Storage system and method for processing data operation request

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9753941-B2
Application number	US-201514753280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Sep 5, 2013
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A storage system and a method for processing a data operation request are disclosed. The method is applied to a storage system that has a write once read many (WORM) function. In the method, after the storage system receives a data operation request, which is used to change data stored in the storage system, sent by an application server, the storage system acquires a time difference between a real-time clock (RTC) and a reference clock, wherein the RTC is configured to provide system time for the storage system, and the reference clock cannot be modified when the system is running. Then, the storage system determines whether the time difference is greater than an accumulated time precision error of the reference clock, and refuses to execute the data operation request when the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage system, wherein the storage system is a storage system that has a write once read many (WORM) function, and comprises:
a storage device configured to store data; and
a controller, comprising:
a real-time clock (RTC) configured to provide system time for the storage system;
a reference clock configured to verify the system time of the storage system and provided with an external access interface, wherein the reference clock is controlled by a board management controller (BMC) through the external access interface with which the reference clock is provided, and wherein the reference clock cannot be modified when the storage system is running;
the BMC configured to read a value of a time register of the reference clock to obtain time of the reference clock; and
a processor configured to:
receive a data operation request sent by an application server, wherein the data operation request is used to change the data stored in the storage device;
read a value of a time register of the RTC to obtain time of the RTC;
obtain the time of the reference clock through a communication channel between the BMC and a southbridge chip;
acquire a time difference between the RTC and the reference clock based on the time of the RTC and the time of the reference clock;
determine whether the time difference is greater than an accumulated time precision error of the reference clock; and
refuse to execute the data operation request when the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error.

2. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine whether current time of the RTC is greater than protection time of data to which the data operation request points when the time difference is not greater than the accumulated time precision error; and
execute the data operation request when the current time of the RTC is greater than the protection time.

3. The storage system according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to refuse to execute the data operation request when the current time of the RTC is not greater than the protection time.

4. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, according to a set time interval, whether the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error of the reference clock; and
synchronize the time of the RTC with the time of the reference clock when the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error.

5. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the accumulated time precision error of the reference clock according to a life cycle of the storage system and a time precision error of the reference clock.

6. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the accumulated time precision error of the reference clock according to running time of the storage system and a time precision error of the reference clock.

7. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising a backup power device configured to provide a power supply for the RTC and the reference clock when the storage system is powered off.

8. A method for processing a data operation request, wherein the method is applied to a storage system that has a write once read many (WORM) function, the method comprising:
receiving a data operation request sent by an application server, wherein the data operation request is used to change data stored in the storage system;
read a value of a time register of a real-time clock (RTC) to obtain time of the RTC, wherein the RTC is configured to provide system time for the storage system;
obtain the time of a reference clock through a communication channel between a board management controller (BMC) and a southbridge chip, wherein the reference clock is configured to verify the system time of the storage system and provided with an external access interface, wherein the reference clock is controlled by a board management controller, BMC, through the external access interface with which the reference clock is provided, and wherein the reference clock cannot be modified when the storage system is running;
acquiring a time difference between the RTC and the reference clock based on the time of the RTC and the time of the reference clock;
determining whether the time difference is greater than an accumulated time precision error of the reference clock; and
refusing to execute the data operation request when the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:
determining whether current time of the RTC is greater than protection time of data to which the data operation request points when the time difference is not greater than the accumulated time precision error; and
executing the data operation request when the current time of the RTC is greater than the protection time.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising refusing to execute the data operation request when the current time of the RTC is not greater than the protection time.

11. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
determining, according to a set time interval, whether the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error of the reference clock; and
synchronizing the time of the RTC with the time of the reference clock when the time difference is greater than the accumulated time precision error.

12. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining the accumulated time precision error of the reference clock according to a life cycle of the storage system and a time precision of the reference clock.

13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining the accumulated time precision error of the reference clock according to running time of the storage system and a time precision error of the reference clock.

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Li Sheng
• Yi Yongjiang

Classifications

• G06F16/181 Primary

  providing write once read many [WORM] semantics · CPC title

• G06F21/78 Primary

  to assure secure storage of data (address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00) · CPC title

• G06F21/725 Primary

  operating on a secure reference time value · CPC title

• G06F11/0757

  by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs · CPC title

• G06F17/30188 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic