U.S. patent application number 10/444650 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for storage system, management server, and method of managing application thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hitachi, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kamano, Toshimitsu, Muraoka, Kenji, Suzuki, Katsuyoshi.
Application Number | 20040153728 10/444650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29545307 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040153728 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Suzuki, Katsuyoshi ; et
al. |
August 5, 2004 |
Storage system, management server, and method of managing
application thereof
Abstract
In a storage system having a plurality of disk array devices
connected through a network to a host for running an application,
and a management server for monitoring the disk array devices, the
disk array device includes a physical disk error detecting unit for
detecting an error in a physical disk. Meanwhile, the management
server stores a corresponding relationship among the application, a
logical volume used by the application, and the physical disk
corresponding to the logical volume. Moreover, the management
server includes an application detecting unit for detecting the
application using the logical volume corresponding to the physical
disk with the error according to the corresponding relationship
when the physical disk error detecting unit of the disk array
device detects the error in the physical disk.
Inventors: |
Suzuki, Katsuyoshi;
(Odawara, JP) ; Kamano, Toshimitsu; (Odawara,
JP) ; Muraoka, Kenji; (Odawara, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Hitachi, Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
29545307 |
Appl. No.: |
10/444650 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
714/6.12 ;
714/E11.024 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 11/0727 20130101;
G06F 11/00 20130101; G06F 11/0766 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
714/006 |
International
Class: |
H04L 001/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 24, 2002 |
JP |
2002-150145 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A storage system comprising: a plurality of disk array devices
connected through a network to a host for running an application;
and a management server for monitoring said disk array devices,
wherein said disk array device includes a physical disk error
detecting unit for detecting an error in a physical disk, said
management server stores a corresponding relationship among said
application, a logical volume used by said application, and said
physical disk corresponding to said logical volume, and said
management server includes an application detecting unit for
detecting said application using said logical volume corresponding
to said physical disk with the error according to said
corresponding relationship when said physical disk error detecting
unit of said disk array device detects the error in said physical
disk.
2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said management
server includes an application notifying unit for notifying a user
terminal of information concerning said application detected by
said application detecting unit.
3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said
corresponding relationship stored by said management server
contains settings on priority of execution of a job of said
application, and said management server includes an application
processing capability allocating unit for allocating a processing
capability of said application according to said priority of
execution of the job of said application which uses said physical
disk with the error when said physical disk error detecting unit of
said disk array device detects the error in said physical disk.
4. A storage system according to claim 3, wherein said management
server gives higher priority to execution of said job of said
application which uses said physical disk with said error when said
physical disk error detecting means of said disk array device
detect said error in said physical disk.
5. A storage system according to claim 3, wherein said application
processing capability allocating unit of said management server
allocates the processing capability of said application according
to operation input of a user.
6. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said management
server at least includes applications detected by said application
detecting unit, said disk array device used by said application,
and an application information displaying unit for displaying
application information concerning a processing capability
allocated to said application on a screen of a display unit.
7. A management server for monitoring a plurality of disk array
devices connected through a network to a host for running an
application and having a physical disk error detecting unit for
detecting an error in a physical disk, wherein said management
server stores a corresponding relationship among said application,
a logical volume used by said application, and said physical disk
corresponding to said logical volume, and said management server
comprises: an application detecting unit for detecting said
application using a logical volume corresponding to said physical
disk with said error according to said corresponding relationship
when said physical disk error detecting unit of said disk array
device detects said error in said physical disk.
8. A management server according to claim 7, further comprising: an
application notifying unit for notifying a user terminal of
information concerning said application detected by said
application detecting unit.
9. A management server according to claim 7, wherein said
corresponding relationship contains settings on priority of
execution of a job of said application, and said management server
further comprises an application processing capability allocating
unit for allocating a processing capability of said application
according to said priority of execution of said job of said
application which uses said physical disk with said error, when
said physical disk error detecting unit of said disk array device
detects said error in said physical disk.
10. A management server according to claim 9, wherein the higher
priority is given for execution of said job of said application
using said physical disk with said error when said physical disk
error detecting unit of said disk array device detects said error
in said physical disk.
11. A management server according to claim 9, wherein said
application processing capability allocating unit allocates the
processing capability of said application according to operation
input of a user.
