Abstract: In the configuration of multiple (M units of) disk subsystems shared from multiple (N units of) hosts, having an exclusive control command that limits access to all disk subsystems temporarily is provided, using this exclusive control command, configuration information of all multiple disk subsystems, for example, performance and a setting change, are acquired in point of time series and stored in a management server database (“configuration information database”), then managed in a centralized manner, a function that associates the file that the application uses with the “configuration information database” is provided using a function that detects the position on the logical unit, and a means that can retrieve the modified contents of the system configuration and time as keys is provided in the “configuration information database”.

Abstract: A DBMS performs a checkpoint process for maintaining consistency of data. A snapshot acquisition control program detects the checkpoint process externally to the DBMS and creates a snapshot in an external storage according to the timing of the checkpoint. Correspondence between checkpoints and snapshots is maintained in a CP-SH correspondence management table to make it possible to restore in a short time data at the time of an arbitrary checkpoint.

Abstract: A disk array system including at least one channel control portion, at least one disk control portion, a cache memory, a cache switch, a shared memory, a power unit, and a casing for storing the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch, the shared memory and the power unit, wherein: each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory includes a control board having a plurality of electronic circuits different in operating voltage, and a voltage converter for converting a single input voltage into voltages for operating the electronic circuits respectively; and the power unit supplies a voltage to the voltage converter provided in each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory.

Abstract: A computer system including: a computer having a display to display information of a plurality of backup times, and an inputting device by which a user selects a backup time of the plurality of backup times; and, a storage system coupled to the computer and having an interface controller receiving data from the computer, a cache memory temporarily storing data and a disk controller managing data for at least one volume related to a plurality of disk drives; wherein the computer system causes the computer to make a snapshot corresponding to the selected backup time accessible with an address to which the computer can access.

Abstract: In the configuration of multiple (M units of) disk subsystems shared from multiple (N units of) hosts, having an exclusive control command that limits access to all disk subsystems temporarily is provided, using this exclusive control command, configuration information of all multiple disk subsystems, for example, performance and a setting change, are acquired in point of time series and stored in a management server database (“configuration information database”), then managed in a centralized manner, a function that associates the file that the application uses with the “configuration information database” is provided using a function that detects the position on the logical unit, and a means that can retrieve the modified contents of the system configuration and time as keys is provided in the “configuration information database”.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system and power supply control method thereof, storage apparatus and data processing method capable of reducing the power consumption of the overall storage system without requiring any complicated settings. A journal regarding update history information of a first volume in which a host system reads and writes data is created. The created journal is sequentially stored in a second volume or a first external storage apparatus, each of which serves as a storage destination of the journal. Power supply of a storage device providing an alternate second volume as the storage destination of the journal or an alternate first external storage apparatus as the storage destination of the journal is controlled according to the storage quantity of the journal in the second volume or the first external storage apparatus.

Abstract: A first storage control device is provided with a virtual LU for showing a logical volume possessed by a second storage control device as if it were its own volume. When data processing requested from a host device is, for example, a specific processing of large load (such as direct backup, logical volume copy, and so on), whether or not the requested processing can be executed by the second storage control device is judged. When it is executable, a command is transmitted to the second storage control device to make it take over the processing.

Abstract: A first storage control device is provided with a virtual LU for showing a logical volume possessed by a second storage control device as if it were its own volume. When data processing requested from a host device is, for example, a specific processing of large load (such as direct backup, logical volume copy, and so on), whether or not the requested processing can be executed by the second storage control device is judged. When it is executable, a command is transmitted to the second storage control device to make it take over the processing.

Abstract: A storage control apparatus comprises a data I/O control unit which has communication ports adapted to connect with any of information processing apparatuses, is communicatively connected to physical disk drives for storing data, and performs data read/write from/to the drives according to a data I/O request received from the processing apparatus; a first memory storing a data read/written among the data stored in the disk drives; and a second memory storing information on management of storage resources including the communication ports, the physical disk drives, and a storage capacity of the first memory allocated for each user using the processing apparatuses. Upon reception of a request of the information on management from a user, an identifier of the communication port, an identifier of the disk drive, and a storage capacity of the first memory allocated for the user are transmitted to a user interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer; a first storage controller connected communicably to the host computer, for receiving a data frame transmitted from the host computer and executing data input to and data output from a first storage device in response to a data input/output request described in the data frame; and a second storage controller connected communicably to the first storage controller, comprising relaying by the first storage controller, upon receipt of the data frame transmitted from the host computer, the data frame to the second storage controller in response to information described in the data frame.

Abstract: A storage control apparatus comprises a data I/O control unit which has communication ports adapted to connect with any of information processing apparatuses, is communicatively connected to physical disk drives for storing data, and performs data read/write from/to the drives according to a data I/O request received from the processing apparatus; a first memory storing a data read/written among the data stored in the disk drives; and a second memory storing information on management of storage resources including the communication ports, the physical disk drives, and a storage capacity of the first memory allocated for each user using the processing apparatuses. Upon reception of a request of the information on management from a user, an identifier of the communication port, an identifier of the disk drive, and a storage capacity of the first memory allocated for the user are transmitted to a user interface.

