Abstract:
The time (response time) from the issue of a display request for the display of constructional information to the obtaining of predetermined desirable constructional information and the completion of display is long when a terminal device having a graphical user interface to manage and control the operation of a storage system by using a storage managing server is used. To reduce response time, the storage managing server receives a first request issued from a storage managing terminal for executing the processing of the storage managing server, and a second request for executing processing including the communication of constructional information of a storage device between the storage device and the storage managing server. The storage managing server starts processing with respect to the second request before the storage managing server transmits a response to the first request to the storage managing terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-388702, filed on Nov. 19, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a method of managing a storage system and its managing device, and, more particularly, the invention relates to a method of effecting transfer of constructional information between the storage system and a storage managing server.  
         [0003]     As described in JP-A-2003-108420 (patent literature 1), a storage managing server is connected to a storage system through a LAN (local area network) to manage and control the constructional information of the storage system. The management and control of the storage system is executed by referring to this constructional information, which is received from the storage managing server, and by changing the constructional information.  
         [0004]     There is also information which is independently updated in the storage system, such as performance information and breakdown information of the storage system, in addition to information that is set and changed from the storage managing server, such as the capacity of the storage system, setting information of a path, etc., to facilitate the control of the storage system using the storage managing server. Accordingly, the constructional information stored in the storage managing server is not necessarily the same as the constructional information of the storage system.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it is necessary to update the constructional information stored in the storage managing server. In the technical literature 1, the constructional information sent from the storage system to the storage managing server is transferred on the basis of a constructional information obtaining request received from a storage system manager (person).  
         [0006]     JP-A-2003-108412 (patent literature 2) discloses a technique for transferring only update information that is updated within the constructional information of the storage system from the storage system to the storage managing server in response to a change in the constructional information of the storage system. 
        [Patent literature 1]JP-A-2003-108420     [Patent literature 2]JP-A-2003-108412        
 
         [0009]     A terminal device having a GUI (graphical user interface) is connected to the storage managing server to allow the system manager to manage and control the operation of the storage system by using the storage managing server. When the terminal device is seen from the storage system manager using the terminal device, the length of time (response time) from the transmission of a display request of the constructional information to the completion of display of predetermined desirable constructional information becomes a factor relating to the operability of the terminal device.  
         [0010]     This factor depends on the amount of constructional information, more specifically, the amount to be updated with respect to the constructional information stored in the storage managing server. Namely, the time required for transfer time of the constructional information from the storage system to the storage managing server has an influence on the response time of the terminal device. Such a factor is not considered in the patent literature 1.  
         [0011]     The patent literature 2 discloses a technique for transferring only the updated constructional information to the storage managing server with the generation of the update of the constructional information within the storage system as an opportunity, with the object of shortening of the transfer time. However, the constructional information also includes information momentarily changed, such as the performance information of the storage system. Such information momentarily changed is not considered in the patent literature 2. When the technique disclosed in the patent literature 2 is applied, the constructional information from the storage system to the storage managing server is continuously transferred.  
         [0012]     A processor for transferring the constructional information within the storage system typically will also be used in another processing, and the LAN between the storage system and the storage managing server is also used in another information transfer, which deteriorates the performance of the entire system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     An object of the present invention is to improve the speed relating to the display of constructional information for use by a user of the terminal device.  
         [0014]     One mode of the present invention has the following construction to achieve the above-stated object.  
         [0015]     In the processing method of a storage managing server in accordance with the present invention, the storage managing server receives a first request issued from a storage managing terminal for executing the processing of the storage managing server, and it receives a second request for executing processing, including the communication of constructional information of a storage device between the storage device and the storage managing server. Processing with respect to the second request is started before a response to this first request is transmitted to the storage managing terminal.  
         [0016]     For example, the first request is a login request made entered through the storage managing terminal, and the second request is a transmission request for transmission of the constructional information. In one example, the transmission request of the constructional information is issued to the storage, if necessary, before the downloading of a manager program as processing of the storage managing server with respect to the login request.  
