Abstract: A method of selecting logical volumes that are the targets for data migration to equilibrate the load on a system, based on the accessing data of the physical drives and logical drives under the disk array controllers, without increasing the load of the disk array controller. An external manager communicates with two or more disk array controllers, gathers and manages the access data and the configuration data relating to the physical drives and logical volumes of each disk array controller, and prepares an optimum data migration instruction to equilibrate the access load.

Abstract: The file sharing system of the present invention is able to provide a client with a single logical directory and reproduces the single logical directory in a remote site when the local site has stopped in use of a remote copy that is made between the local site and remote site. The first site provides the client with a logical directory that is constituted across respective nodes in the first site. The remote copy is executed between the first and second sites, and the data of both sites are synchronized. For the generation of the logical directory and the management of the remote copy, a common management table is used, and the management table is held by all of the nodes. In cases where the first site stops due to a fault, the second site utilizes information related to the remote copy in the management table to construct the logical directory and reproduces the logical directory in the second site.

Abstract: A disk array system including a plurality of disk drives, including: a plurality of first-type disk drives being used to form a first-type logical unit having a plurality of a first-type of chunks; a plurality of second-type disk drives being used to form a second-type logical unit having a plurality of a second-type of chunks; and a storage controller, if the storage controller copies data stored in a source chunk to a destination chunk, selecting the destination chunk from the first-type of chunks or the second-type of chunks.

Abstract: A storage device including a control part which performs control by extracting a life tag specifying a retention term during which the data is to be retained in the second volume having the quicker access time than the first volume, the control part managing the retention term of the corresponding data as specified by the life tag, and an elapsed term which has elapsed since the corresponding data was stored. A storage part manages update segment control information, and when the elapsed term of certain data exceeds the retention term of the certain data, the storage part nullifies the certain data in the second volume.

Abstract: A disk array system including a plurality of disk drives, including a plurality of first-type disk drives having a first predetermined level of reliability and used to form a first-type logical unit having a plurality of a first-type of chunks, and a plurality of second-type disk drives having a second predetermined level of reliability which is lower than the first level of reliability and used to form a second-type logical unit having a plurality of a second-type of chunks; and a storage controller which copies data stored in a source chunk to a destination chunk, wherein the destination chunk is selected from the first-type of chunks or the second-type of chunks.

Abstract: An archive management that allows random access. An archive managing part reads out files stored in an on-line volume at a timing determined by the respective file type, and stores these files in a specified volume among archive volumes. A retention term is designated for each set of file data, and respective retention terms are also set for the respective volumes. The file data is stored in a volume having a retention term that matches the retention term of the file data. The respective volumes are set in a device that allows random access. The areas in which data is written into the respective volumes are managed as write prohibited areas by pointers such that the respective volumes are used as a WORM device.

Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of a storage device by utilizing the special features of different types of volumes. The control part of the storage device constructs a virtual volume in the memory. The virtual volume is constructed by a low-speed volume and a high-speed volume, and has the same size capacity as the low-speed volume. When the application program of the host requests the updating of data, the write data is respectively written into low-speed and high-speed volumes, and a life tag that indicates the storage period is set beforehand in the virtual volume. When the storage period has elapsed, the data is erased from the high-speed volume. The data in the low-speed volume is maintained “as is”. While the data is held in the high-speed volume, access from the host is processed utilizing the data in the high-speed volume.

Abstract: The present invention shortens service termination times and permits rapid transfers. A file tree with the same structure as that of the file tree of a first NAS is formed in a second NAS beforehand. File data is not transferred to the tree. The second NAS saves an association between a file descriptor fd1 managed by the first NAS and fd2 managed by the second NAS. Services for a client are restarted when the transfer of the tree structure is complete. When the client requests access to a desired file by designating fd2, the second NAS converts fd2 to fd1 and requests file data from the first NAS. When the first NAS reads the file data, the second NAS stores the file data in a predetermined location and supplies the file data to the client. In cases where the client desires file access once again, the second NAS reads the transferred file data and supplies same to the client.

Abstract: Provided is a storage system, including: one or more disk drives storing data; a disk controller for controlling data access to the disk drive; a power supply controller for autonomously turning off a power source of the disk drive according to the data access status to the disk drive, and autonomously turning on the power source of the disk drive, which was turned off, after the lapse of a prescribed period from the time the power source was turned off irrespective of the data access status to the disk drive; and a media inspection unit for inspecting a failure in the disk drive in which the power source thereof was autonomously turned on irrespective of the data access status to the disk drive.

