Abstract: A data processing device has a processing unit configured to copy data stored in a first memory unit into a second memory unit on a block-by-block basis into which the data is divided by a specific size, a time measuring unit configured to measure an amount of time that the processing unit spends on copying the block and a controller configured to change the size of the block to a size smaller than the current size if the measured amount of time runs up to a specific threshold which is shorter than a timeout time.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switch apparatus connectable to a host and a storage device including first and second areas, the method includes: establishing schedule of copying data stored in the first area of the storage device into the second area of the storage device; monitoring a state of access by the host to the storage device; carrying out copying the data stored in the first area into the second area while the monitored state of the access by the host allows copying of the data from the first area into the second area; and enhancing copying, if any portion of the data remains when a time set by the schedule is expired, the remaining portion of the data from the first area into the second area.

Abstract: A switch connectable between hosts and storage device, the switch for providing a service of allotting virtual areas to be deployed in the storage device to any of the hosts upon demand, the switch includes: a processor for controlling allotment of virtual areas to the hosts and allocation of physical areas of the storage device to the virtual areas; and a memory for storing information of the host allowed access to the virtual areas, the processor controlling access by any of the hosts to the virtual area so as to restrict access by any of the hosts to a part of the virtual areas allotted to the any of the hosts in reference to the memory.

Abstract: A storage area managing apparatus includes a managing unit for managing a plurality of logical volumes provided by a plurality of storage drive groups for storing data redundantly, and a rebuilding controller for generating recovery data when at least one of the drive groups is degraded on the basis of the data stored in the degraded drive group and generating a selected logical volume on the basis of the capacity of the recovery data, the rebuilding controller controlling the management unit for managing first logical volumes to correspond to a part of the plurality of storage drive groups except for the degraded drive group. The storage area managing apparatus includes a first transferring unit for transferring the recovery data to the part of the plurality of storage drive groups as indicated by the selected logical volume.

Abstract: A virtualization control apparatus includes a selection unit that, when receiving a copy request, conducting an access test corresponding to the copy request on each of the virtualization switch units and selects one of the virtualization switch units of the highest performance among the plurality of the virtual switch units, and a sending unit that sends the copy request to the selected virtualization switch unit.

Abstract: A storage switch includes a first bitmap generator for generating a first bitmap, a controller for controlling copying of data, a first modifier, a second bitmap generator for generating a second bitmap, a second modifier, a merging controller for controlling to generate a third bitmap. When the writing of data is performed during the copying of data, the merging controller modifies a part of the index bits in the third bitmap corresponding to a part of the index bits of the first bitmap modified by the first modifier on account of the copying of data performed before the writing of data, and merges the second bitmap modified by the second modifier and the third bitmap modified by the merging controller. The controller resumes copying of data of any sub-regions on the basis of the merged bitmap.

Abstract: A method for controlling a storage system having first and second switches and a storage device connected to the switches via a network in response to a request from a host, the storage device having first and second areas, each of the first and second switch accessing to the first and second area, the method includes, receiving a request for copying data stored in the first area to the second area from the host, transmitting initiation notification of the copying to the second switch, executing the copying by the first switch, maintaining progress status of the copying, controlling the second switch to refer to the progress upon receiving a request for access to the first or second area by the host before completion of the copying, and determining whether to permit access to the first or second area by the second switch.

Abstract: A virtualization control apparatus includes a selection unit that, when receiving a copy request, conducting an access test corresponding to the copy request on each of the virtualization switch units and selects one of the virtualization switch units of the highest performance among the plurality of the virtual switch units, and a sending unit that sends the copy request to the selected virtualization switch unit.

Abstract: A data processing device has a processing unit configured to copy data stored in a first memory unit into a second memory unit on a block-by-block basis into which the data is divided by a specific size, a time measuring unit configured to measure an amount of time that the processing unit spends on copying the block and a controller configured to change the size of the block to a size smaller than the current size if the measured amount of time runs up to a specific threshold which is shorter than a timeout time.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switch apparatus connected to a first and a second storage apparatus, and a host, the switch apparatus managing a virtual storage area maintained by the first and second storage apparatuses, the host accessible to the virtual storage area by transmitting a command for identifying a subarea of the virtual storage area, the second storage apparatus allowable to an access faster than the first storage apparatus does, the method includes: receiving a command; determining which of the first and second storage apparatuses maintains the subarea to be accessed; accessing the subarea corresponding to the command; detecting a frequency of access to each of the subareas; and moving data stored in the first storage apparatus and having higher frequency of access than data stored in the second storage apparatus into the subareas maintained in the second storage apparatus.

Abstract: A storage switch includes: a section 2 that creates a destination virtual disk having a capacity larger than that of a source virtual disk; a section 3 that creates a first area in the destination storage area, creates a mirror area for performing control so that processing corresponding to a write request to the source virtual disk is executed between the first area and source virtual disk, creates a second area in the destination virtual disk, creates a mirror area for performing control so that processing corresponding to a request to the second area is executed in the second area, and combines the created mirror areas to create a combined mirror area; a section 4 that connects the combined mirror area to a virtual target; and a section 5 that performs data migration from the source virtual disk to the first area.

