Abstract: The present invention transfers replication logical volumes between and among storage control units in a storage system comprising storage control units. To transfer replication logical volumes from a storage control unit to a storage control unit, a virtualization device sets a path to the storage control unit. The storage control unit prepares a differential bitmap in order to receive access requests. When the preparation completes, the virtualization device makes access requests to the storage control unit. The storage control unit hands over the access requests to the storage control unit. The storage control unit performs a process so that the access requests are reflected in a disk device and performs an emergency destage of storing data in a cache memory into disk device. When the emergency destage ends, the storage control unit connects to an external storage control unit and hands over access requests to the external storage control unit.

Abstract: A first storage system comprises a first logical volume, and a first controller that has a first memory. A second storage system comprises a second physical storage device that constitutes the basis of a second logical volume and a journal area, and a second controller that has a second memory. At least the first memory stores a write unit size, which is the size of a write data element. The journal area is a storage area in which is stored a journal data element, which is a data element that is stored in any block of a plurality of blocks configuring the first and/or second logical volume, or a data element that is written to this block. The size of the journal data element, and the size of the respective blocks that are managed as the respective components of the first and second logical volumes are the write unit size.

Abstract: A first storage system copies data of a virtual area of a first virtual volume to a virtual area of a second virtual volume of a second storage system, monitors accesses with respect to multiple virtual areas of the first virtual volume, updates access information related to the accesses of the multiple virtual areas, and, based on the access information, reallocates data inside an actual area of a first pool allocated to the virtual area of the first virtual volume. The first storage system sends the access information to the second storage system. The second storage system receives the access information, and, based on the access information, reallocates data inside the actual area allocated to a virtual area of the second virtual volume.

Abstract: A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV.

Abstract: A storage controller calculates an access frequency of each logical disk; that is selects a first logical disk device of which the access frequency exceeds a first predetermined value, the first logical disk device being allocated to a first physical disk device; selects a second logical disk device which has the access frequency equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the second logical disk device being allocated to a second physical disk device; and reallocates the first and second logical device; and reallocates the first and second logical devices to the second and the first physical disk device, respectively.

Abstract: The temporary area capacity required to be secured with respect to the whole permanent area is calculated in accordance with the capacity and access frequency of a host computer data permanent area of a disk device contained in the storage system and a disk device of an external storage device that is managed by a storage virtualization function of this storage system. The nonvolatile memory is defined as the temporary area and is used to temporarily store host computer data when a data I/O from the host computer is processed. The required capacity of the temporary area is re-calculated in accordance with an event such as a configuration change in the external storage system.

Abstract: Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a host computer is improved. A host system includes a first storage apparatus provided with a first volume for storing data, and a second storage apparatus for storing the data sent from the first storage apparatus. In case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus, the host sends the data to be sent to the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus.

Abstract: Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a host computer is improved. A host system includes a first storage apparatus provided with a first volume for storing data, and a second storage apparatus for storing the data sent from the first storage apparatus. In case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus, the host sends the data to be sent to the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus. The same identification number is used by the host computer for accessing data stored in the first volume via a first virtual volume and for accessing data stored in a second volume of the second storage system via a second virtual volume.

Abstract: The temporary area capacity required to be secured with respect to the whole permanent area is calculated in accordance with the capacity and access frequency of a host computer data permanent area of a disk device contained in the storage system and a disk device of an external storage device that is managed by a storage virtualization function of this storage system. The nonvolatile memory is defined as the temporary area and is used to temporarily store host computer data when a data I/O from the host computer is processed. The required capacity of the temporary area is re-calculated in accordance with an event such as a configuration change in the external storage system.

Abstract: A storage system and storage migration method where migration may be carried out to an access destination of a host apparatus without stopping the exchange of data between the host apparatus and the storage apparatus. This system is provided with a host apparatus inputting and outputting requests for data, a migration source storage apparatus having logical unit(s) correlated to storage regions of physical devices for storing the data, a migration destination storage apparatus having logical unit(s). The system also has an editing unit for editing configuration control information relating to the logical unit(s) for the migration source so as to match with settings for the migration destination storage apparatus, an importing unit for importing edited configuration control information to the migration destination storage apparatus, and a mapping unit for mapping the logical unit(s) of the migration source to the logical unit(s) of the migration destination.