         [0017]     In accordance with the present invention, the second request is made together with the first request on the screen by operating the storage managing terminal, and a signal can be transmitted to the storage managing server. Thus, the time (response time) from the completion of processing with respect to the first request to the display of results of processing with respect to the second request in the storage managing terminal can be shortened by executing processing, including the communication of the constructional information, if necessary, with respect to the second request, before the storage managing server starts processing with respect to the first request. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a storage managing system.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing one example of constructional information.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing one example of a screen for login of a storage managing terminal and constructional information input transmission.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a constructional information display screen.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a process timing diagram showing the processing of the constructional information located in the storage system until this constructional information is displayed in the storage managing terminal.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the processing of the storage managing terminal.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart of reference processing as one example of the processing in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart of change processing in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart showing the processing of a storage managing server.  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart showing change processing in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the construction of a storage managing system. In  FIG. 1 , storages  30 ,  31 ,—(hereinafter designated in general as  30 ) are connected to a storage managing server  20  under the environment of a SAN (Storage Area Network) in which the storages  30  and host computers  40 ,  41 ,—(hereinafter designated in general as  40 ) are connected. Plural storage managing dedicated terminals  10 ,  11 ,—(hereinafter designated in general as  10 ) are connected to the storage managing server  20  through a LAN-a (Local Area Network). The storage managing terminal  10  is arranged to perform the operations of reference, setting, change, etc. of constructional information through the storage managing server  20 . Constructional information  310 ,  311 ,—(hereinafter designated in general as  310 ) within the storages  30 ,  31  is constructional information of the respective storages  30 ,  31 . Both the constructional information  310  and the constructional information  311  are stored to the storage managing server  20  as constructional information  210 . The constructional information  210  that is stored to the storage managing server  20  is not necessarily the same as the constructional information  310 ,  311  of the storages  30 ,  31 . This point will be described in more detail later.  
         [0030]     A manager program  220  for processing the constructional information  310  of the storage  30  is stored in the storage managing server  20 . The manager program  220  includes a manager program for a terminal operated by the storage managing terminal  10 , and a manager program for a storage managing server operated by the storage managing server  20 . The manager program for a terminal is downloaded from the storage managing server  20  to the storage managing terminal  10  through the LAN-a in accordance with a download request from the storage managing terminal  10 . A storage system manager (person) operates the storage managing terminal  10  and executes the reference and the change of the constructional information  310  by the above construction.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows one example of the constructional information. The constructional information  310 ,  210  is stored into the storage  30  and the storage managing server  20 , respectively. This constructional information  310 ,  210  includes breakdown information  520 , performance information  530 , etc., that is independently updated by the storage system  30 , as well as information set and changed from the storage managing server  20 , such as volume information  510 , etc.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows one example of a screen  100  (hereinafter called an initial screen) for transmitting login and constructional information inputs of the storage managing terminal  10 . When the storage managing terminal  10  powers up, a login input section  102  and a constructional information input section  101  are displayed, and the specifying of constructional information to be referred to and changed is requested together with the input of a user name and a password. In the constructional information input section  101 , a state checked by the storage system manager is shown in the right-hand □ column of an address A. Thus, the storage system manager specifies the required constructional information and requests display of the constructional information from the storage managing server  20 . A column for directly inputting a title of the constructional information, etc., also may be arranged to specify the constructional information.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a constructional information display screen  105 . Reference numeral  107  designates a constructional information display section. The constructional information display section  107  shows a display when the storage system manager requests volume information as the constructional information. Similar to the constructional information input section  101 , reference numeral  106  designates a constructional information input section. When the storage system manager wants to refer to still other constructional information, he/she performs a check in □ of an item column desirous to be referred to. For example, when new constructional information is referred to after the reference, setting, change, etc. of the volume information displayed in the constructional information display section  107  of  FIG. 4 , the storage system manager inputs and transmits a check in a predetermined desirable portion of this constructional information input section  106 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the constructional information  310  located in the storage system  30  until the constructional information  310  is displayed in the storage managing terminal  10 . A download request of the manager program for the storage managing terminal  10  is made from the storage managing terminal  10  to the storage managing server  20  ( 110 ). The initial screen  100  is transmitted, as shown by reference numeral  115 , from the storage managing server  20 .  
         [0035]     The storage system manager inputs a user name and a password through the login input section  102  of the initial screen  100  that is displayed in the storage managing terminal  10 , and further specifies the item of predetermined constructional information that is to be displayed through the constructional information input section  101  and transmits this information to the storage managing server  20  ( 120 ). The storage managing server  20  receives the information inputted to the constructional information input section  101 , and requests the transmission of the constructional information  310  of the storage from the storage  30  ( 125 ).  