12. A management server according to claim 7, further comprising at
least: applications detected by said application detecting unit,
said disk array device used by said application, and an application
information displaying unit for displaying application information
concerning a processing capability allocated to said application on
a screen of a display unit.
13. A method of managing an application by a management server for
monitoring a plurality of disk array devices connected through a
network to a host for running an application, said method
comprising: allowing said management server to store a
corresponding relationship among said application, a logical volume
used by said application, and a physical disk corresponding to said
logical volume, and allowing said management server to detect said
application using said logical volume corresponding to said
physical disk with an error according to said corresponding
relationship when said disk array device detects said error in said
physical disk.
14. A method of managing an application according to claim 13,
wherein information concerning said detected application is
notified to a user terminal.
15. A method of managing an application according to claim 13,
wherein said corresponding relationship contains settings on
priority of execution of a job of said application, and a
processing capability of said application is allocated according to
the priority of execution of said job of said application which
uses said physical disk with said error when said disk array device
detects said error in said physical disk.
16. A method of managing an application according to claim 14,
wherein higher priority is given to execution of said job of said
application using said physical disk with said error when said disk
array device detects said error in said physical disk.
17. A method of managing an application according to claim 15,
wherein the processing capability of said application is allocated
according to operation input of a user.
18. A method of managing an application according to claim 13,
wherein application information concerning said detected
application, said disk array device used by said application, and
the processing capability allocated to said application are at
least displayed on a screen of a display unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority upon Japanese Patent
Application No. 2002-150145 filed on May 24, 2002, which is herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a storage system, a
management server, and a method of managing an application
thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A host uses a plurality of disk array devices as external
storage devices upon operation of an application. A disk array
device includes a plurality of disks. To be more precise, the host
is connected to the disk array devices through a storage area
network (SAN), whereby data are distributed to a logical volume
(LU) composed of the plurality of disks to be stored.
[0006] As a technology for enhancing fault tolerance of such a disk
array device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
Publication No. 2000-305720 discloses a technology for predicting a
failure of a disk. Meanwhile, according to Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-167035, a client on a
network is monitored by using a WWW browser in order to enhance
fault tolerance of the disk array device. Moreover, Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei11-24850 discloses a
technology for recovering data contained in a failed drive such
that the data belonging to a volume of a highest frequency of
failures first, then the recovery is attempted according to the
failure frequency. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open Publication No. 2000-20245 discloses a technology for
automatically configuring a disk drive connected to a
controller.
[0007] In general, a disk array device utilizes a "Redundant Array
of Inexpensive Disks" (RAID) technology to prevent data loss or
system down of a host. Parity and error correction data are added
to data to be written, and the data are distributed to a plurality
of disks for storage. In this way, it is possible to restore
correct data using the parity even if one of the disks is out of
order.
[0008] However, execution of data restoring processing, when a disk
is out of order, incurs performance degradation of operation of an
application as compared to a normal condition. Moreover, if a spare
disk exists when the drive is blocked, the blocked disk will be
restored by using the spare disk. Execution of such restoring
processing also incurs performance degradation of an application as
compared to a normal condition.
[0009] Nevertheless, such restoring processing has been executed
without notifying a user. Accordingly, the user would not recognize
that the cause of the performance degradation of the application is
due to the data restoring processing and has occasionally sought
other causes.
[0010] In addition, when the drive is blocked, a system
administrator receiving such warning has had difficulty predicting
influence to the performance degradation of the application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In a storage system having a plurality of disk array devices
connected to a host, which runs an application, through a network,
and a management server for monitoring each drive installed in the
disk array devices, the disk array device includes a physical disk
error detecting unit for detecting an error in a physical disk. The
management server stores a corresponding relationship among the
application, a logical volume used by the application, and the
physical disk corresponding to the logical volume. The management
server includes an application detecting unit for detecting the
application using the logical volume corresponding to the physical
disk with the error according to the corresponding relationship
when the physical disk error detecting unit of the disk array
device detects the error in the physical disk.
[0012] Note that the management server may be disposed inside the
disk array device. Moreover, it is also possible to provide a
configuration where a management server unit having functions of
the management server is incorporated into the disk array device.
In other words, the term "management server" also includes the
concept of the "management server unit".
[0013] The present invention can suppress performance degradation
of an application.
