Patent ID: 6088704
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A parallel management system for a file data storage structure, comprising:a plurality of secondary storage devices recording respective distributed data;a plurality of control units each of which is connected to at least one corresponding one of said secondary storage devices, for generating control data by structuring said distributed data stored in said at least one corresponding secondary storage device, and for storing said control data into said at least one corresponding secondary storage device;input means for instructing start-up of a desired file data storage structure;discrimination means for discriminating whether said desired file data storage structure instructed start-up by said input means is in an available state or an unavailable state;first broadcast means for broadcasting standby request to at least one corresponding control unit in response to the configuration of said secondary storage device of said desired file data storage structure when the state of said desired file data storage structure instructed start-up by said input means is discriminated to be the unavailable state by said discrimination means;first change means provided in each of said plurality of control units, for receiving said standby request from said first broadcast means, and for changing the state of said secondary storage device belonging to said desired file data storage structure specified by said standby request to an intermediate state between the available state and the unavailable state;second broadcasting means for broadcasting at least one start-up request to said corresponding control unit when confirming that change to said intermediate state succeeds on all of said first change means;second change means provided in each of said plurality of control units, for receiving said start-up request from said second broadcast means, and for changing the state of said secondary storage device belonging to said desired file data storage structure specified by said start-up request from said intermediate state to the available state;third broadcasting means for broadcasting at least one unavailability request to said plurality of control units when confirming that change to said intermediate state fails on at least one of said second change means; andthird change means provided in each of said plurality of control units, for receiving said unavailability request from said third broadcast means, and for changing the state of said secondary storage device belonging to said desired file data storage structure specified by said unavailability request from said intermediate state to the unavailable state.