Abstract: The present invention transfers replication logical volumes between and among storage control units in a storage system comprising storage control units. To transfer replication logical volumes from a storage control unit to a storage control unit, a virtualization device sets a path to the storage control unit. The storage control unit prepares a differential bitmap in order to receive access requests. When the preparation completes, the virtualization device makes access requests to the storage control unit. The storage control unit hands over the access requests to the storage control unit. The storage control unit performs a process so that the access requests are reflected in a disk device and performs an emergency destage of storing data in a cache memory into disk device. When the emergency destage ends, the storage control unit connects to an external storage control unit and hands over access requests to the external storage control unit.

Abstract: The present invention transfers replication logical volumes between and among storage control units in a storage system comprising a plurality of storage control units. To transfer replication logical volumes from a storage control unit to a storage control unit, a virtualization device sets a path to the storage control unit. The storage control unit then prepares a differential bitmap in order to receive access requests. When the preparation is completed, the virtualization device makes access requests to the storage control unit. The storage control unit then hands over the access requests to the storage control unit. Subsequently, the storage control unit performs a process so that the access requests are reflected in a disk device and performs an emergency destage of storing data in a cache memory into disk device. When the emergency destage is ended, the storage control unit connects to an external storage control unit and hands over access requests to the external storage control unit.

Abstract: In a system where a first storage system and a second storage system are connected to a third storage system, when the first storage system virtualizes and provides a device in the third storage system as a device in its own storage system, update data stored in a cache in the first storage system is written into the device of the third storage system to be reflected, attributes of the device are transferred to the second storage system, and the second storage system virtualizes the device of the third storage system as a device of its own storage system.

Abstract: A first storage system copies data of a virtual area of a first virtual volume to a virtual area of a second virtual volume of a second storage system, monitors accesses with respect to multiple virtual areas of the first virtual volume, updates access information related to the accesses of the multiple virtual areas, and, based on the access information, reallocates data inside an actual area of a first pool allocated to the virtual area of the first virtual volume. The first storage system sends the access information to the second storage system. The second storage system receives the access information, and, based on the access information, reallocates data inside the actual area allocated to a virtual area of the second virtual volume.

Abstract: A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV.

Abstract: A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV.

Abstract: A first storage system copies data of a virtual area of a first virtual volume to a virtual area of a second virtual volume of a second storage system, monitors accesses with respect to multiple virtual areas of the first virtual volume, updates access information related to the accesses of the multiple virtual areas, and, based on the access information, reallocates data inside an actual area of a first pool allocated to the virtual area of the first virtual volume. The first storage system sends the access information to the second storage system. The second storage system receives the access information, and, based on the access information, reallocates data inside the actual area allocated to a virtual area of the second virtual volume.

Abstract: There is a journal area and one or more logical volumes comprising a first logical volume. The journal area is a storage area in which is stored a journal data element, which is a data element that is stored in any storage area of a plurality of storage areas configuring a logical volume, or a data element that is written to the storage area. A controller has a size receiver that receives a write unit size, which is the size of a write data element received from a computer, and a size setting unit that sets the received write unit size in a memory for one or more logical volumes. The size of a journal data element stored in a journal area based on the set write unit size is the write unit size.

Abstract: Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a host computer is improved. A host system includes a first storage apparatus provided with a first volume for storing data, and a second storage apparatus for storing the data sent from the first storage apparatus. In case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus, the host sends the data to be sent to the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system capable of starting/stopping a disk drive. At the time of allocating a logical device, it is judged, based on attributes including a purpose of the logical device, whether or not control can be performed in terms of start/stop of an allocation target disk drive to determine an allocation destination disk drive. Further, in the case where access to a specific logical device is stopped due to release of a path definition or other such cause, it is judged whether or not a disk drive corresponding to the logical device can be stopped. When it is judged that the disk drive can be stopped, the disk drive is stopped. When it is judged that the disk drive cannot be stopped, the logical device is migrated to another disk drive that can be stopped, a migration destination disk drive is stopped.