         [0036]     Next, the storage managing server  20  issues login permission to the storage managing terminal  10  ( 130 ). After the login permission is issued, the storage managing server starts the downloading of the manager program ( 140 ).  
         [0037]     Further, the storage managing server transmits the constructional information  310 , transmitted ( 135 ) from the storage  30 , to the storage managing terminal  10  ( 145 ). The storage managing terminal  10  then starts the downloaded manager program ( 150 ). The manager program is a program that is able to refer and set the constructional information of the storage, and it is formed by the applet of Java (Java is a registered trademark) and can be operated in a WWW browser. The manager program is stored in the storage managing server and is delivered to the storage managing terminal through the storage managing server.  
         [0038]     When the manager program is started, the constructional information display-operation screen  105  is displayed in the storage managing terminal  10  and the storage system manager can perform an operation.  
         [0039]     The constructional information assigned by the constructional information input section  101  of the initial screen  100  is displayed as the constructional information display section  107  on the screen at the login time. The constructional information input section  106  for assigning new constructional information is also displayed in this constructional information display section  107 . When the obtained constructional information is referred to, set or changed, the referring, setting and changing operations are performed through the constructional information display section  107  on the screen  105 , and an operation is inputted and transmitted to the storage managing server  20  ( 155 ). The storage managing server  20  receives information inputted by this operation and further transmits this information to the storage  30  ( 160 ).  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of the flow of  FIG. 5 . When the assignment of the login information and required constructional information inputted through the screen  100  of the storage managing terminal  10  is transmitted to the storage managing server  20  ( 120 ), the storage managing server  20  performs judgment processing relating to the login permission and downloads the manager program for the storage managing terminal  10  ( 140 ). The storage managing server  20  issues a command ( 125 ) for requesting the transmission of the constructional information  310  of the storage  30  to the storage  30 , and it obtains predetermined desirable constructional information from the storage  30  ( 135 ). The storage managing server  20  then stores the constructional information  310  of the storage  30  as constructional information  210  within the storage managing server  20 . Further, the storage managing server  20  transmits the obtained constructional information to the storage managing terminal  10  ( 145 ).  
         [0041]     On the other hand, the storage managing terminal  10  starts the downloaded manager program ( 150 ) and displays the constructional information received from the storage managing server  20  in the constructional information display section  107  of the constructional information display-operation screen  105 .  
         [0042]     As mentioned above, the constructional information input section, as shown by reference numeral  101 , is arranged before the storage manager, who is operating the storage managing terminal  10 , downloads the manager program to refer to, set, etc. the constructional information. Thus, while the manager program is by downloaded, the storage managing server  20  can obtain the constructional information  310  assigned by the storage system manager. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the time (response time) from the start of the manager program to the display of the obtained constructional information in the storage managing terminal.  
         [0043]     The processing of the storage managing terminal  10  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . The storage managing terminal  10  requests the downloading of the manager program  220  for the storage managing terminal  10  stored into the storage managing server  20  from the storage managing server  20  (step  600 ). The download request is made by assigning the URL of the manager program. In the storage managing terminal  10 , the initial screen  100  is displayed (step  610 ) and the storage system manager can perform an input for specifying login information and required constructional information.  
         [0044]     Here, the constructional information input section  101 , which serves as an input section for assigning the required constructional information by the storage system manager, is originally one portion of the manager program. However, in accordance with the present invention, this one portion is displayed in the timing of the login input section display. In other words, the manager program originally completed in authentication and delivered after the login is transmitted before the completion of the authentication. Thus, the storage managing server can carry out the task of obtaining the constructional information requiring time with respect to the storage device at an early stage in the processing.  
         [0045]     As mentioned above, since the manager program relates to a change and a setting of the constructional information, no manager program should be executed by an unauthenticated person.  
         [0046]     Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the person using the terminal  10  can precedently input only the assignment of the constructional information which is to be displayed so that the operation by obtaining this information is hastened. On the other hand, the program portion with which it is possible to truly make a change is set so as to be downloaded after the authentication. The assignment of the login information and the constructional information inputted on the initial screen  100  is transmitted to the storage managing server  20  (step  620 ). Authentication result reception (step  630 ) and the authentication result from the storage managing server  20  are checked (step  640 ). When no authentication is indicated as a result of the check, the processing is terminated. In contrast to this, when the check result is OK, the manager program  220  is downloaded and started (step  650 ). The manager program  220  executes steps  660  to  700 .  
