Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide techniques of managing storage systems including remote copy systems and improving the manageability by automating complicated operations. In one embodiment, a computer comprises a memory and a controller. The controller is operable to: manage a virtual volume to be provided for a server; manage a plurality of logical volumes provided from a plurality of storage systems; manage a condition to be required of the virtual volume, the condition relating to a location in which data to be sent to the virtual volume is stored; manage location information of each of the plurality of logical volumes, the location information of a logical volume being defined based on a location of the logical volume; and control to map the virtual volume to a logical volume of the plurality of logical volumes, based on the condition of the virtual volume and the location information of the logical volumes.

Abstract: The overall processing function of a storage apparatus is improved by suitably migrating ownership. The storage apparatus comprises a plurality of microprocessors; a plurality of storage areas formed in a drive group configured from a plurality of physical drives; and a management unit which manages, as the microprocessors which possess ownership to the storage areas, the microprocessors which handle data I/Os to/from one or more storage areas among the plurality of storage areas, wherein the management unit detects variations in the processing loads of the plurality of microprocessors, selects a migration-source microprocessor which migrates the ownership and a migration-destination microprocessor which is the ownership migration destination on the basis of variations in the processing load, and determines whether to migrate the ownership on the basis of information on a usage status of resources of each of the storage areas to which the migration-source microprocessor possesses ownership.

Abstract: A plurality of modules (1) and (2) comprise a plurality of virtual volumes with which the same volume identification number is associated. A module (2), which receives a write request from a computer, searches for an unallocated real area from among a plurality of real areas in the module (2) rather than from among a plurality of real areas in the other module (1) if a real area has not been allocated to a write-targeted virtual area in accordance with the write request. The module (2) allocates the real area retrieved from the module (2) to the write-targeted virtual area, and writes data according to the write request to this real area.

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: The present invention creates a pool comprising tiers corresponding to the performance of logical volumes. A first storage apparatus either acquires or measures the performance of multiple external pool volumes of an external storage (S1711 through S1714), and creates a pool volume group based on the performance of the external pool volumes (S1715, S1716). The rank order of a tier is decided in accordance with the performance of each pool volume group (S1717, S1718). This makes it possible to relatively easily create a pool comprising multiple appropriate tiers that are suited to the current situation.

Abstract: In an exemplary storage system, a processor assigns an unused process to a read request designating an area of a logical volume. The processor determines whether the data designated by the read request is in a cache memory, based on a first identifier for identifying the area designated by the read request. When the designated data is not in the cache memory and a part of physical volumes providing the logical volume is a first kind of physical volume, the processor stores the first identifier associated with an identifier for identifying an area allocated in the cache memory. When the designated data is not in the cache memory and a part of the physical volumes is a second kind of physical volume, the processor stores a second identifier for identifying the process assigned to the read request associated with an identifier for identifying an area allocated in the cache memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides high-speed copying of a compressed data volume. The control unit of the storage apparatus divides the pool into a plurality of chunks comprising a plurality of pages storing data, compresses data which is written to the logical volume by the host and assigns one of the plurality of chunks to a compressed data logical volume which stores the compressed data, and, when the compressed data logical volume is copied, the control unit makes the page length of the chunk which is assigned to the compressed data logical volume which is the copy source the same as the page length of the chunk which is assigned to the compressed data logical volume which is the copy destination.

Abstract: A storage system is provided with a plurality of physical storage devices, a cache memory, a control device that is coupled to the plurality of physical storage devices and the cache memory, and a buffer part. The buffer part is a storage region that is formed by using at least a part of a storage region of the plurality of physical storage devices and that is configured to temporarily store at least one target data element that is to be transmitted to a predetermined target. The control device stores a target data element into a cache region that has been allocated to a buffer region (that is a part of the cache memory and that is a storage region of a write destination of the target data element for the buffer part). The control device transmits the target data element from the cache memory.

Abstract: When a snapshot virtual volume is provided to the host as an OS image of a virtual machine in a system where a single V-VOL is used by a single VM and all the VMs are started concurrently, burdensome Copy-on-Write (CoW) accesses placing heavy I/O loads on the storage occur in concentrated manner, and the starting time is elongated. The present invention solves the problem by measuring the I/O pattern (number of IO per unit time for reading/writing) in page units during starting of the system prior to having the VMs started concurrently, and based on the measurement results, performs saving and copying of the target pages of the write access to a snapshot pool prior to starting the VM. This preliminary saving enables to reduce the CoW accesses having a high access load, and to enable reduction of the VM starting time and efficient use of the pool capacity.