[0014] Features and objects of the present invention other than the
above will become clear by reading the description of the present
specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of
a storage system, which is one of the embodiments of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an aspect of
distributed data storage according to one of the embodiments of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for
monitoring performance of a disk array device according to one of
the embodiments of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions of a management
server according to the embodiments of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for
monitoring performances of the disk array device according to the
embodiments of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing upon occurrence of
a disk failure according to the embodiments of the present
invention; and
[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an aspect of switching
a drive to which an application gains access, from a main drive to
a sub drive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] At least the following matters will be made clear by the
explanation in the present specification and the description of the
accompanying drawings.
[0024] A management server may include application notifying unit
that notifies a user terminal of information concerning the
application detected by the application detecting unit.
[0025] The corresponding relationship stored by the management
server contains settings on priority of execution of a job of an
application. The management server may include application
processing capability allocating unit for allocating a processing
capability of the application according to the priority of
execution of the job of the application which uses the physical
disk with the error when the physical disk error detecting unit of
the disk array device detects the error in the physical disk.
[0026] The management server may give higher priority to execution
of the job of the application using the physical disk with the
error when the physical disk error detecting unit of the disk array
device detects the error in the physical disk.
[0027] The application processing capability allocating unit of the
management server may allocate the processing capability of the
application according to operation input of a user.
[0028] The management server may include at least the application
detected by the application detecting unit, the disk array device
used by the application, and application information displaying
unit for displaying application information concerning the
processing capability allocated to the application on a screen of a
display unit.
[0029] The disk array device maybe capable of executing mirroring,
and the management server may include mirror disk switching unit
for setting a mirror disk for the application to use, when the
physical disk error detecting unit of the disk array device detects
an error in the physical disk.
[0030] Herein, the expression "capable of executing mirroring"
refers to a state where the disk array device supports "RAID-1"
("mirror" or "mirroring") as a RAID level.
[0031] The disk array device may include the physical disk error
detecting unit for detecting an error in the physical disk, and the
management server may include internal copy switching unit for
executing internal copy processing by allocating a new logical
volume to an unused disk area (an empty disk) in the disk array
device, when the physical disk error detecting unit of the disk
array device detects an error in the physical disk, and thereby
setting the new logical volume for the application to use.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows an entire configuration of a storage system
according to the present embodiment. A plurality of hosts 10 are
connected to a plurality of disk array devices (also referred to as
"disk subsystems") 20 through a storage area network (SAN) 40. An
application is installed in each of the hosts (computers) 10 by a
user, and the hosts 10 share the plurality of disk array devices 20
as external storage devices of data required for running this
application. Alternatively, there is also a case where the
application itself is installed in the disk array devices 20. That
means the scope of the present invention shall not be limited by
which directory the application installed in. A management server
30 can be connected to the plurality of hosts 10 and to the
plurality of disk array devices 20 through a different local area
network (LAN) 50 of SAN 40. Alternatively, the management server 30
may be directly connected to the SAN 40.
[0033] A host agent 11 is installed in each host 10. The host agent
11 is activated when a request for acquiring system configuration
information to the respective disk array devices 20 is made due to
operation input to the management server 30 by a system
administrator or due to an event such as a failure of the disk
array device 20. In order to acquire "host logical configuration
information" on an operation system (OS) of the host 10 dominating
the host agent 11, the host agent 11 issues a command to a logical
volume of the disk array device 20, which is accessible by the host
10 of its own, to receive an access path.
[0034] The host agent 11 utilizes the OS, a database, and an
application interface of upper middleware. Thereby acquires a name
of a file stored in the logical volume, a capacity of the file, and
the location in a file system which the file belongs to.
[0035] Each of the disk array devices 20 includes an external
connection interface 21. Each of the disk array devices 20 notifies
the management server 30 of the configuration information, the
performance and the containing data of its own through the external
connection interface 21. Moreover, the disk array device 20 detects
an error such as a failure of a physical disk of its own and
notifies the management server 30. Alternatively, the management
server 30 may gain access to the disk array device 20 and collect
the configuration information, the performance, the data, and
information concerning the failure thereof. In another embodiment
where the management server 30 is connected only to the SAN 40,
similar information as described above is sent or collected
directly to the management server 30 by using a SAN interface for
the management server 30, instead of using the external connection
interface 21.
[0036] The disk array device 20 incorporates a control board (a
controller) therein. The disk array device 20 is controlled by a
microprogram (physical disk error detecting unit) which runs on a
processor (CPU, physical disk error detecting unit) implemented in
this controller.
