Patent ID: 6883064
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A disk array controller comprising: a host switch interface section that is connected to a host computer; a plurality of respective disk array controlling units that are provided with a channel interface section interfacing with said host switch interface section, a disc interface section that is connected to a magnetic disc unit and a cache memory section that temporarily stores data as read out of or written into said magnetic disc unit; and a mutual connection network in connection with the channel interface sections, the disc interface sections and the cache memory sections of said disk array controlling units, wherein said cache memory sections perform a transfer of the data with the channel interface sections of said respective disk array controlling units, wherein in case of transferring a copy of data stored in said magnetic disk unit which is associated with first disk, array controlling unit included in said plurality of disk array controlling units, from said first disk array controlling unit to a second disk array controlling unit included in said plurality of disk array controlling units, said first disk array controlling unit performs a transfer of said copy of data via said mutual connection network, not via said host switch interface section, and wherein said host switch interface section selects a relay destination for data which is sent from said host computer to said cache memory section in said first disk array controlling unit, from the channel interface section in said first disk array controlling unit, the channel interface section in said second disk array controlling unit, or the channel interface section in another disk array controlling unit included in said plurality of disk array controlling units other than said first and second disk array controlling units, in accordance with load conditions of a path to said cache memory section in said first disk array controlling unit through said first disk array controlling unit, through said second disk array controlling unit, and through said another disk array controlling unit included in said plurality of disk array controlling units.