Abstract: The storage control device of the present invention performs data migration without any increase of the load on a NAS control unit. A volume based on a FC disk and a volume based on a ATA disk are joined together, so as to create one virtual volume. An update manager monitors updating of the high speed region, and creates update bitmaps. And the update manager calculates the OR of the update bitmaps, thus creating a non-updated bitmap for detecting segments which have not been updated for a predetermined time period. Based on this non-updated bitmap, a migration controller creates a migration subject bitmap by extracting segments which are to be subjects for migration. And a migration executant performs data migration for the migration subject segments one at a time or several together, based on this migration subject bitmap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a file management system and method, and a storage system that can prevent file-multiplexing in a storage apparatus, and efficiently use the storage capacity of the storage apparatus. The storage apparatus stores first management information for managing two or more kinds of classification list, each classification list including one or more keywords, and second management information for managing the kinds of classification list set for each of one or more users with regard to each of one or more tiers of their respective virtual file trees; and sends, in response to a request from a client apparatus to search the classification lists for a classification list set for a directory, the classification list set for the relevant user with regard to the tier matching the request to the client apparatus with reference to the first and second management information.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a portion of the storage control device is configured as a detachable separation-type storage bay and a large volume of data can be moved altogether by transporting the storage bay. The separation-type storage bay is detachably provided in the device main body of the storage control device. The storage bay comprises a plurality of disk drives. When a backup of the primary volume is created, a secondary volume is created in the storage bay and data is copied. The storage bay is removed from the device main body by the user and attached to a backup storage control device. The backup storage control device recognizes the storage configuration of the storage bay by acquiring management information when the storage bay is attached to the backup storage control device. The backup storage control device reads the backup data from the storage bay and stores the backup data in the backup device.

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 storage controller determines a difference between a control table containing fiber channel port configuration of an upper node device and security information, and information fetched from a name server, thereby detecting replacement of a fiber channel port and correcting the control table. This enables data input/output in the same way as before fiber channel port replacement without consciously modifying the security information.

Abstract: The present invention performs appropriate archive management using a device that allows random access. An archive managing part 1B reads out files stored in an on-line volume 5A at a timing determined by the respective file type, and stores these files in a specified volume among archive volumes 5B1 and 5B2. A retention term is designated for each set of file data, and respective retention terms are also set for the respective volumes 5B1 and 5B2. The file data is stored in a volume having a retention term that matches the retention term of the file data. The respective volumes 5B1 and 5B2 are set in a device that allows random access such as a hard disk or the like. The areas in which data is written into the respective volumes 5B1 and 5B2 are managed as write prohibited areas by means of pointers P. As a result, the respective volumes 5B1 and 5B2 are used as a so-called WORM device.

Abstract: A storage system, a controlling method thereof, and a virtual device that can secure enhanced reliability. A virtualizing apparatus for virtualizing storage areas provided by a storage apparatus to a host system consolidates the management of a data input/output limitation that is set for each storage area or for each piece of data and when data stored in one storage area is migrated to an other storage area, the virtualizing apparatus sets the input/output limitation setting of the storage area or data, to which the data is migrated, to that of the storage area or data from which the data is migrated.

Abstract: A journal write unit writes journal data into a third storage device. The journal data includes an identifier of a logical volume in a first storage device into which data has been written, information of a location in which the data is stored in the logical volume, update time which is current time acquired from a timing mechanism, and the data. A second write unit refers to update time of the journal data stored in the third storage device, selects journal data for which a difference between current time acquired from the timing mechanism and the update time is longer than a detection time stored in the third storage device, and writes the data into a place indicated by the location information, in a logical volume in the second storage device in the order of update time in the selected journal data.

Abstract: A disk array system including a plurality of disk drives, including a plurality of first-type disk drives having a first predetermined level of reliability and used to form a first-type logical unit having a plurality of a first-type of chunks, and a plurality of second-type disk drives having a second predetermined level of reliability which is lower than the first level of reliability and used to form a second-type logical unit having a plurality of a second-type of chunks; and a storage controller which copies data stored in a source chunk to a destination chunk, wherein the destination chunk is selected from the first-type of chunks or the second-type of chunks.

Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of a storage device by utilizing the special features of different types of volumes. The control part of the storage device constructs a virtual volume in the memory. The virtual volume is constructed by a low-speed volume and a high-speed volume, and has the same size capacity as the low-speed volume. When the application program of the host requests the updating of data, the write data is respectively written into low-speed and high-speed volumes, and a life tag that indicates the storage period is set beforehand in the virtual volume. When the storage period has elapsed, the data is erased from the high-speed volume. The data in the low-speed volume is maintained “as is”. While the data is held in the high-speed volume, access from the host is processed utilizing the data in the high-speed volume.

Abstract: A storage controller determines a difference between a control table containing fiber channel port configuration of an upper node device and security information, and information fetched from a name server, thereby detecting replacement of a fiber channel port and correcting the control table. This enables data input/output in the same way as before fiber channel port replacement without consciously modifying the security information.