Recovery method for a high availability data processing system

Abstract: A method is described for rapidly recovering a multi-processor data processing system from failure of a boot disk. Each data processing unit in the system has a private boot disk, and at least one shared disk. The processing units are interconnected so that each processing unit has access to its own private boot disk and also to the shared disks in all of the processing units. If the boot disk of one of the processing units fails, the system is temporarily reconfigured to connect a new boot disk in place of the shared disk in that processing unit. Another of the processing units is then operated to copy the contents of its own boot disk to the new boot disk.

Description: Background to the Invention This invention relates to a recovery method for a high-availability data processing system. The invention also relates to a high-availability data processing system specially adapted for use in such a recovery method. Such systems in general comprise a plurality of processors, arranged so that if one processor fails another processor can take over the workload of the failed processor. In addition, storage media must be duplicated (mirrored) to guard against disk drive failure. In certain markets for high-availability systems, such as for example the retail market place, the cost of the hardware is a very important consideration. A single enterprise may have large numbers of high availability systems, which means that any incremental cost is multiplied by the number of systems concerned. As mentioned above, for high-availability operation, storage media are mirrored to guard against disk drive failure. The majority of disks are shared between two processors to allow either processor to support applications located on these disks. However, it is necessary to have at least one disk on each processor which is private to that processor which will allow the operating system to be established, and which in turn will manage the access to the shared disks. This private disk also carries all the unique identity information relating to that processor. In large systems, this private disk can be mirrored locally to a second private disk on the same processor. However, in low cost retail systems, this second private disk imposes an unacceptable cost. The object of the present invention is to provide a way of solving this problem. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a recovery method for a data processing system, as defined in Claim 1 below. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a data processing system, as defined in Claim 4 below. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a high-availability dual-processor data processing system. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing data stored on a boot disk within each processor. Figure 3 is a flow chart showing a recovery process which is performed in the event of a boot disk failure. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a temporary reconfiguration of the system used in the recovery process. Description of an Embodiment of the Invention One data processing system and method in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to Figure 1, the data processing system comprises two processor cabinets 10 and 11. Each processor cabinet includes a processor 12 (PROC1, PROC2), a two-channel SCSI controller 13, a private boot disk drive 14 (D0-1, D0-2), and a shared disk drive 15 (D1-1, D1-2). Each controller 13 has two channels 16 (C0, C1). The first channel C0 is connected internally, by way of a SCSI ribbon cable 17, to the private boot disk drive D0-1 or D0-2 in the same processor cabinet. The second channel C1 has two connections: an internal connection which is coupled by way of a SCSI ribbon cable 18 to the local shared disk drive 15 (D1-1 or D1-2), and an external connection which is coupled by way of an inter-processor SCSI connection 19 to channel C1 in the other processor cabinet. In this way, each processor can access three disks: its own boot disk D0-1 or D0-2 on channel C0, and both shared disks D1-1 and D1-2 on channel C1. In other embodiments of the invention, each processor may have more than one shared disk drive connected to its channel C1. It can be seen that the two channels C1 and the shared disk drives D1-1 and D1-2 are all connected to the same SCSI bus. It is therefore necessary to ensure that they all have different SCSI addresses. In the present example, the two channels C1 have SCSI addresses 6 and 7, while the disk drives D1-1, D1-2 have SCSI addresses 1 and 2. The shared disk drives D1-1 and D1-2 are operated as a mirrored pair, such that loss of one disk through drive failure, or power loss of the host processor, does not prevent the remaining disk, and all the mirrored data, from being used by the remaining processor. The disks D1-1 and D1-2 hold the main user application. If either of the disks D1-1 or D1-2 has to be replaced, then the replacement disk is re-established from the other of those disks. If the boot disk D0-1 or D0-2 of either processor has to be replaced, normally the new disk would have to be rebuilt from backup and/or from distribution media. This is a slow and cumbersome process, and will also involve either the additional cost of having a suitable exchangeable media backup device permanently attached, or the extra complication of temporarily attaching such a device. The present system eliminates the need for such rebuilds by using the disks D0-1 and D0-2 in the two processors as a form of mirror, as will now be described. Referring to Figure 2, each of the boot disks D0-1 and D0-2 holds system files 20, common to both the processors. Typically, these system files include the operating system kernel, utilities and networking packages, and occupy around 200 megabytes of storage space. Each of the disks D0-1 and D0-2 also holds two processor-specific areas 21 and 22, one for each of the two processors 12. Each of these areas 21, 22 holds the processor name and network address of the processor in question, as well as other role specific information, and occupies around 1 megabyte. If the boot disk drive D0-2 belonging to processor PROC2 fails, the following recovery process is performed, as illustrated in Figure 3. (Step 31) First, the system is powered down. (Step 32) The failed disk drive D0-2 is then replaced with a new disk drive. The new disk D0-2 is initially empty. (Step 33) The system is then temporarily reconfigured by connecting the new disk drive D0-2 to the SCSI channel C1 in place of the local shared disk drive D1-2, as shown in Figure 4. This reconfiguration may be performed either manually or automatically. (Step 34) Both processors PROC1 and PROC2 are then powered up. When processor PROC2 powers up, it cannot find any valid boot disk, and so cannot reboot. On the other hand, when processor PROC1 powers up, it finds three disks: its own local boot disk D0-1 on channel C0, disk D1-1 on channel C1, and the new disk D0-2, also on channel C1. Processor PROC1 can therefore now reboot from its local boot disk D0-1. (Step 35) Processor PROC1 then copies the contents of its local boot disk D0-1 to the new boot disk D0-2, by way of channel C1. (Step 36) Once this is completed, processor PROC1 accesses the processor-specific information for processor PROC2 from area 22 on its local boot disk D0-1, and uses this information to modify the systems files on the new disk D0-2, so as to make the changes necessary to give processor PROC2 its own unique identity. The copying of the contents of disk D0-1 to disk D0-2, together with the subsequent application of the modifications from area 22, can be performed automatically by processor PROC1. (Step 37) Finally, processor PROC2 is reconfigured back to the channel connections as shown in Figure 1, and is rebooted from its new local boot disk D0-2. The recovery process is now complete. It should be noted that if the boot disk drive D0-1 belonging to processor PROC1 fails, the roles of the processors in the recovery process are reversed: the disk D0-1 is replaced, the system is temporarily reconfigured by connecting the new disk drive D0-1 to channel C1 in processor cabinet 10, in place of disk D1-1, and processor PROC2 then reconstructs the new boot disk for PROC1. It has been found that typically the above recovery process takes only about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, whereas the conventional rebuild process may take around 3 hours. Thus, the present invention leads to a significant saving in recovery time and the cost of suitable exchangeable mechanisms for restoring from backup or distribution media.