Abstract: A storage system in an embodiment of this invention comprises a non-volatile storage area for storing write data from a host, a cache area capable of temporarily storing the write data before storing the write data in the non-volatile storage area, and a controller that determines whether to store the write data in the cache area or to store the write data in the non-volatile storage area without storing the write data in the cache area, and stores the write data in the determined area.

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 system 200 has a storage device 240 providing a plurality of logical volumes 250 used as data storage areas of a host 100 and a plurality of MPPKs 210 executing data IO processes for the logical volumes 250 from the host 100 and, when it is determined whether the MPPKs 210 correlated with the logical volumes 250 must be changed based on a storage function such as local copy set for the logical volumes 250, if it is determined that the change is necessary, the usage rates of processors 212 of the MPPKs 210 are acquired and compared with each other and if it is determined that the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition, the process cost for the logical volumes 250 is calculated for each of the responsible MPPKs 210 to determine the destination MPPK 210 such that the costs of the MPPKs 210 are equalized.

Abstract: The present invention creates a pool comprising tiers corresponding to the performance of logical volumes. A first storage apparatus either acquires or measures the performance of multiple external pool volumes of an external storage (S1711 through S1714), and creates a pool volume group based on the performance of the external pool volumes (S1715, S1716). The rank order of a tier is decided in accordance with the performance of each pool volume group (S1717, S1718). This makes it possible to relatively easily create a pool comprising multiple appropriate tiers that are suited to the current situation.

Abstract: A storage system for managing a plurality of asynchronous remote copy proceedings between a plurality of first storage control devices and a plurality of second storage control devices, wherein each of a plurality of second storage control devices stores one or more update data corresponding to one or more update data related information including the same update reflection time information with the one that is received or older update reflection time information than this in a one or more second logical volume and changes status of the one or more second logical volumes to suspend status.

Abstract: The overall processing performance of a storage apparatus is improved by migrating MPPK ownership with suitable timing.

Abstract: The overall processing function of a storage apparatus is improved by suitably migrating ownership. The storage apparatus comprises a plurality of microprocessors; a plurality of storage areas formed in a drive group configured from a plurality of physical drives; and a management unit which manages, as the microprocessors which possess ownership to the storage areas, the microprocessors which handle data I/Os to/from one or more storage areas among the plurality of storage areas, wherein the management unit detects variations in the processing loads of the plurality of microprocessors, selects a migration-source microprocessor which migrates the ownership and a migration-destination microprocessor which is the ownership migration destination on the basis of variations in the processing load, and determines whether to migrate the ownership on the basis of information on a usage status of resources of each of the storage areas to which the migration-source microprocessor possesses ownership.

Abstract: A switch connected to a network system including a computer and a storage apparatus: controlling read/write request from the computer to the storage apparatus and controlling to store journal data in the storage apparatus; wherein the storage apparatus includes a first storage area for storing data to be used by the computer and a second storage area for storing journal data including write data and first update log information corresponding to the write data when there is a write request from the computer for writing data in the first storage area; wherein when the switch detects an event of status change related to the network system, the switch marks a first point of time corresponding to the event as a recovery request point, and creates second update log information corresponding to the recovery request point.

Abstract: A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A storage system for managing a plurality of asynchronous remote copy proceedings between a plurality of first storage control devices and a plurality of second storage control devices, wherein each of a plurality of second storage control devices stores one or more update data corresponding to one or more update data related information including the same update reflection time information with the one that is received or older update reflection time information than this in a one or more second logical volume and changes status of the one or more second logical volumes to suspend status.

Abstract: A storage system 200 has a storage device 240 providing a plurality of logical volumes 250 used as data storage areas of a host 100 and a plurality of MPPKs 210 executing data IO processes for the logical volumes 250 from the host 100 and, when it is determined whether the MPPKs 210 correlated with the logical volumes 250 must be changed based on a storage function such as local copy set for the logical volumes 250, if it is determined that the change is necessary, the MPPK 210 after the change is determined such that the logical volumes 250 are correlated with the same MPPK 210.