command word), etc.) to the disk device 2 to be backed up. .

In Figure 2, interface (SCSI) 1
-1 is an input/output interface connected to an external port (input/output port) of the host computer 4, and in addition to the backup adapter 3 shown in the figure, the disk device 2 to be backed up shown in FIG. This is an interface for connecting the disk device 4 mentioned above. The host computer 4 issues a CCW (channel command word) to this interface 1-1 to write data to the disk device 2, etc., or to transfer data read from the disk device 2, etc. to the host computer 4. etc.

The protocol controller (SCSI) 3-1 is
This is for exchanging data and the like with the host computer 4 and the like via the interface 1-1.

The RAM 3-2 is a readable and writable memory composed of a write information logging memory, a data buffer for temporarily storing data, and the like. The write information logging memory logs (collects) write information such as the write address (starting address of the block where data is written to the disk device 4) and the number of blocks in the CCW (channel command word) issued by the host computer 4. I try to remember it.

ROM3-3 is firmware (MPU3-3).
This is a read-only memory in which a control program (such as a control program for controlling the 5) is written in advance.

The interrupt timer 3-4 is a timer for notifying the MPU 3-5 by an interrupt after a set time has elapsed, and here it is an interface free time timer.

MPU3-5 is a microprocessor,
Various processes (for example, the process shown in FIG. 3) are performed according to the program.

The switch 3-6 is a switch for setting an interface idle time timer. This switch 3-
This is for the backup adapter 3 to acquire the right to use the interface 1-1 and start backup processing when the interface 1-1 is continuously vacant for the time set by 6. It is.

The switch 3-7 is a switch for setting the backup destination disk device. This switch 3-
The disk device corresponding to the address set using 7 becomes the backup destination disk device 4.

The switch 3-8 is a switch for setting a disk device to be backed up. This switch 3
The disk device corresponding to the address set using -8 becomes the disk device 2 to be backed up.

The alarm lamp 3-9 is an alarm lamp for write information overflow, and is a lamp that lights up when logged write information overflows from the write information logging memory to notify that fact.

Next, the operations of the configurations in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained in detail in accordance with the order shown in the flowchart in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, monitors the disk device 2 to be backed up. This means that the backup adapter 3 monitors the interface 1-1 (interface 1) and logs write information to the disk device 2 that is the backup target (write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) (stored in logging memory).

determines whether the interface idle time timer has timed out. In the case of YES (Switch 3 for setting the InterAce free time timer in Figure 2)
- If the interface 1-1 has been vacant for a period longer than the time set in step 6), perform the following.
If NO, repeat.

performs backup processing. This writes the data read from the disk device 2 to be backed up to the disk device 4 to be backed up. That is, the right to use the interface 1-1 is acquired, and based on the write information (write address, number of blocks) retrieved from the memory for write information logging, the number of blocks from the write address of the disk device 2 to be backed up is The data is temporarily stored in the data buffer in the backup adapter 3, and is written to a position corresponding to the number of blocks from the write address of the disk device 4 as the backup destination. Alternatively, a copy command is issued to the disk device 2 to be backed up, and this disk device 2 directly transfers the data for the number of blocks from the write address to the disk device 4 via the interface 1-1.
Write to the appropriate position. This backup process is repeated as many times as the write information is stored in the write information logging memory.

The backup process has finished, so
Reset each timer and pointer. Since the backup process has been completed, the interface idle time timer is reset, and the pointer pointing to the unprocessed write information in the write information logging memory is reset to the beginning. and,
Repeat.

determines whether the write information is an overflow. This monitors the disk device 2 to be backed up, that is, the interface 1-
1 and determines whether or not the write information logging memory becomes full and overflows while the write information to the disk device to be backed up is being taken in and sequentially stored in the write information logging memory. In the case of YES, an alarm is notified to the operator, that is, the alarm lamp 3-9 for write information overflow shown in FIG. 2 is turned on to notify the operator of this fact. On the other hand, if the answer is NO, repeat the steps.

determines whether there is a request to acquire an interface. If YES (if there is a request to acquire the right to use interfaces 1, 1-1 from the host computer 4, etc.), the backup process is interrupted, the backup pointer is set with remember. Then, the host computer 4 or the like acquires the right to use the interfaces 1, 1-1 and performs processing.

As mentioned above, the switch 3-8 specifies the disk device 2 to be backed up, the switch 3-7 specifies the backup destination disk device 4, and the switch 3-6 specifies the value of the interface free time timer. Correspondingly, the backup adapter 3 logs the write information to the disk device 4 to be backed up, and when the interface free time timer specified by YES times out, the backup adapter 3 logs the write information to the disk device 4 to be backed up. By backing up data from the backup target disk device 4 to the backup destination disk device 2, the interfaces 1, 1-
It becomes possible to efficiently back up only data written during one free time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the backup target disk device 2, the backup destination disk device 4, and the backup adapter 3 are connected to the interface 1 at the same level as necessary, and the The configuration is such that write information to the disk device 4 is logged and backed up during the idle time of the interface 1. Disk device 2, backup destination disk device 4, and backup adapter 3
(2) without operator intervention; (3) only the data written in real time can be efficiently backed up while monitoring the free time of interface 1 and minimizing the drop in throughput. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention. In the figure, 1 and 1-1 are interfaces, 2 is a disk device to be backed up, 3 is a backup adapter, 3-2 is a RAM, 3-4 is an interrupt timer, 3-6 to 3-8 are switches, 3 -9 represents an alarm lamp, 4 represents a backup destination disk device, and 5 represents a host computer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a backup adapter for backing up a disk device, a disk device 2 to be backed up is connected to an interface 1 of a computer system, and when a backup is to be performed, a The disk device 4 to be backed up and the backup adapter 3 are connected, and the backup adapter 3 monitors the interface 1 and backs up the disk device 2 to be backed up.
In addition to logging the write information (write address, number of blocks, etc.) to the interface 1, when the interface 1 is idle for a predetermined period of time or more, the usage right is acquired and the interface is transferred from the disk device 2 to be backed up based on the logging information. This backup adapter for a disk device is characterized in that it backs up data to a disk device 4 as a backup destination via an ace 1, and interrupts the backup when a request to acquire an interface 1 is received.