[0037] By this microprogram in operation, it is possible to detect
errors including failures of the physical disk of the disk array
device 20, such as an I/O error. In other words, it is possible to
predict performance degradation of the application by detecting
failures and errors in the physical disk. The method of detecting
such errors will be described specifically as follows. For example,
data control of the disk array device 20 is performed by the
control board (controller) of the disk array device. The
microprogram runs on the CPU implemented on this controller and
controls the device. When there is a request from an upper layer
(such as a host) for reading the data, the microprogram performs
the control so as to read the data. Normally, data reading is
performed via a cache, and in the case where the data do not exist
in the cache, the data are read from the drive and stored in the
cache or directly sent to the upper layer. In the RAID, the data to
be read are normally stored in the drives in a distributed manner.
Moreover, the RAID adopts the mode of regenerating data from parity
even if part of the data cannot be read. In the event of reading
the data, the control of reading the distributed data is performed
by the microprogram. If a part of the data cannot be read, the
control of reading the parity for restoring the data is performed
by the microprogram. Therefore, the processing for performing data
restoration from the parity is executed by the microprogram.
Accordingly, the frequency the restoration can be perceived by the
microprogram. For example, the microprogram can also perceive the
frequency of failures of when accessing each drive. Thus, it is
possible to predict an occurrence of an error such as a failure in
a certain drive if the failures of when accessing exceed a given
threshold (such as a number of simple cumulative failures or a
number of cumulative failures). Such processing is adopted not only
for reading processing, but also for writing processing
similarly.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an aspect of
distributed data storage. As shown in FIG. 2, the disk array device
20 includes a plurality of drives. In the example shown in FIG. 2,
five disks marked by A to E are installed. Moreover, a logical unit
(LU) is defined in these five disk drives. This logical unit is
regarded as one logical volume from the outside. For example, a
logical volume (LU0) includes four drives marked by A, B, C and D.
In the disk array device 20, at a RAID level referred to as
"RAID-5", the data are distributed and written across the drives
(physical disks) HDD-A to HDD-E as in D1, D2 and D3. Further,
parity P1 is also written. In this way, the drives HDD-A to HDD-E,
which store the distributed data D1, D2 and D3 and the parity P1,
collectively construct the logical volume (logical unit) LU0 or a
logical volume LU1.
[0039] Meanwhile, as shown in the corresponding table in FIG. 3,
regarding the disk array device 20, the management server 30 stores
corresponding relationships among applications AP-A to AP-E run on
the host 10, the logical volumes LU0 and LU1 used by the
applications, and the physical disks HDD-A to HDD-E corresponding
to the logical volumes LU0 and LU1.
[0040] The corresponding relationships as shown in FIG. 3 may be
referenced not only by the system administrator who uses the
management server 30, but also by a user who uses the applications
through the hosts, with a web screen or the like.
[0041] The management server 30 has a computer system (application
detecting unit, mirror disk switching unit, internal copy switching
unit, application notifying unit, application processing capability
allocating unit, and application information displaying unit). FIG.
4 is a block diagram showing the functions of this management
server 30. The management server 30 includes a user management
layer 31, an object management layer 32, an agent management layer
33, and an interface layer 34. The object management layer 32
includes a database for accumulating configuration information
concerning the respective disk array devices 20. As described
above, the corresponding relationships among the applications, the
logical volumes and the physical disks are stored in this database.
The interface layer 34 includes a subsystem interface 341 and a
host interface 342.
[0042] A plurality of user terminals A to C are connected to the
management server 30 through the user management layer 31.
Moreover, the plurality of disk array devices 20 are connected to
the management server 30 through the subsystem interface 341.
Furthermore, the hosts 10 are connected to the management server 30
through the host interface 342.
[0043] The user management layer 31 manages the user terminals A to
C. Herein, the system administrator is also included as one of the
users. The object management layer 32 acquires information
concerning the configurations, performances and errors such as
failures of the respective disk array devices 20 as well as
information concerning other events, and stores the information in
the database. To be more precise, the information to be stored in
this database includes: settings concerning internal access paths
and the logical volumes of the respective disk array devices 20,
capacities, access authorization, and data transfer of the
respective logical volumes; settings concerning data copy among the
respective disk array devices 20; settings concerning the
performances and control of the respective disk array devices 20;
and settings of methods of acquiring and maintaining the
performance data, abnormality such as failures, and the
configuration information of events in the respective disc devices
20 by user operations of the respective disk array devices.
