Abstract: In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system is disclosed, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.

Abstract: A performance information display method using a computer, includes the steps, in the computer, of reading out information data of a storage device previously stored in a storage device and information data of a plurality of devices utilizing the storage device, displaying an identifier of the storage device and identifiers of a plurality of devices utilizing the storage device on a screen on the basis of the information data read out, accepting a command to select the displayed identifier of the storage device, and displaying performance information data of the devices utilizing the selected storage device in association on the basis of the accepted command and the information data read out.

Abstract: A work flow management method for managing execution of a plurality of works in a business process based on process definition information for defining the plurality of works and a processing order of the works. Control information is held for storing each work and the number of times a application program can execute processing associated with the work in correspondence to each other. When the application program for performing the processing associated with the work must be executed, it is determined whether the number of times the application program has already been executed is less than a predetermined value stored in the control information corresponding to the work which must be executed. The application program which must be executed is executed when the number is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to display the amount of storage subsystem use by a specified computer or file system in accordance with the information acquired from computers and storage subsystems. An information collection engine provided for each computer acquires file system configurations from computers and volume configurations from storage subsystems. Further, a special computer is provided with a polling engine that gathers the data acquired by each information collection engine and stores it in an internal database, and with a data display engine that acquires the information about the amount of storage subsystem use by a specified computer or file system from said internal database and displays it on screen.

Abstract: In a file system in which data is distributively stored on a plurality of volumes in compliance with file storage requests from business applications, the present invention calculates reliability requirements or performance requirements which represent storage requirements for the storage of individual files requested for storage, selects an actual file storage destination volume in accordance with the reliability characteristics or performance characteristics of each volume, and storage file data on the selected storage destination volume. Since the storage requirements are calculated to select a storage destination volume for each file, data storage destination optimization can be achieved on an individual file basis.

Abstract: A workflow system controls work which includes a plurality of works. A stagnated work in a stagnation state is grasped, and processing priorities of works having a relation to the stagnated work are established in accordance with the relation. Particularly, a processing priority of a work, of which the processing progress is influenced due to the stagnated work in the stagnation state, is established to be lower.

Abstract: In an application service provider for controlling and managing business processes using a workflow management system, and providing functions for total businesses comprised of a plurality of activities processed by a plurality of applications, the workflow management system permits the provider to make meticulous settings and defines pricing schemes which are readily understood by users.

Abstract: A work flow management method for managing execution of a plurality of works in a business process based on process definition information for defining the plurality of works and a processing order of the works. Control information is held for storing each work and the number of times a application program can execute processing associated with the work in correspondence to each other. When the application program for performing the processing associated with the work must be executed, it is determined whether the number of times the application program has already been executed is less than a predetermined value stored in the control information corresponding to the work which must be executed. The application program which must be executed is executed when the number is less than the predetermined value.