Abstract: A storage area managing apparatus includes a managing unit for managing a plurality of logical volumes provided by a plurality of storage drive groups for storing data redundantly, and a rebuilding controller for generating recovery data when at least one of the drive groups is degraded on the basis of the data stored in the degraded drive group and generating a selected logical volume on the basis of the capacity of the recovery data, the rebuilding controller controlling the management unit for managing first logical volumes to correspond to a part of the plurality of storage drive groups except for the degraded drive group. The storage area managing apparatus includes a first transferring unit for transferring the recovery data to the part of the plurality of storage drive groups as indicated by the selected logical volume.

Abstract: A storage switch includes a first bitmap generator for generating a first bitmap, a controller for controlling copying of data, a first modifier, a second bitmap generator for generating a second bitmap, a second modifier, a merging controller for controlling to generate a third bitmap. When the writing of data is performed during the copying of data, the merging controller modifies a part of the index bits in the third bitmap corresponding to a part of the index bits of the first bitmap modified by the first modifier on account of the copying of data performed before the writing of data, and merges the second bitmap modified by the second modifier and the third bitmap modified by the merging controller. The controller resumes copying of data of any sub-regions on the basis of the merged bitmap.

Abstract: A switch connectable between hosts and storage device, the switch for providing a service of allotting virtual areas to be deployed in the storage device to any of the hosts upon demand, the switch includes: a processor for controlling allotment of virtual areas to the hosts and allocation of physical areas of the storage device to the virtual areas; and a memory for storing information of the host allowed access to the virtual areas, the processor controlling access by any of the hosts to the virtual area so as to restrict access by any of the hosts to a part of the virtual areas allotted to the any of the hosts in reference to the memory.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switch apparatus connectable to a host and a storage device including first and second areas, the method includes: establishing schedule of copying data stored in the first area of the storage device into the second area of the storage device; monitoring a state of access by the host to the storage device; carrying out copying the data stored in the first area into the second area while the monitored state of the access by the host allows copying of the data from the first area into the second area; and enhancing copying, if any portion of the data remains when a time set by the schedule is expired, the remaining portion of the data from the first area into the second area.

Abstract: Once accepting an interrupt, the control is such as to not accept any interrupt including that highest priority within the group to which the interrupt about to be processed belongs by referring to the interrupt management table. Then the vector number for the highest priority in the group from among the received interrupts is selected. Then the processing of a handler for the selected vector number is executed. The priority of the executed interrupt processing is reset to the lowest priority in the group.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switch apparatus connected to a first and a second storage apparatus, and a host, the switch apparatus managing a virtual storage area maintained by the first and second storage apparatuses, the host accessible to the virtual storage area by transmitting a command for identifying a subarea of the virtual storage area, the second storage apparatus allowable to an access faster than the first storage apparatus does, the method includes: receiving a command; determining which of the first and second storage apparatuses maintains the subarea to be accessed; accessing the subarea corresponding to the command; detecting a frequency of access to each of the subareas; and moving data stored in the first storage apparatus and having higher frequency of access than data stored in the second storage apparatus into the subareas maintained in the second storage apparatus.

Abstract: A method for controlling a storage system having first and second switches and a storage device connected to the switches via a network in response to a request from a host, the storage device having first and second areas, each of the first and second switch accessing to the first and second area, the method includes, receiving a request for copying data stored in the first area to the second area from the host, transmitting initiation notification of the copying to the second switch, executing the copying by the first switch, maintaining progress status of the copying, controlling the second switch to refer to the progress upon receiving a request for access to the first or second area by the host before completion of the copying, and determining whether to permit access to the first or second area by the second switch.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switch apparatus connectable to a host and a storage device including first and second areas, the method includes: establishing schedule of copying data stored in the first area of the storage device into the second area of the storage device; monitoring a state of access by the host to the storage device; carrying out copying the data stored in the first area into the second area while the monitored state of the access by the host allows copying of the data from the first area into the second area; and enhancing copying, if any portion of the data remains when a time set by the schedule is expired, the remaining portion of the data from the first area into the second area.

Abstract: In a hierarchical storage system, a primary storage device interposed between a secondary storage device and a data processing apparatus has a restoring unit. When at least two current storage units, which configure a logical volume and are in the mirroring relationship, concurrently fail, the restoring unit reads out data recorded in a logical volume of the current storage units from a virtual logical volume of the secondary storage device, records the data on the at least two spare storage units, thereby restoring, on the spare storage units, the logical volume of the current storage units. Even when a plurality of storages configuring a logical volume and being in the mirroring relationship concurrently fail, it is possible to immediately restore the logical volume without the maintenance operation or the like.