[0044] Although only one management server 30 is shown in FIG. 1,
it is possible to use a plurality of management servers 30.
Moreover, the management server 30 may be installed inside the disk
array device 20. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a
configuration where a management server unit having the functions
of the management server 30 is incorporated into the disk array
device 20. In other words, the term "management server" also may be
interpreted as the "management server unit". Meanwhile, the
management server unit maybe located in a position physically
distant from the disk array device 20.
[0045] The management server 30 makes periodic inquiries to the
respective disk array devices 20 and acquires the information
concerning the events of abnormality such as failures.
Alternatively, the information concerning the events such as
failures or maintenance detected by the respective disk array
devices 20 is notified to the agent management layer 33 of the
management server 30 through the subsystem interface 341.
[0046] Upon notification of the events such as failures, the agent
management layer 33 notifies the object management layer 32 by
using an interrupt function. The management server 30 recognizes a
status change of the disk array device 20 by the object management
layer 32 that has received such notification. After recognizing
this event, the management server 30 acquires the configuration
information of the disk array device 20 and updates the information
in the database.
[0047] As shown in a schematic diagram in FIG. 5, a screen for
monitoring the performances of the disk array devices is displayed
on a display unit of the management server 30 by a graphical user
interface (GUI) The information displayed on this screen is based
on the corresponding relationships in FIG. 3 as previously
described. As shown in FIG. 5, description will be firstly given
regarding an A system as the "application". The A system uses a
disk array device "D-B". A "drive status" of this disk array device
D-B is indicated as "OK", in other words, there are no abnormality
such as a breakdown or a failure therein. Priority of execution of
a job ("job priority") of this A system is set to "B" which is
lower than "A", and allocation of a processing capability is set to
a level "10". A field for "other status" is blank since the "drive
status" is "OK" and indicates that no special measures are
taken.
[0048] Next, description will be given regarding a B system as the
"application". The B system uses a disk array device "D-B". The
"drive status" of the disk array device D-B is indicated as
"failure". Priority of execution of a job ("job priority") of this
B system is set to "A" which is higher than "B", thus the priority
is set higher than the above-described A system. Moreover,
allocation of a processing capability regarding this B system is
set to a level "10". A field for "other status" is indicated as
"mirror in use" since "drive status" is "failure", and shows that
data on a mirror disk are used as a primary (main) I/O.
[0049] Next, description will be given with reference to a
flowchart in FIG. 6, regarding countermeasure processing by the
management server in the case where a failure occurs in the disk (a
drive or a physical disk). Firstly, when an error in the physical
disk such as an I/O error in the drive is detected (S10), judgment
is made on whether a mirror drive exists (S20). If the mirror drive
exists (S20: YES), the access drive which application uses is
switched from the main drive to a sub drive as shown in FIG. 7
(S30). In this way, with respect to the failure of disk, it is
possible to eliminate influence to the operation of the
application, attributable to an increase in load of processing due
to data restoration from the parity. Subsequently, the occurrence
of the failure and the state of switching the access drive are
notified to the system administrator (S40). For such notification,
as shown in FIG. 5, an appropriate method such as displaying on the
displaying unit of the management server is used. In addition, it
is also possible to notify the information shown in FIG. 5 to the
user who uses the application through the host, with a Web screen
or the like. Thereafter, if the failed drive is recovered or
restored by a replacement, then the access drive is set back to the
original drive, which is the normal drive (S50 to S60).
[0050] On the contrary, if the mirror drive does not exist (S20:
NO), as a temporary processing, judgment is made on whether it is
possible to create a mirror (an internal copy or a synchronous copy
area) internally (S70). If it is possible to create the internal
copy (S70: YES), a new logical volume is created in another drive
without failure (S80). The new logical volume, which is internally
copied, is set to the access drive which the application uses
(S90). Subsequently, the occurrence of the failure and the state of
switching the access drive are notified to the system administrator
(S100). For such notification, as shown in FIG. 5, an appropriate
method such as displaying on the displaying unit of the management
server is used. In addition, it is also possible to notify the
information shown in FIG. 5 to the user who uses the application
through the host, with a Web screen or the like. Thereafter, when
the failed drive is recovered or restored by a replacement, the
access drive is set back to the original drive, which is the normal
drive, and the internal copy is deleted (S110 to S120).