         [0047]     In the storage managing terminal  10 , the constructional information requested in the step  610  is displayed in the constructional information display section  107 , and the constructional information input section  106  is also displayed. The operating inputs of reference, setting, change, deletion and end of the constructional information are allowed with respect to the constructional information input section  106  (step  670 ). Reference processing  680 , setting processing  690 , change processing  700  and deletion processing  710  are executed in accordance with the operating inputs, and a new constructional information screen  105  is displayed (step  660 ).  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  shows a flow chart of the reference processing  680  as one example of the processing in  FIG. 7 . The constructional information newly referred to is inputted to the constructional information input section  106  of the storage managing terminal  10  (step  682 ), and a constructional information reference is requested from the storage managing server  20  (step  684 ). When the reception of the requested constructional information is completed (step  686 ), it is branched into the step  660 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 9  shows a flow chart of the change processing  700  in  FIG. 7 . The constructional information displayed in the constructional information display section  107  of the storage managing terminal  10  is changed (step  702 ), and new constructional information is requested and inputted (step  704 ), and changed constructional information is transmitted to the storage managing server  20  (step  706 ). A confirmation screen of the constructional information that has been changed by the change in the constructional information is then received (step  708 ). Thus, the new constructional information can be inputted and assigned in the constructional information input section  106  of the storage managing terminal  10 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 10  shows the processing of the storage managing server  20 . The storage managing server  20  receives a download request of the manager program from the storage managing terminal  10 , and it transmits the initial screen  100  to the storage managing terminal  10  (step  800 ). The storage managing server  20  then receives a user name and a password from the storage managing terminal  10  (step  805 ). When the constructional information reference is requested from the storage managing terminal  10  (step  810 ), the storage managing server  20  requests the transmission of the constructional information from the storage  30  (step  820 ). When authentication using the check of the user name and the password is OK (step  825 ), the manager program is downloaded (step  830 ). After the reception of the constructional information from the storage  30  is completed (step  835 ), the storage managing server  20  waits for operation instructions from the storage managing terminal  10  (step  840 ).  
         [0051]     There are items, such as reference  845 , setting  870 , change  880  and deletion  885  of the constructional information, in the operation instructions. When the instructions of the reference are given and the request of the constructional information is necessary with respect to the storage  30  (step  845 ), the storage managing server  20  requests the transmission of the constructional information from the storage  30  (step  850 ) and waits for reception completion (step  855 ). When the signal reception is completed, the constructional information  210  stored to the storage managing server  20  is transmitted to the storage managing terminal  10  (step  860 ). When the operation instructions are one of the setting, the change and the deletion, the storage managing server  20  executes one of steps  870 ,  880  and  885  with respect to the storage  30  in accordance with these instructions. The storage managing server  20  then requests the constructional information showing an operation result from the storage  30  (step  890 ). When the storage managing server  20  receives this constructional information (step  900 ), the storage managing server  20  transmits the constructional information as the operation result to the storage managing terminal  10  (step  905 ). When there is a transmission request of new constructional information from the storage managing terminal  10  (step  910 ), the storage managing server  20  requests the transmission of the constructional information from the storage  30  (step  915 ). Thus, when there is a request of the reference of the new constructional information in coping with the storage managing terminal  10 , the storage managing server  20  collectively executes this processing.  
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows the change processing  880  in  FIG. 10 . When the storage managing server  20  receives the change constructional information from the storage managing terminal  10  (step  882 ), the storage managing server  20  transmits the constructional information to the storage  30  to reflect this change in the constructional information  310  of the storage  30  (step  884 ).  
         [0053]     In the explanation of this embodiment, the display and the function of the initial screen  100  have been described as one portion of the manager program. It is not necessary to collectively treat these programs as the manager program, and these programs also may be constructed by independent programs functionally divided and classified. Further, a program for the display of the initial screen  100  may be installed to the storage managing terminal in advance. Even when processing for obtaining the constructional information inputted by a managing person is login-authenticated, it is sufficient if execution is performed by the storage managing server.  
         [0054]     As mentioned above, the invention has been concretely explained on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The present invention can be naturally modified in scope not departing from the features of the present invention.