Abstract: A method for controlling a storage system including a host computer, and a first and a second storage control apparatuses each receiving a data input/output request from the host computer and executing a data input/output process for a storage device in response to the request, comprises connecting a first communication path between the host computer and the first apparatus; connecting a second communication path between the first apparatus and the second apparatus; receiving by the first apparatus a first data input/output request from the host computer through the first path; when the first apparatus has judged that the first request is not for the first apparatus, transmitting by the first apparatus a second data input/output request corresponding to the first request, to the second apparatus through the second path; and by the second apparatus, receiving the second request and executing a data input/output process corresponding to the second request received.

Abstract: In a storage subsystem, performance tuning is performed with respect to all of the logical devices including external storage subsystems that are not directly connected to host computers. The physical storage units presented by the external storage subsystems are defined as logical devices of the storage subsystem, and I/O processing requests from the host computers are relayed to the logical devices. At the time of relaying, I/O processing conditions are monitored. When the load of an external storage subsystem is high, then operating conditions of ports and processors are examined. When the load can be reduced by changing the configuration of those ports and processors, the configuration is changed to reduce the load. When the load can not be reduced, data is migrated from a logical device having a high load to a logical device having a sufficient performance.

Abstract: A first storage device control device stores, when a first data write/read request is received, correspondences between first logical units and second logical units referenced when determining whether or not storage regions identified by first logical units set in the request are storage regions of the first logical device control device or storage regions of a second storage device control device, the second storage device control device transmits all or some of identification information (logical unit information) of the second logical units to a management computer, the first storage device control device transmits all or some of the correspondences (mapping information) to the management computer, and the management computer references the received logical unit information and the mapping information to generate information representing whether or not the second logical units are corresponded to the first logical units.

Abstract: An asynchronous remote copy system is provided which can ensure the data renewal order and data integrity of the disk subsystems and are easy to be incorporated and free from degradation of the process performance of host computers. To this end, in the remote copy system for data mirroring, a main center has one gateway subsystem and a remote center has one gateway subsystem, and disk subsystems in each center to be remotely copied are connected to the corresponding gateway subsystem.

Abstract: In order to assign logical devices efficiently to logical units, a disk control system that receives a process command for writing or reading of data from an information processing device, and performs a write or read process of data with respect to a logical device corresponding to a logical unit specified by that process command, includes means for managing logical devices, which are logical storage regions that have been set in a storage region provided by a disk drive, means for storing a correspondence between logical units, which are storage regions that have been set logically, and the logical devices, and means for assigning, when a process command has been received for a logical unit to which no logical device has been assigned, a logical device to that logical unit and performing processing with regard to that logical device.

Abstract: In a storage subsystem, performance tuning is performed with respect to all of the logical devices including external storage subsystems that are not directly connected to host computers. The physical storage units presented by the external storage subsystems are defined as logical devices of the storage subsystem, and I/O processing requests from the host computers are relayed to the logical devices. At the time of relaying, I/O processing conditions are monitored. When the load of an external storage subsystem is high, then operating conditions of ports and processors are examined. When the load can be reduced by changing the configuration of those ports and processors, the configuration is changed to reduce the load. When the load can not be reduced, data is migrated from a logical device having a high load to a logical device having a sufficient performance.

Abstract: A disk array apparatus that is capable of effecting saving and operation of data with a simple construction. When a host computer sets “write inhibit” or “read/write inhibit” for an LDEV which is set on a first storage device, this setting is registered in an access attribute management table and is also reflected onto a migration management table. A migration control program moves the LDEV for which access limitation has been set to a lower-speed (lower-performance) second storage device or to an external storage device. When the access limitation is released, the moved LDEV is restored to the first storage device from the storage device to which the LDEV has been moved. By performing migration control in interlocking relation to control of access attributes, it is possible to obtain a simple data saving function and data management function.

Abstract: The present invention is able to improve the processing performance of a storage system by respectively virtualizing the external volumes and enabling the shared use of such external volumes by a plurality of available virtualization storage devices. By virtualizing and incorporating the external volume of an external storage device, a first virtualization storage device is able to provide the volume to a host as though it is an internal volume. When the load of the first virtualization storage device increases, a second virtualization storage device 2 is newly introduced, and connected to the storage system. When a transfer direction is issued from a management terminal, the external volume relating to the selected logical volume is transferred from the first virtualization storage device to the second virtualization storage device.

Abstract: A disk subsystem assures the sequence and the coherence of data updating with two or more disk subsystems is provided with an asynchronous remote copy function. A main center 9 includes a computer system having the configuration of slave subsystems 3-2 to 3-n connected with a master disk subsystem 3-1. It secures the coherence between data at the main center 9 and the remote center 10 at the temporary suspension by repeating temporary suspension and release of the temporary suspension of the remote copy by the master subsystem 3-1 at predetermined opportunities. It also repeats temporary suspension and release of the temporary suspension of the remote copy by slave subsystems 3-2 to 3-n connected to it.