[0051] Meanwhile, if it is impossible to create the internal copy
(S70: NO), it is possible to use another disk array device. Based
on the above-described corresponding table in FIG. 3, the logical
volume corresponding to the failed drive is retrieved (S130).
Thereafter, as a result of the retrieval, the application using the
acquired logical volume is detected (S140). Subsequently, the risk
of performance degradation of the detected application is notified
to the system administrator (S150). For such notification, as shown
in FIG. 5, an appropriate method such as displaying on the
displaying unit of the management server is used. In addition, it
is also possible to notify the information shown in FIG. 5 to the
user who uses the application through the host, with a Web screen
or the like.
[0052] Next, as shown in the above-described information displayed
on the screen in FIG. 5, countermeasure processing for load
distribution of the application having the risk of the performance
degradation is executed according to the job priority. For example,
as shown in FIG. 5, if there is a risk of performance degradation
of the B system as the application having the higher priority "A"
and the mirror drive is not used under that status, the allocation
of the processing capability is increased from "10" to "15", so
that the performance of the application can be maintained without
being influenced by the drive failure. Herein, an increase in the
allocation of the processing capability is equivalent to an
increase in an allocation rate of the CPU resources.
[0053] Moreover, a similar effect can be exerted by raising the job
priority of the application (S160). Alternatively, it is also
possible to relatively avoid a decrease in the processing
capability of the application having the higher priority "A" by
reducing the allocation of the processing capability at the A
system side as the application having the lower priority "B".
[0054] Such allocation of the processing capabilities and settings
of the job priority can be performed through the screen displayed
on the display unit in FIG. 5 by the GUI. Thereafter, when the
failed drive is recovered or restored by a replacement, the
allocation of the processing capabilities and the job priority of
the applications are set back to the original states (S170 to
S180).
[0055] As for another embodiment, it is also possible to distribute
the load by each logical volume unit, in the state without failures
such as errors in a disk (drive). This is performed by monitoring a
usage status of the application and an access status regarding the
respective logical volumes. In this way, it is possible to prevent
an event such as performance degradation of a certain logical
volume.
[0056] The embodiments of the present invention can exert the
following effects:
[0057] The management server stores corresponding relationships
among the applications, the logical volumes used by the
applications, and the physical disks corresponding to the logical
volumes. Thus, it is possible to detect the application which maybe
influenced by the error in the physical disk and to predict the
performance degradation thereof. Based on this prediction, it is
possible to suppress the performance degradation or an abnormal
termination.
[0058] The management server notifies the user terminal of
information concerning the application which may be influenced by
the error in the physical disk. In this way, it is possible to
advise the user on the risk of the performance degradation of the
application.
[0059] The priority of execution of the job of the application is
set in the corresponding relationship stored by the management
server. The management server allocates the processing capability
of the application according to the priority of execution of the
job of the application which uses the physical disk with the error.
In this way, it is possible to control the load of the
application.
[0060] The management server gives higher priority to execution of
the job of the application which uses the physical disk with the
error. In this way, it is possible to suppress the performance
degradation of the application.
[0061] The management server allocates the processing capability of
the application according to operation input of the user. The user
can control the load of the application which may be influenced by
the error in the physical disk.
[0062] The management server displays the information concerning
the applications, the disk array devices used by the applications,
and the processing capabilities allocated to the applications on
the screen of the display unit. In this way, the user can monitor
the logical volume and the application which may be influenced by
the error in the physical disk, and the processing capability
allocated to the application on the display unit.
[0063] Upon detection of the error in the physical disk, the
management server sets the corresponding mirror disk to which the
application uses. In this way, it is possible to prevent the
performance degradation of the application beforehand.
[0064] Upon detection of the error in the physical disk, the
management server allocates a new logical volume to an unused disk
area in the disk array device and executes internal copy
processing, whereby the management server sets the new logical
volume to which the application uses. In this way, it is possible
to prevent the performance degradation of the application
beforehand.
[0065] Although the present invention has been described above
based on the embodiments, it is to be noted that the present
invention shall not be limited to the embodiments stated herein,
and that various modifications can be made without departing from
spirit of the invention.
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