Claims: A recovery method for a data processing system comprising at least first and second data processing units (12), each of said data processing units having a private boot disk (14) and at least one shared disk (15), said system having an initial configuration in which each of said data processing units is connected to its own private boot disk and and is also connected to each one of said at least one shared disk, the recovery method comprising the steps: (a) storing on each of said private boot disks (15) common system boot files (20) as well as processor-specific information (21, 22) for both said processing units; (b) replacing a failed private boot disk (14) of one of said data processing units (12) with a new boot disk (14); (c) temporarily reconfiguring the system to connect the new boot disk (14) in place of the shared disk (15) of said one of said data processing units (12); (d) operating the other of said data processing units (12) to copy the contents of its own boot disk (14) to the new boot disk (14); and (e) restoring the initial configuration of said system, but with said new boot disk (14) in place of said failed boot disk. A recovery method according to Claim 1 including a further step of using said processor-specific information (21; 22), stored in said own privale boot disk (14) to modify said new boot disk (14). A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the system is powered down prior to replacing said failed private boot disk (14), and then powered up again following said temporary reconfiguration of the system. A data processing system comprising: (a) at least first and second data processing units (12), each of said data processing units having a private boot disk (14) and at least one shared disk (15); (b) means (13, 17, 18) for connecting said system in an initial configuration in which each of said data processing units (12) is connected to its own private boot disk (14) and is also connected to each one of said at least one shared disk (15); (c) means for storing on each of said private boot disks common system boot files (20) as well as processor-specific information (21, 22) for both processors; (d) means for replacing a failed private boot disk (14) of one of said processing units with a new boot disk (14); (e) means (13, 17, 18) for temporarily reconfiguring the system to connect the new boot disk (14) in place of the shared disk (15) of said one of said data processing units; (f) means for operating the other of said data processing units (12) to copy the contents of its own private boot disk (14) to the new boot disk (14); and (g) means (13, 17, 18) for restoring the initial configuration of said system, but with said new boot disk (14) in place of said failed boot disk (14). A data processing system according to Claim 4 wherein said connection means comprises a SCSI controller (13) for each of said processing units (12), each said SCSI controller having a first channel (17) connected to the local boot disk (14), and a second channel (18) connected to both said shared disks (15).

Inventors: TAYLOR RICHARD NORCOTT, TAYLOR, RICHARD NORCOTT
Applicants: INT COMPUTERS LTD, INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G06F11
IPC codes: G11C29, G06F11